Everyone needs a day of rest every week to recharge and refresh. For most people with a typical Monday-Friday work schedule, Saturday or Sunday serves as their rest day. How you choose to spend your day off likely depends on your interests, responsibilities, and energy level. Some common rest day activities include sleeping in, puttering around the house, spending time with family, engaging in hobbies, exercising, or just relaxing.
What time do you usually wake up on your rest day?
On a typical workday, many people have to wake up early to get ready for work or take care of family responsibilities. So on a rest day, sleeping in and waking up at your leisure can feel like a real treat. According to a survey conducted by mattress company Amerisleep, the average wake-up time on a day off is 8:41 AM. However, 25% of people sleep past 10 AM on their rest day. So while most don’t go overboard, many take advantage of the extra shut-eye a rest day allows. As for me, I tend to wake up around 9 AM on Saturdays and Sundays. Getting those extra couple hours makes me feel refreshed and energized at the start of my day off.
What is the first thing you like to do when you wake up on your rest day?
Once I’m up on a Saturday or Sunday morning, the first thing I like to do is drink a cup of coffee and scroll through my phone to catch up on news and social media. This lazy start helps ease me into the day. Other popular morning activities on a day off include:
- Reading the paper or a book
- Meditating
- Stretching or light yoga
- Writing in a journal
- Preparing a elaborate breakfast
The key is not feeling rushed. It’s your day off, so you get to choose how you spend your morning. Do whatever starts your rest day off right.
Do you like to exercise on your rest day? If yes, what exercise do you do?
Getting physical activity on my day off helps me feel productive, even if I’m not working. It’s also a great stress reliever. My go-to rest day exercise is usually a long walk or hike. I’ll put on a podcast or music and spend an hour or two walking around my neighborhood or at a nearby park. Other great rest day workouts include:
- Yoga
- Swimming
- Light strength training
- Biking
- Playing a sport like tennis or basketball
The key is choosing gentle to moderate intensity exercise that leaves you feeling energized, not drained. Save the high intensity workouts for your regular training days.
What is your favorite meal or food to enjoy on your rest day?
One of my favorite parts of a rest day is taking time to prepare a leisurely brunch or lunch. Instead of rushing through a quick breakfast before work, I’ll make dishes like eggs Benedict, pancakes, or avocado toast. Here are some other great rest day meal ideas:
- Breakfast casserole
- Quiche
- Smoothie bowl
- Veggie omelet
- French toast
- Waffles or crepes
- Bagel sandwich
- Baked ziti
- Chicken parmesan
- Pizza
- Burgers and fries
The food doesn’t have to be fancy, just something you enjoy making and eating at a leisurely pace. Brunch foods, comfort foods, and lighter meals all make for great rest day cuisine.
Do you tend to be more productive or lazy on your rest day?
I’d say I’m a mix of productive and lazy on my days off. I like to be active and accomplish a few tasks, but I’m also not afraid to lounge around when I need some true down time. Some of my more productive rest day activities include:
- Cleaning my apartment
- Doing laundry
- Meal prepping for the week
- Running errands like grocery shopping
- Catching up on work around the house
But I balance this productivity with pure leisure like:
- Binge watching a show
- Reading for pleasure
- Napping
- Playing video games
- Browsing the internet
The key for me is not overscheduling my rest day. I include some chores and tasks, but also make sure to build in time to just zone out and recharge.
Do you tend to stay home on your rest day or go out? What do you like to do?
I’d say I split my time 50/50 between staying home and venturing out on my days off. At home, I enjoy activities like:
- Cleaning and organizing
- Cooking and baking
- Reading
- Arts and crafts
- Playing board games with my partner
- Gardening
- Relaxing with my pets
But I also try to get out of the house every rest day, even if just for a bit. My favorite outings include:
- Trying a new restaurant
- Seeing a movie or show
- Exploring nature
- Visiting museums or attractions
- Meeting friends for coffee or drinks
- Running errands
- Window shopping
The balance of homebody activities and fun outings keeps my days off well-rounded.
