There was a scene in Forrest Gump where Forrest just starts running forever. I believe he ends up running cross country or something, but whatever it was, the dude just kept running.
Finally, he just stops abruptly and says something like “I don’t want to run anymore”.
Sound familiar?
Sometimes we just get so busy running; that we run right by the weekend!
So with that in mind, I’ve taken the liberty of putting together 25 Ways To Own The Weekend. I’ve even put it into a handy dandy E-Book for you. Click Here My Friend!
This way, you can stop yourself from running and get on with the business of living!
1) That side burner on your grill doubles as a breakfast generating machine on the weekend. You haven’t lived until you cooked breakfast on the patio!
2) Your local library has free DVDs. How about a movie night? Perhaps you could watch Tommy Boy, Boiler Room or Wall Street and then make a note to do none of those things in real life! How about a comedy or a cool classic movie (they don’t make ‘em like the classics dude)
3) Go on an adventure to nowhere. When I was a kid, we’d go off exploring. Then I grew up and became too cool for that. Jump in the car, pack a lunch, fill that thermos with coffee and take a road trip! Bonus points if you soundtrack your adventure with some cool tunes!
4) Fire up your fire pit and have a campfire!
5) Campfire Bear Grylls Style: Round up some delicious worms and grubs and then throw them in your neighbor’s yard because that’s freakin disgusting. Instead, grab a can of chili or stew and eat some of that by the fire. Or if you’re really brave . . . beans!
6) Find a way to make a memory and visit it often as John Maxwell says!
7) Do you have young kids? How about a campout in the living room? Me and my kids made some kick ass living room tents in our day. Once you get done making your tent, watch the Cartoon Network or one of those free movies from the library. Oh, and if you don’t have kids, or your kids are grown, camp out in the living room anyway. It builds character 🙂
8) Make some cool play lists for your I-Pod to get you into OWS (Optimal Weekend State) How about a play list that gets you in a party mood. Another from when you were growing up (and doing the same stupid stuff you’re about to yell at your kid for doing) How about a chill out play list?
9) Take lots of pictures because someday, this moment will be known as “the good old days”
10) Enjoy the gift of being fully present. That means we need to turn on the “No Blackberry” sign dude! While you’re at it, make it a family rule and include texting, taking calls or updating Facebook status at the table.
11) Surprise your significant other with a date. Don’t ever treat your client better than your sweetheart. Priorities!
12) Take a walk! Walking is a rather cool “thought generator” too.
13) You’re only allotted so many sunrises and sunsets . . . make sure you capture one this weekend! Bonus points if you catch yourself digging it!
14) Take some time to get to know “YOU”! Reflect, ponder, imagine, dream or do one of these cool introspective journal exercises .
15) Start your day off with a gratitude list. What are you most grateful for? Psst . . . do this often enough and you will experience true “wealth”!
16) Round up a few cans of food from your cabinet and drop them at your local food bank or church. You’ll be proud of yourself for doing it!
17) Break out some of those old family video tapes, your wedding tape, an old photo album a revisit a memory!
18) Call someone and catch up.
19) Forgive someone . . . you’ll travel lighter!
20) Laugh often and laugh out loud. Watch the Comedy channel. Create a comedy playlist on your I-Pod. Hang with people who make you laugh. Tell someone a joke and then make a note to laugh at yourself.
21) Stop by your local house of worship for a spiritual recharge.
22) Do something childish. Play a game, go to an arcade, jump in a puddle or drink lots of soda and see how far you get burping the alphabet.
23) Hold a door, say hello and acknowledge someone you pass, over tip a waitress, thank your kid’s coach, and when you get done with all of that . . . don’t rush passed your neighbor, stop and say hello!
24) When you catch yourself thinking about work, ask a loved one to strike you with the palm of their hand while saying “I command you out demon!” Note: Do not attempt this at work on an evil boss or co worker.
25) Enjoy your life my friend. Word on the street is that it’s the only one we get!
Don’t forget to download the free E-Book version of today’s blog post. Here you go dude!
Paul Castain works with individuals and organizations to achieve higher levels of what experts refer to as “awesomeness”. For more information on Paul’s services, download his cool PDF
Paul-
I try to separate the work week from the weekend, but I am not always successful. I will use some of these suggestions when I feel I am slipping into the “work zone”. Thanks again for reminding us to have a balance and to “live” up to our potential.
Marilyn
Again Paul, good stuff! Thanks for reminding us to slow down and enjoy “the little things” in life. I should know that, coming from Alabama, just like Forrest Gump.
Nice post Paul–and I’m a big fan of John Maxwell. I will take this post into the weekend with me and try to ease up off of work a lil to enjoy life. Have a good Fin de Semana!
Great Reminder! I’d follow with the lyrics from a van morrison song:
These are the days of the endless summer These are the days, the time is now There is no past, there’s only future There’s only here, there’s only now Oh your smiling face, your gracious presence The fires of spring are kindling bright Oh the radiant heart and the song of glory Crying freedom in the night These are the days of the endless dancing and the Long walks on the summer night These are the days of the true romancing When I’m holding you oh, so tight These are the days by the sparkling river His timely grace and our treasured find This is the love of the one great magician Turned the water into wine These are the days now that we must savor And we must enjoy as we can These are the days that will last forever You’ve got to hold them in your heart.
have a great weekend!
