Why I Hate Weekends and Why You Should Too

It seems that everyone waits for the end of the week which is traditionally considered Friday, although more people are working weekends nowadays. I work two Saturdays a month myself. Still, the popular term TGIF, Thank God Its Friday, proliferates. I would like to propose a new saying, TGIM, Thank God It’s Monday. Why? Because I hate weekends, and after you read my reasons for feeling this way, you may hate them, too.

1. Weekends are for Catching Up. Even though I sometimes work Saturdays, when I’m off on Saturday and Sunday, I end up doing all the household work I put off during the work week. The weekend is usually when people clean, mow their lawns in the spring and summer, garden, wash laundry, repair and maintain appliances and other household items, etc. The work required to do these tasks can be more tiring than work one does for an employer during the week.
2. Weekends are for paying bills. I usually sort my week’s snail mail on Sunday when it isn’t delivered. I glance through it when it arrives but then save it in a letter holder by the door. On Sundays, I go through it, throw out the junk mail, and pay the bills that are due. Bill paying is never fun and not something that one looks forward to doing in their free time.
3. Weekends are when your family gets in your way. I know this sounds awful, but for a writer like myself who needs concentration to work, it is difficult to deal with interruptions even from loved ones. Weekends are usually the time your son or daughter asks for money, tells you they failed a test or class, needs help with a project, wants to know where a particular outfit or other item is that seems to have disappeared into thin air but that he or she has to have immediately, etc.
4. Weekends are for Having Fun Even When You Don’t. I’m not a party person and, even though I enjoy going out, there are times I’d rather stay home and rest. Also, when you have children who schedule playdates, birthday parties, and other activities on the weekend, you either have to transport them to and from places or accompany them. Many holidays and get togethers are also celebrated over a weekend, and the planning, decorating, organizing, and clean up can be overwhelming.
5. Weekends are for staying up and sleeping late. I’m a morning person, so it’s not easy for me to stay up late, but like most people, I do it when I’m not required to be up for work the next day. The problem is that when I get a late start, it’s very difficult to keep to any of my regular routines such as writing, exercise, etc. Doctors agree it’s healthier to keep the same sleep habits every night of the week. Also, if you go to sleep two hours later but then get up two hours later, you are not catching up on any rest because you are still getting the same amount of sleep.
6. Weekends are for shopping. Whether it’s grocery, clothes, or another type of shopping that sends you into a mall or other store, it’s usually when the place is the most crowded. And, if you haven’t noticed, a lot of shopping is now done online these days, so even if the stores aren’t crowded, there are less checkout clerks being hired. That means you still end up waiting on line. Sales are also usually posted on weekends that draw in additional people who spend more at them, anyway.
7. Weekends are for attending Religious Services. I really don’t want to offend anyone by this topic and please don’t get the impression that I’m against religion. I go to church, but I know many people don’t attend services regularly. Part of the reason may be because they don’t look forward to spending an hour in a usually stuffy place of worship where germs are rampant because of the many people that attend who are sick or bring their sick children. It’s wonderful to hear the word of God and join a faithful community, but it’s not so fun having to get dressed in business clothes on a non-work day, donate to the collection plate, hurt your knees by kneeling up and down, and drive in and out of the parking lot which can be quite hazardous. In my opinion, it takes a lot of devotion to do this on a weekly basis.
8. Weekends are for Replying to Emails. I receive so much email that I’m embarrassed to say that I need to star or flag the important messages until I can reply to them at the end of the week. I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in handling email this way.
9. Weekends are for Visiting or Calling Friends and Relatives. Although it’s easier to text people on your phone or IM them on Facebook, it’s still nice to see or call people in person occasionally, and the weekend is usually the most convenient time to reach people or be reached yourself. These visits/calls can be pleasant enough except when you hear bad news, realize you missed an important date or birthday, or just get overwhelmed with trivial conversation such as the weather.
10. Weekends are Harder When the Weather is Nice. Everyone looks forward to a warm, sunny Saturday or Sunday, but then you feel awful about spending it inside catching up on chores or other indoor activities. You are guilted into spending hours at the park or beach, and you feel good about it until you get home to the messy house, pile of bills and other work that you will have to save for another rainy weekend.

If the above reasons don’t convince you that life is simpler and more enjoyable during the work week, maybe you’re retired or have a really awful job. For me, I look forward to rising each week day at 5 a.m., sitting down at my computer and writing for an hour in the quiet morning, then heading off to work after my daughter leaves for school. Sure I have stress at work. Everyone does, but I still find it easier to deal with it in the regular routine than the unplanned, over-crammed 48-hour “weak” end.