Weekends. Those two little days we all dream about during the workweek. But honestly? Sometimes they slip by like a greased pig at a county fair.

I mean, how often do you actually have a great weekend instead of just have a nice weekend that’s mostly binge-watching and half-hearted chores? Guilty here. Like, my last weekend was a glorious mix of burnt toast, two naps, and a heroic attempt to avoid the laundry monster.

Anyway, let’s figure out how to turn that around. How to make weekends not just pass, but stick in your brain as something you wanna remember—not just forget.

Why Even Bother Planning Your Weekend?

I get it. Weekends are supposed to be free and easy. But if you don’t throw a little plan in the mix, you might just end up staring at your ceiling wondering where all the time went.

The thing is, you can totally still have a great weekend without scheduling it like you’re running a small country. A little framework goes a long way.

The first time I loosely planned a Saturday, I actually remembered to do stuff—like, outside the house! My neighbor Sue swears by her “Sunday fun-day” walk ritual, and honestly, if it works for Sue (who once got stuck in a hedge), it might work for you too.

Go Outside, No Excuses

Rain. Mud. A shovel. That’s how my composting disaster began last weekend. But it got me out of the house, and that’s the point.

Want to have a great weekend? Get some fresh air. Even if it’s just a stroll to the corner store or sitting in the park with a weirdly overpriced coffee (shout out to The Brew House on Maple Street—best cinnamon scone in town).

Fun fact: Back in Victorian times, people believed talking to ferns helped stave off madness. I’m not about to chat with ferns yet, but I do mutter a few encouraging words to my sad little begonias. So far, no madness, just slow growth.

Ditch the Screens (Sorta)

Look, I’m not saying you gotta throw your phone into a river or anything. But if you want to actually have a nice weekend, try setting some boundaries.

One Friday, I put my phone in the other room for three hours. It was weird at first. Like, I kept reaching for it and—wait—what was I even supposed to do now?

Turns out, I talked to my roommate (who was equally bored) and we actually laughed. Crazy, right? Their/there mix-ups? Guilty as charged.

Try it. Just one chunk of time without the endless scroll. You might actually have a great weekend vibe going.

Friends, Fam, or Just People

One of my best weekends involved a spontaneous backyard BBQ with folks I barely knew. Turns out, you don’t need fancy plans to have a great weekend—just some company and maybe a rogue playlist.

Don’t have a crew? No worries. Call that one friend you keep saying you’ll catch up with. They probably need a break too.

I’m telling y’all, weekends where you’re around people — even if it’s just sharing a pizza and bad jokes — are gold for making you feel alive and like you really have a nice weekend.

Hobbies & Passion Projects — Even If You’re Terrible at Them

Remember my herb garden disaster? My first herb garden died faster than my 2020 sourdough starter—RIP, Gary.

But here’s the deal: weekends are perfect for dipping your toes into hobbies. Doesn’t matter if you stink at it. I promise, nobody is watching (except maybe your cat, who judges everything).

Try cooking a new recipe (watch out for the smoke alarm), doodling, or starting that weird craft project you pinned six months ago.

Little acts like these are how you truly have a great weekend that feels like you.

Move It or Lose It (But Keep It Fun)

Exercise? On weekends? I hear ya groan. But hear me out.

One Saturday, I danced around my apartment like no one was watching (which was true). Turns out, that boosted my mood way more than scrolling Instagram for 3 hours ever did.

If dancing’s not your jam, try a bike ride, a walk, or some easy yoga. Heck, even stretching counts.

If you want to actually have a nice weekend, a little movement can make all the difference. Plus, it’s a wicked way to shake off the week.

Make Your Space Feel New Without Going Broke

That cracked watering can from Pete’s Hardware on 5th Ave survived my overwatering phase (and probably saved my plants).

Sometimes, making your place feel a bit different helps you feel like your weekend is different, too.

Rearrange your furniture (without breaking stuff), add a plant (even a fake one), or light a candle with a scent that doesn’t remind you of the office.

Trust me, these tiny tweaks help you have a great weekend in your own four walls.

Try Something New (And Maybe Fail Spectacularly)

Once, I tried geocaching. Ended up climbing into a thorn bush instead of finding the treasure. Was it fun? Hell yes.

Trying new things is how you break the “same old weekend” curse. Take a cooking class online, visit a museum, or just explore a new coffee shop.

You’ll be surprised how quickly that makes you have a nice weekend that actually feels fresh.

Rest Like It’s Your Job

Here’s a thing I learned: resting is not just for lazy people. It’s survival.

I tried to schedule everything last weekend. By Sunday, I was a walking zombie who could barely make toast.

Next weekend, I took a nap without shame. It felt amazing.

Want to have a great weekend? Give yourself permission to chill without guilt.

Eat Like You Mean It

Forget sad desk lunches. Weekends call for good eats.

That weird taco truck on 3rd Street? Best decision ever. Also, baking bread is both therapeutic and dangerous (because you’ll want to eat it all).

Food shapes your weekend vibe big time. When you eat something you actually enjoy, you’re more likely to have a nice weekend worth remembering.

Capture What You Love — Even If It’s Weird

I keep a little weekend journal. Sometimes it’s a sentence, sometimes a doodle.

The smell of Walmart’s parking lot rosemary on June 7th, 2019 still haunts me. Why? No idea. But I wrote it down.

Try snapping photos of your weekend or jotting down odd details. Later, it’s like a treasure chest of memories, helping you have a great weekend long after Sunday night.

Help Someone Else (And Help Yourself)

Random acts of kindness? Totally underrated.

I once helped a neighbor carry groceries and ended up chatting for an hour. Felt good.

Volunteer, donate, or just smile at strangers. These little things make you realize you’re part of something bigger—and that’s how you have a nice weekend with heart.

Being Alone Is Okay (Seriously)

Weekends don’t have to be social marathons.

Sometimes, the best weekend I’ve had was driving alone to a quiet lake with no phone service.

No one nagging. No plans. Just me and some peace.

If you wanna really have a great weekend, learn to love your own company sometimes. It’s liberating.

Make Traditions That Don’t Suck

You don’t need a fancy family history to have traditions.

Like my “Friday night cereal” thing. No judgment.

Find your thing. It could be Saturday morning pancakes, Sunday afternoon walks, or Monday morning coffee at that one café.

These rituals help you consistently have a nice weekend, even when everything else is chaos.

Prep for Monday Without Stress

Okay, this sounds lame, but hear me out.

When I started prepping outfits or packing lunches Sunday night, my Monday stress dropped a ton.

That made my Sunday less frantic. And y’all, that’s a game changer when you want to have a great weekend that flows into the week without crashing.

Switch It Up Every Now and Then

If you’re doing the same weekend over and over, it’s easy to feel stuck.

Try swapping Saturday and Sunday activities or visiting a new coffee shop.

Even small changes can help you have a nice weekend that feels like a mini-adventure.

Sunday Night Wind-Down

Instead of diving into doomscrolling on Sunday night, try a chill ritual.

Light a candle, read a silly book, or journal what went well.

This helps you close your weekend on a calm note—and keep the good vibes going into Monday.

Here’s the Bottom Line

If you wanna have a great weekend, don’t just let it happen. Make it happen. Be present, make little plans, move a bit, laugh, rest, and don’t be afraid to fail spectacularly.

Fast forward past three failed plans and two burnt dinners, and I’m still figuring it out. But y’all, it’s worth the effort to actually have a nice weekend instead of just surviving it.