| credits: google
For
many people, the comforting part of working hard from Monday to Friday
is the fact that you know you have Saturday and Sunday to relieve the
stress.
But this is often not the case while
looking forward to the weekend; as it’s also tempting to jam unnecessary
activities into the schedule, especially because Saturdays and Sundays
are reserved for festivities like weddings, parties and religious
engagements.
It is easy to get derailed by these ‘compulsory’ engagements, so much so that one could lose focus of what to do on weekends.
Experts say that 90 per cent of the
time, people that dread going to work on Mondays are those that did not
spend their weekends wisely.
According to wellness and rejuvenation
expert with Healthy Living Academy, Wuse II, Abuja, Dr. Sandra Adejumo,
not getting enough rest on weekends has consequences, not just on the
body, but also on our health.
Adejumo says, “Research has showed
that if an individual spends 30 out of the available 52 weekends to
rest, sleep and stay with their families, they can add an extra four
years to their life expectancy. The reverse also applies.
“The body is like a machine, you cannot
use it round the clock all week and expect it not to break down or fall
apart. The time you take out to rest helps your body to recuperate from
all the hard work it has done from Monday to Friday.”
The wellness expert says relaxing during
the weekends lowers a person’s risk for high blood pressure, by
reducing the stress levels.
She states, “Taking a break to rest
lowers your blood pressure. Between work, sitting in traffic and
personal commitments, stress can really impact your wellbeing — and your
blood pressure. Having high blood pressure (hypertension) puts you at
risk for heart disease, stroke, dementia and many more.”
Also, a haematologist, Dr. Robert Allen, on healthwatch.com, adds that taking at least 14 hours to sleep on weekends boosts immunity levels and also addresses sleep deprivation.
He adds that denying the body time to
relax after a busy week could also affect one mentally and socially, as
lack of rest could reduce concentration and memory over time.
Allen says, “When you are stressed out
and sleep-deprived, your mind can have trouble concentrating on the task
at hand. So, remember, taking a break on weekends can actually improve
your performance at work.
“When you take time to wind down from a
busy day and week, you set yourself up to have a better night’s rest. As
we have reported, sleep deprivation can be dangerous; so, take time for
rest — your body and mind will thank you.”
He notes that relaxing during weekends
is not just strolling around in night gowns or pyjamas and watching TV
while eating, but that spending quality time with family and friends
either indoors or outdoors helps.
Are you at a loss of what to do to make your weekend unforgettable? These fabulous options can make your weekend a huge success.
Take a break from tech
Refrain from using any kind of gadget on
your weekend. Though gadgets help to connect with others, they also
keep you wired-in all the time — ensuring that there is never a quiet
moment in your day. If you want to have a relaxing weekend, then you
need to cut off from phones, computers, social media, etc.
Have a peaceful shower
During weekdays, we tend to neglect our
shower session due to lack of time. This weekend, make time for yourself
by trying out various home-made body scrubs to rejuvenate yourself.
Give yourself a treat
Who doesn’t love a nice massage after a
tiring week? Go spend a little cash and come out with gorgeous and soft,
pampered skin and hair. Massages help you forget about your tensions,
worries and problems and helps you to relax. Even better, a good massage
will be just what a week full of tough workouts needs.
Avoid excessive drinks
If you are planning to hang out with
your friends, make sure you avoid alcohol as much as possible. Though a
little alcohol will help you to relax, don’t let it rule your weekend by
getting a hangover the next day.
Spend some ‘you’ time
Spending your weekend with friends can
be fun, but remember that it can also be tiring. In order to avoid
exhaustion, set time wherein you can do some relaxing activities just by
yourself.
Do some house chores
Get the broom out and start cleaning
your house. This activity is one of the best entire body exercises;
plus, it will bring a spark to your house.
Make love
Of course, the primary reason behind sex
is pleasure and procreation, but latent reasons like better health and
better mood can’t go unmentioned. Having sex at least twice a week has
significant health benefits for couples. So, let go of the stressful
week, boost your immunity, burn calories and feel better!
Have a great weekend!
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