Ever wonder what successful people do on the weekends? What do they do to keep them on track? Do they work overtime or find time to recharge their batteries?

Success is not about having a workaholic mindset 24/7. It’s about work-life balance.

“My weekends are extremely precious.” — Mariska Hargitay, an American actress, director, producer, and philanthropist

Successful people use their weekends to unwind and connect with themselves. They disconnect from the internet, relax, and exercise during the weekend.

They value the importance of recharging their batteries so they can reconnect with themselves.

“I am always happy to meet my friend, and my friend is my weekend.” — Debasish Mridha, an American physician, philosopher, and author

What do successful people do on the weekends?

Here are seven simple yet effective things that successful people do to maximize their weekends.

1. They spend time with family and friends

“Weekends are sacred for me. They’re the perfect time to relax and spend time with family and friends.” — Marcus Samuelsson, an Ethiopian-born Swedish-American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and TV personality

Why do you work so hard? It’s probably to support your family. You want to make life better for you and your loved ones.

Socialization with family and friends on the weekends can boost productivity during the week.

Successful people know that the weekend should be spent with family and friends. This time together helps energize and motivate you for the week. 

They host dinner parties, spend the day at the lake with friends, or enjoy their favorite restaurant. 

Successful people have fun and generate energy to be productive for the week.

2. They exercise

“Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.” — Edward Stanley, former prime minister of Great Britain

Successful people know the power of exercise. They understand that walking a few miles helps them prepare for the workweek. Lifting weights also contributes.

Getting the body moving is essential. They play golf, swim some laps, and train for half marathons.

Research also shows that physically fit employees are more effective than those who aren’t. A healthy lifestyle, including physical fitness, can help successful people deal with stress and overcome job challenges.

Successful people know that staying healthy is their responsibility. They must make time for regular exercise, which leads to daily happiness.

They realize that exercise helps them clear their minds, reduce stress, and tap into their creative side.

3. They relax

“The weekend is usually seen as a time for relaxation.” — Byron Pulsifer, an author

Successful people know that they must relax on weekends.

They make the most of their downtime by finding activities to relax. These activities include reading a book, visiting the local farmer’s market, or eating brunch with a friend.

Successful people find things that please them and commit to making a plan to relax. They take time during the weekend to think about the “big picture.” 

They also light candles around their houses and inhale relaxing scents like lavender, orange, and rose.

4. They don’t schedule too much

“The weekend is a time for nos — no alarm clock, no rushing, no urgent phone calls, no working nights!” — Catherine Puslifer, an author

Successful people run from one meeting to another during the week. They avoid running from one commitment to another during the weekend. 

They know it can be exhausting to burn both ends of the candle when it comes to scheduling. It can be exhausting and lead to burnout at work.

There is a difference between being busy and being happy. Successful people are realistic about the fact that there is only so much time during the weekend.

They pick two or three things they want to do over the weekend and stick to them. They don’t overschedule themselves.

5. They spend time alone

“The best lessons of life are learned in silence and solitude.” — Abhijit Naskar, an author

Successful people know that taking care of themselves is essential to their success. They set time aside to be alone, spending at least an hour alone each weekend.

Being alone with your thoughts helps you learn more about the world around you.

Research has found that spending time alone leads to more happiness and satisfaction. Successful people enjoy being alone.

They learn who they are and what they want from their lives.

6. They disconnect

“Weekends don’t count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless.” — Bill Watterson, an American cartoonist and the author of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes

Successful people turn off their smartphones, computers, and TVs. They don’t check their email, voicemail, or social media over the weekend and go for a while without using electricity. They enjoy being disconnected from the world.

Being connected all the time to work can force our minds to work overtime. Successful people commit to the present moment and enjoy life without technology. 

Disconnection will help them tackle all their emails on Monday.

7. They optimize Sundays

“Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week.” — Joseph Addison, an English essayist, poet, and playwright

Successful people plan for the week ahead.

They start Monday on the right foot by optimizing their Sundays.

Successful people block off Sunday evenings for 10 to 20 minutes. They look at the calendar for the week ahead and take mental notes on what’s coming up.

Successful people approach Sundays correctly and don’t view them as the day before the workweek begins. They know that Sunday sets the tone for the week. 

They know that Sunday can be fun, so they treat it as a “Funday.”

On this day, they get ready for the week and still have fun. They enjoy being alone or spending time with family and friends.

Bringing it all together

Successful people do seven things on the weekend.

• They spend time with family and friends
• They exercise
• They also relax
• They don’t schedule too much
• They spend time alone
• They disconnect
• They optimize Sundays

They use their weekends to unwind and recharge their batteries.

Successful people spend time with their loved ones, enjoy themselves, and get organized for the week ahead.

Even the most dedicated professionals need time to rest, relax, and do nothing.

Weekends help successful people avoid burnout, improve their quality of life, and be more productive during the week.

“The only reason why we ask other people how their weekend was is so we can tell them about our own weekend.” — Chuck Palahniuk, an American novelist

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