The Importance of Weekend Fun!

All work and no play? No bueno for the heart and soul.

There was a time I used to wear burnout like a badge of honor. If I wasn’t working, I felt guilty. If I was relaxing, I felt lazy. Sound familiar?
But eventually, the exhaustion caught up to me—and it wasn’t cute.

Let’s talk real: weekends weren’t made for guilt-tripping yourself into productivity. They were made to refill your cup.

The Couch Potato Dilemma

Now, I see you—my fellow overthinkers and Netflix warriors. The ones who technically have the weekend off but still can’t seem to move off the couch. You’re not lazy. You’re tired. There’s a difference.

The kind of tired I’m talking about isn’t just physical. It’s emotional, spiritual. It’s the kind that makes joy feel out of reach, like fun is some luxury you have to earn instead of a necessity you deserve.

And so, the weekend becomes a blur of scrolling, snacking, zoning out. The “I shoulds” pile up. You think:
“I should go outside.”
“I should make plans.”
“I should clean, organize, catch up on life…”

But instead, you do nothing. And by Sunday night? The guilt sets in. Again.

The Real Cost of Doing Nothing Fun

Let’s be clear—rest is sacred. But numbing out isn’t the same as recharging.

A weekend without intentional joy leaves you emotionally dehydrated.
Your creativity tanks.
Your mood flattens.
You start to dread the week before it even begins.

If the only thing you’re doing on weekends is recovering from the week before, then your weekday life is probably draining more than it should—and your weekends aren’t helping you refill the tank.

Why Fun Matters (Even If You’re “Not Fun”)

You don’t have to be a party animal or a social butterfly to enjoy your weekend. You don’t even have to leave your home. But you do have to engage with life in a way that brings you back to yourself.

Fun isn’t frivolous—it’s medicine.
It gets you back in your body.
It boosts dopamine and oxytocin (aka the feel-good chemicals).
It reminds you that life is still yours to shape.

Joy is a defiant act. Especially in a world that tells you to always hustle, grind, or “fix” yourself. Choosing fun says: I deserve this moment just as I am.

So What’s the Fix?

If you’ve been stuck in weekend numb-mode, here’s how to ease back into weekend fun—without needing a vacation or a full makeover of your life.

Schedule one fun thing

Don’t overload yourself. Just one.
A walk in the sun with music in your ears.
Cooking something you’ve actually been craving (not just what’s in the fridge).
A dance break. A DIY spa moment. A new board game.

Small things count if they’re chosen with joy.

Invite someone

Connection is underrated medicine. Reach out to a friend, a cousin, someone you like but haven’t seen in forever. Make a plan—even a loose one. People often do want to hang, they just don’t want to plan it.

Be the spark.

Make your space playful

Light a candle. Put on a playlist. Throw your favorite snack into a fancy dish.
When your environment feels cozy, you’ll feel more inspired to do something beyond couch + doom scroll.

Create a weekend ritual

Give yourself something to look forward to every weekend.
Saturday pancakes?
Sunday tea time?
Friday dance party in your living room?

Whatever feels like you, make it a thing.

For the Couch Potatoes Feeling Called Out

You’re not broken. You’re probably just stuck in a cycle of depletion. It’s easier to scroll than it is to risk trying something that might be enjoyable and might be disappointing.

But you deserve to feel alive. Not just functional. Not just “making it through.” Alive.

Start by giving yourself permission to enjoy something this weekend—without guilt. The dishes can wait. Your inbox will still be there. The world will not end if you play a little.

Your soul needs it. And so does your Monday self.

Your Call to Action

This weekend, do one thing just for fun.
Not for productivity. Not for your résumé. Not for anyone else.
Just for the you who wants to feel joy again.

No permission needed.

~Maggie Hernandez-Knight