Does the Perfect Weekend Exist?

"Use the weekend to build the life you want instead of trying to escape the life you have." - some influencer somewhere, at some point

The more I live in NYC (nearly two years now!), the better I think that my weekends have gotten. How is this possible? I think it's a combination of a few things, one of them being actually knowing the city better and being aware of all of the cute spots and fun activities that are at my fingertips, but part of it is being more thoughtful with how I spend them. 

College definitely put me in a slump of a weekend routine where I would go out with friends multiple nights in a row, getting inconsistent sleep, and then wondering where my Sunday went after waking up at 1:00pm. Oh boy, I don't miss those Sunday Scaries. 

These habits carried into my first year or so of living in New York City. Stay out late, sleep through most of the next day and just try to feel like a human again, and then go out the next night and repeat. If you live in NYC, you know that "the City That Never Sleeps" title is no joke; people do stay out late here. Once I started going out less, or even just going home earlier on a night out, I started to actually have the energy to do activities the next day, which leaves me feeling much more rested and satisfied at the end of the weekend than I would feel in my prior routine. I've started thinking of how I spend my time on the weekends by dividing the time up into different "buckets." For it to feel like a good weekend to me, each bucket needs to be filled ever so slightly:

1. Self Care Bucket

This bucket is probably the most important if I've had a long work week. Things that fall into this bucket for me are: taking a burning hot shower (don't yell at me, I know it's bad for your hair) with essential oils, doing a clay face mask (I love the Clinique one I've been using recently and the Kiehl's tumeric energizing mask that I got as a free sample), going on a long run (I've been on a break from running because of my knee but have been doing yoga and pilates instead)- tip: do this on Saturday and you'll feel so energized for the rest of the weekend, doing a workout class (Classpass is great if you're near studios), and giving myself a manicure/pedicure. 

2. Start-Your-Week-on-the-Right-Foot Bucket

Think: the sh*t that you would rather do during the week to get out of the way but don't have the time/energy to do.  For me, this includes:

• Deep cleaning my apartment- I like doing this on Fridays after work because honestly, I find cleaning pretty therapeutic and calming; I like to listen to a podcast or new album while I do it. I used to morso just organize my space on the weekends, but I've found that a true deep clean feels like such a reset for my space.

• Trader Joe's run / grocery shopping- I am working on being more adventurous on my grocery trips and trying at least one or two new items each time I go (maybe I'll make a whole other blog post for my favorite Trader Joe's items/items that I want to try). Cooking in a small NYC apartment has proven to be a struggle, but that's what creativity is for!

• Budgeting- I definitely don't go through my expenses every weekend, but every few weeks or so I try to to run through what/how much I've spent and put it into my Excel file. This may sound restrictive but it makes me feel more empowered to spend because I know where I stand with my finances.

• Something "Zen"-  I try to go to church every Sunday for religious reasons but also because it really centers me. I also go with my boyfriend and friends to a young adults mass which makes it more fun. If church isn't your jam, maybe try meditating.

3. FUN(!) Bucket

Anything you do on a weekend should be fun because, as the quote says, its your time to build the life that you want, but think brunch, drinks with friends, and touristy activities. If you live in a big city like New York, there are simply too many spots to not try something new. 

I read a stat recently that it would take you approximately 74 years to try all of the restaurants in NYC. You can eat at a different spot once a day for 74 years and never go to the same place twice. WHAA??! In my < 2 years of living here, I've tried around 100 restaurants which averages to about one a week (and yes- I track every one that I try!).

Brunch is definitely a big part of the NYC culture; even if you don't go boozy, nothing is better than starting off your Saturday with eggs with girlfriends and yummy lattes. I'm also trying to tick more bagel spots and coffee shops off of my list. My go-to bagel place will always be there if another one disappoints. Recently I tried an authentic French bakery (Le Fournil, translates to “the oven”) in my area. My friend and I literally saw them baking the bread in front of us!

4. The Great Outdoors Bucket

Weather permitting, I like to spend at least a little time in green space on the weekends. This can be tough in the city, but maybe that means just walking to the nearest park to my apartment and sitting down for a minute after a run. Now that it’s spring, Central Park is in bloom and the cherry blossoms are out to play! I don't know if this is a hot take, but I think the city peaks in the spring.  Greenery can boost your mood and lower stress levels, especially when it feels like you are staring at concrete all week. 

I've also found that being near a body of water can be equally as calming as green space. In some parts of the city, you may have easier access to the Hudson than a field of grass. The West Side Highway is always a good option if you're looking for a calming outdoor space to walk, run, or even ride a bike. 
_____________

I hope that this leaves you inspired to be a little more intentional with how you spend your weekend. A great weekend in NYC is truly unbeatable!

'Till Next Time,
Rebecca