11 things some people tend not to do over the weekend

Everybody's working for the weekend, but how you spend your two days off may say something about how successful you are.

What you get up to doesn't really matter, per se. If you prefer lounging around the house to spontaneous adventures, that's great! You probably need that time to wind down.

When it comes to weekends, the main thing that separates ‘successful people’ from ‘unsuccessful people’ is mindfulness.

Are you planning ahead and truly thinking about how to spend your free time this weekend? This is why I’m publishing this piece on a Thursday to help you consider ahead how to spend those two free days, Saturday and Sunday.

Here are 11 things that unsuccessful people tend not to do over the weekend - and why to do them:

Not every minute of every hour of your weekend needs to be planned out, but it's good to have a general idea of what you'd like to do or get done.

That will allow you protect your time, and maybe even schedule in some fun events. It can be hard to make time for the ones you care about during the hectic week. Make up for that over the weekend.

·     Put away your phone. Shut off your work email — and make it clear to your co-workers that you won't be responding. Don't get addicted to technology.

·      Whether you're unwinding alone or going out with friends, make sure to do something that makes you happy during your time off.

·         Maybe you drank too much on Friday and are recovering. Maybe you're just super tired; either way, this could really mess up your sleep cycle, and you probably need to fix that.

·         You pinch pennies all week, and then blow it all over the weekend.

·         Heck, you should treat yourself every once in a while. That being said, if you're overspending on the weekends on frivolities that you don't need, then it's time to consider some cheap but fun options, like staycations, or free local events. 

·         During your busy week, it can be difficult to snag some time to just think about your life and goals. It's important to check in with yourself every once in a while.

·         On Fridays, it's a great idea to set out an agenda for the next Monday. Being prepared is great; being a workaholic is not. Kick back and relax a bit on Saturday and Sunday! 

·         Chilling out over the weekend can definitely be a great way to unwind. But if your slothfulness is making you bored or bummed out - or causing you to neglect important errands and chores - then you may want to rethink how you spend your Saturdays and Sundays.

·         At the other end of the spectrum are people who pack too much into their weekend schedule.

·         In order to be productive, and therefore successful at work, it's important to use the weekend to recharge your batteries. If your weekends include zero downtime, then you'll never feel rested or refreshed, which can be detrimental to your success.

·         Sunday nights are the perfect time to plan for the week ahead. You can make a to-do list, update or review your calendar, or just think about what it is you'd like to accomplish in the coming days.

‘Unsuccessful’ people often fail to do any of the above.

By Aine Cain and Diana Yukari. 

Edited by ‘Dele Dele-Olukoju, Marketing Communication strategist and publisher of the online Marketing Communication Digest. He writes from Lagos, Nigeria. @deleolukoju +234 807 481 2389.

Jacquelyn Smith contributed to a previous version of this story.