We all know the feeling. Friday afternoon rolls around and we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. We’re practically giddy with excitement for the next two days of freedom. And then, all of a sudden, it’s Sunday night and we’re back to the grind. The weekend flew by and we’re left wondering where the time went. If this sounds like you, don’t worry—you’re not alone. In fact, there’s a scientific reason why weekends seem to go by so quickly. But there’s also good news: there are things you can do to make your weekends feel longer. Here’s how:
Slow Down
The first step is to slow down. It might seem counterintuitive, but hear us out. When we’re busy and rushing around, time seems to move faster. That’s because our brains are on overdrive, trying to process all of the information coming at us. So, if you want your weekends to feel longer, take it easy and give your brain a break. Do some deep breathing exercises, go for a walk in nature, or just sit down with a good book. You’ll be amazed at how much slower time will feel when you’re not constantly running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
Make Plans—But Don’t Overdo It
Another way to make your weekends feel longer is to actually have plans—but not too many plans. That might sound like a contradiction, but bear with us. If you have no plans whatsoever, chances are that you’ll spend your entire weekend just lounging around the house feeling bored out of your mind. On the other hand, if you try to pack too much into your weekend, you’ll end up stressed out and exhausted—and your weekend will fly by in a blur. The key is to find a happy medium; make enough plans so that you have things to look forward to, but don’t overwhelm yourself in the process. That might mean meeting up with friends for lunch on Saturday followed by seeing a movie on Sunday afternoon. Or maybe going for a hike on Saturday morning and then exploring a new neighborhood in town on Sunday afternoon. Whatever you do, make sure it’s something that brings you joy—not stress!
Create New Memories
Finally, one of the best ways to make your weekends feel longer is to create new memories. Studies have shown that people tend to underestimate how long ago they experienced something when that experience was positive—but they tend to overestimate how long ago they experienced something when that experience was negative. So if you want your weekends to feel longer, fill them with positive experiences! Go on adventures, try new things, and make memories that will make you smile every time you think about them. Not only will these memories make time feel like it’s moving more slowly—they’ll also give you something happy to look back on when Monday morning comes around again.
Conclusion:
We all know the feeling: Friday afternoon rolls around and we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel… only to have Sunday night come far too soon leaving us wondering where the time went yet again. If this sounds familiar, don’t worry—you’re not alone! In fact, there’s a scientific reason why weekends measurement doesn’t quite match up with our lived experience of time passing more quickly when we’re busy or stressed versus when we’re taking it easy and enjoying ourselves.
But here’s the good news: there are things you can do about it! By slowing down, making plans without overdoing it, and filling our weekends with positive experiences, we can learn how to make our weekends feel longer . Give it shot next weekend and see for yourself!