I will leave the laptop at the office this weekend and take my significant other out to her favorite Italian place, with flowers. We will watch an old John Wayne movie. She loves horses and I love The Duke. Camping out in the living room, now this will be the big surprise. Enjoyment this weekend a La Retro. Thanks Paul, I’m giggling like a child as I am metally making plans.
Thanks Paul, the lines were starting to get fuzzy here. A weekend what’s that? Truly Appreciated! Now I can separate the work week, and the weekend. My family thanks you…
Have a Great One!
Cherie
If we could all just tap into our inner-Forrest …. I especially like 18-23 … I have found laughing, loving, and just being nice is like a path to the holy grail, and the best part is that we control each ….
“That’s all I have to say about that.” – Footnote Forrest for that one . ..
Thanks Paul!
Paul,
As my mentor Jim Rohn used to say “Wherever you are be there”. I think that is a tremendous statement to live by. We have a tendency to get so overwhelmed living in the information age, we need to make sure we take time to breathe.
Thanks so much for your 25 tips! Much appreciated and much needed.
God bless,
Steve
Thank you all for the kind words and for some of the commitments for owning this weekend.
We’ve all worked hard for this so we might as well slow down and enjoy!
TGIF all!
Paul Castain
Working in Sales and Marketing, owning a restaurant and have a cleaning business which is night and weekends leaves me no time. This article is perfect timing! You read my mind. I am taking the whole weekend off! I’m not picking up the phone for any work related issues, I’m working on me! I am posting this on my mirror in the bathroom and plan on doing at least three off the list. Thank you for the choices! Happy Friday and hope you all choose to do the same!
Love the list…you are definitely a rock star! New to your site, so far so great, really appreciate all your work.
Would love to share on Facebook, any thoughts about adding that with the other social media means.
Have a fabulous weekend!
-Sarye
Yep, it’s official, I’m pumped for the next 2 days. Dang you’re a creative dude Paul…I bet your kids’ friends thought you were the coolest ‘dad’ in the world. No doubt you were a neighborhood legend.
Thanks for being great.
The KISS method to life! Love it!!
Awesome as always Paul. On #5 the first thing I thought about was the Blazing Saddles camp fire scene! As we all know, with weekends comes road trips with the kids, and I got an email with this list the same time as yours Paul – good stuff, too: http://www.allprodad.com/top10/parenting/10-best-ways-to-pass-the-time-on-a-car-trip
Best,
Craig
Hey Tom, Thanks for the great suggestions. At times, we forget of all around us and just think of work and targets. Wake up call and I am surely taking your tips this weekend. Not checking salesplaybook too :-)Thanks as always!
Hey Paul,
Great suggestion. At times, we get so involved in our work and dont see the other beautiful things around waiting for us. I am certainly taking these tips to the weekend and yes, not checking salesplaybook too 🙂
Good weekend to you and family and thanks as always.
Cordially, Ankit
I redo my phone message daily. I include the date, when I will be in the office, and that I will be returning calls at 3 p.m.. Then, phone goes to vibrate, then off, but I can always check for missed calls and messages, but on my schedule. And, Friday is a time to make sure everything is set for Monday morning. And don’t forget, for many of us, Sunday morning is church time, so I would never bother someone on a Saturday or Sunday morning without checking first.
To get through these crazy times, I watch a lot of cooking shows and spend time in the kitchen to get away from the political and economic mess.
It’s ironic I found this post at the *end* of my weekend, but hey you know what, I indeed watched some movie and listened to some cool music and tried to relax as much as I could, so I guess I didn’t do too bad uh?
Very nice list, thanks for sharing it on LinkedIn Paul!
thanks Paul,
I really really love the comment … forgive someone, you’ll travel lighter.
at work (esp in the tech business) it’s too easy to get tangled and tripped by others and it’s important to not carry that around.
the sun will rise tomorrow.
I love it – but right now working a full-time day job, so nights & weekends are the only time I have to work my own small business (hope to grow larger soon) in green products…I have to really make a concerted effort to shut off the computer and get out and talk to people. I am going to download your ebook today and see how the pros do it! Thanks Paul – Always (and I mean that sincerely) a good read!
Paul, a hybrid works best for me. I like to enjoy a little bit of “weekend” whenever I can all week long. 48 hours of straight weekend isn’t something I do well…my brain and body both love lots of exercise with richly enhanced weekend “moments”…a few hours here, a few moments there and I feel alive and refreshed! Downtime/Uptime shaken and stirred well is my secret recipe for a life that operates at a throttle that works well for me. Have a good one!
Paul, a hybrid works best for me. I like to enjoy a little bit of “weekend” whenever I can all week long. 48 hours of straight weekend isn’t something I do well…my brain and body both love lots of exercise with richly enhanced weekend “moments”…a few hours here, a few moments there and I feel alive and refreshed! Downtime/Uptime shaken and stirred well is my secret recipe for a life that operates at a throttle that works well for me. Have a good one!
Really like the list, Paul. As an entrepreneur, I think the #20 is especially important. Laughter is a great cure for stress. Here’s a little sales humor, courtesy of SNL ‘To Bill Brasky, the best damn salesman in the office!’ http://youtu.be/-NjgPDIeSXA Hope you and your blog followers get a laugh out of it too. Have a great weekend!
Really like the list, Paul. As an entrepreneur, I think the #20 is especially important. Laughter is a great cure for stress. Here’s a little sales humor, courtesy of SNL ‘To Bill Brasky, the best damn salesman in the office!’ http://youtu.be/-NjgPDIeSXA Hope you and your blog followers get a laugh out of it too. Have a great weekend!