Walking and meeting friends are habits that replenish positive energy during the holiday.

Weekend Habits That Boost Moods for Days

Weekend Habits That Boost Moods for Days

The weekend is an opportunity to rest, recharge, and spend quality time with family and friends. However, some people don't take advantage of it properly to keep them energized during the work week.

Experts believe that weekends are deceptive; they can seem long at first, but then quickly fade away due to errands, browsing, and "duties." To get the most out of your weekend, here are 10 habits you can implement, according to VegOut magazine:

1. Foster Moments of Belonging

During the weekend, a person can make sure to make a plan that involves another person, such as a walk for coffee, running errands around the neighborhood, or a phone call that both of you consider a real plan. It's not about the activity itself, but 

rather about ensuring that moments of belonging are fostered. The longest-running happiness research consistently indicates that relationships are a lasting indicator of well-being and health. When people interact socially, they are less preoccupied with thoughts and worries, feel less isolated, and accomplish more individual tasks.

2. Purchase Time-Saving Services

Outsourcing an urgent task, pre-ordering groceries, or opting for a fast transportation option helps avoid wasting weekend time on logistics. The key point is the effect of time—the feeling of having some breathing space. A field study revealed that spending money on time-saving services reduces time pressure and boosts happiness.

3. Take a 30-minute mindful walk

It's a good idea to walk regularly because it improves mood. A study from the University of California, published in the journal Emotion, showed that encouraging people to cultivate mindfulness during weekly walks boosts positive feelings and significantly reduces stress.

4. Minimum Exercise

Attention should be paid to the minimum amount of exercise that is effective. The goal isn't perfection, but rather stimulating a chemical reaction that helps a person for days. A comprehensive statistical analysis published in the British Medical Journal found that exercise is an effective treatment for depression across all types, including walking, running, strength training, and yoga, and that higher-intensity exercise generally produces greater effects.

5. Adjust your bedtime and lighting

Happiness looks like a good night's sleep. Try to treat weekends as a circadian rhythm, not a chaotic one. Morning light within an hour of waking (outside if possible), a caffeine ban in the early afternoon, and a 90-minute relaxation window on the last night of the weekend make the start of the workday easier and smoother.

6. Mini-Adventure

Novelty and anticipation are more powerful than many realize. Instead of waiting for the perfect day trip, plan a mini-adventure, such as heading to a new part of town, eating somewhere new, visiting a museum, or taking a previously unexperienced bus route. Small adventures train the mind to be curious, fueling happier weeks and better daily conversations.

7. Do Good

Walking and meeting friends are habits that replenish positive energy during the holidays.

Acts of kindness seem like mere gestures until you discover how they transform your week. Even taking an hour on the weekend to do something that helps someone else—like writing a glowing review for a local business, delivering a meal to a friend, picking up trash in your neighborhood, or calling an elderly relative—is all it takes. The key is to choose a small, specific task and finish it. When you do something social, your sense of purpose transcends your inner monologue—and that feeling lasts a long time.

8. Make Something Small and Tangible

Weekends should be viewed as an opportunity to make something tangible. Small, creative successes help build efficiency and effectiveness and are the perfect antidote to the anxiety of the final hours of the weekend. You can set a timer for 25 minutes and lower expectations for a simple task like baking a cake, writing a poem, or any fun sensory activity, even for a short period.

9. Set a specific cleaning time

Instead of sacrificing half of your weekend time to chores, you can do a 30-minute cleaning session, running the washing machine, cleaning the dishes, and wiping down the messiest surfaces. It's more like a sprint, not a punishment. The goal is simply to wake up on your first day back in a non-stressful environment before your coffee. Small tasks can be distributed among the rest of the family.

10. 3-Line Summary

It's great to create a three-line summary in your Notes app that includes:

1. Three things I liked about the weekend

2. One thing that motivated me

3. One small thing I'll repeat next weekend

Although it only takes 90 seconds, it can change your mood throughout the week because it involves practicing gratitude and replicating your successes. Identifying activities and times worth recording and keeping can bring a sense of relief and happiness because the weekend has been filled with successes worth remembering.