Do you connect with friends/family on your rest day? If so, what do you like to do with them?
I try to sprinkle in quality time with loved ones on my rest days when possible. It’s a great chance to strengthen relationships without the time constraints of workdays. Some of my favorite rest day activities with friends and family include:
- Brunch, lunch, or dinner
- Playing board/card games
- Checking out a farmer’s market
- Having a spa day
- Volunteering together
- Exercising – hiking, yoga, etc.
- Concerts or shows
- Road trips
- DIY crafts or projects
I also enjoy lower key hangouts like chatting over coffee, walking their dog, or just relaxing together at home. Rest days present great opportunities to bond with loved ones.
Do you tend to pick up an old hobby on your rest day or try something new? What hobbies do you enjoy?
I’d say I like to mix it up between revisiting old hobbies and trying new creative pursuits on my days off. Some go-to hobbies I’ll turn to again and again include:
- Cooking – trying new recipes or complex dishes
- Baking – cookies, cakes, breads
- Reading – catching up on books
- Knitting and crocheting
- Playing guitar – learning new songs
- Journaling or creative writing
- Photography – editing photos or organizing albums
And every so often I’ll dabble in something new like:
- Puzzle building
- Calligraphy
- Sewing
- Flower arranging
- Jewelry making
- Candle making
- Woodworking
Trying new hobbies helps me continue growing and learning on my time off.
Do you tend to be lazy and lounge around on your rest day? What are your favorite restful activities?
As much as I try to be productive on my days off, I also know the value of pure leisure time. Sometimes you just need to be lazy and lounge around a bit. My favorite ways to relax on a rest day include:
- Pajama party – staying in comfy clothes all day
- Binge watching movies or shows
- Scrolling social media
- Napping
- Reading magazines or junk novels
- Listening to music or podcasts
- Playing with pets
- Enjoying a candlelit bath
Don’t underestimate the rejuvenating power of lounging around from time to time. Embrace activities that may seem unproductive but give your mind and body a chance to renew.
Do you find it hard to know what to do with a whole free rest day? How do you combat rest day anxiety?
For some, having a full day without plans can induce anxiety. The lack of structure can be overwhelming. But there are ways to find your footing on a wide open rest day:
Make a loose schedule. Block out sections for must-do tasks, chores, outings and pure leisure so your day has some shape.
Brainstorm a rest day bucket list. Keep a running list of fun activities for days off so you always have options when one rolls around.
Wake up without an alarm. Let your body dictate when the day starts so you begin at ease instead of jolting awake to an alarm.
Tackle a project. Dive into a home organization project, hobby or creative pursuit that will keep you happily busy.
Get active. Go for a hike, hit the gym or play a sport. Exercising can boost energy and mood.
Treat yourself. Plan something indulgent like a massage, long bath or fancy coffee drink.
Say no to overbooking. Leave some unstructured time instead of packing your schedule.
The key is having a sense of purpose while still building in flexibility. Strive for balance between productivity and pure leisure.
Do you ever struggle with guilt over how you spend your rest days? How do you get over it?
It’s normal to sometimes feel guilty about “wasting” your precious time off, especially if you spend it lounging around. Here are some ways to get over rest day guilt:
- Remember leisure has value for your mental health.
- Forgive yourself – you don’t have to optimize every second.
- Do a quick task to get a sense of productivity.
- Tackle chores so you can really relax.
- Make a weekend bucket list to look forward to.
- Reflect on how you recharged your batteries.
- Set a timer for reading or TV instead of endless scrolling.
- Plan active outings so you don’t just sit around.
The key is being intentional about how you refresh and renew. As long you recharged your body and mind, a rest day is time well spent.
Conclusion
How you spend your well-deserved rest days is a very personal choice. The key is using the time to truly relax, re-energize, and do activities that spark joy and enrichment in your life. Experiment to find the right balance and variety of restorative activities that leave you feeling refreshed. Avoid comparisons with how others spend their time off. Define what rest means for you. Protect this important time so you can start each new work week feeling inspired and ready to be your best self.