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This is a guest post by Ruzanna Hernandez, Ed. D., author of Efficiency and Organization and Organization and Efficiency in Personal Finances. Know more about Ruzanna.
Are You A Busy Parent?
Sure you are!
As a busy parent, your planner and calendar become the most important tool of your life. There is so much to do and keep track of each day. You get excited when you know a 3-day weekend is around the corner! You know you will have an “extra” day to catch up and even get ahead.
You can just use the extra time to rest, watch television shows and sleep in. But consider the 50/50 option. Plan ahead for 50% of the time to be used for fun and spending time with the family and the other 50% of the time doing what is necessary, such as errands you have put off due to lack of time.
In other words, 50% should be used productively, and 50% should be used for rest, relaxation, and fun. When the weekend ends, you’ll be happy and relieved to know you spent the time wisely!
10 Plans for Activities to do with the Family During a 3-Day Weekend
Choose from any of the activities below as you get ready for your 3-day weekend coming up.
1) Clean the house
Finding time for a good cleaning during a busy week is hard. A 3-day weekend is a good time to spend doing a more thorough cleaning and decluttering, especially the areas that do not get the attention all other times, like the living room, dining room, etc.
2) Do one self-care activity just for yourself
Self-care can be:
- Getting a manicure and pedicure
- Getting hair done
- Getting a facial
- Taking a warm bath
- Going to lunch with a friend
You must spend time on what you would enjoy doing for yourself as a busy parent.
3) Catch up on chores you have been doing, like washing the dog, washing the car, tidying up the garage, or any other activity you have been doing
4) Make dinner plans with the family
During a regular workday, it’s hard to make dinner arrangements with the family due to a lack of time. A 3-day weekend is a perfect opportunity to do that. Go out to the movies or to dinner to talk, relax, and do something you can all enjoy individually and together.
5) Run errands for the family
Family errands can include:
- Kids’ haircuts
- Buying clothes and shoes they need
- Dental or doctor appointments, if they are open
6) Do one activity together at home
Activities to do together at home can include:
- Baking together
- Barbequing in the yard or patio
- Playing a game
- Solving jigsaw puzzles
- Watching a movie together
- Making s’mores
7) Paying bills and budgeting
It’s essential to spend time budgeting each weekend. However, a 3-day weekend is a perfect time to look at more of your long-term budgeting for your household. Think about upcoming vacations, home expenses, transportation expenses, etc. Use the time to get ahead with your personal finances.
8) Spend time reading
You can read self-help books and any other genres of your choice. It’s hard to make time for this activity during a very busy workweek. Why not spend the 3-day weekend doing it?
9) Catch up on sleep
10) Use the extra time to plan ahead for the next few months
Planning ahead can include:
- Travel plans (vacations)
- Visiting theme parks
- Room remodelling, if needed
- Spring cleaning plans
- Museum trips
- Upcoming holiday events
- School or sports activities
- School-related events, like Open House, performances, and graduations
Use your planner and calendar to start thinking and planning on what is coming up during your 3-day weekend.
Final Thoughts
A 3-day weekend is just around the corner, even if it does not feel like it’s near enough! Start thinking about what activities you can incorporate into that time. Spend 50% on fun, relaxation, and 50% on errands and essential activities. You will ensure that your time is being spent wisely and effectively!
About the author
Ruzanna Krdilyan Hernandez, Ed.D. is an award-winning educator and content creator writing books/articles on efficiency, organizing skills, productivity, goal-setting, time management, planning, self-development, and achieving more in life. Her doctoral dissertation was on parent volunteerism and parental involvement at the high school level. She has conducted widespread research in this field as a scholar and practitioner. Hernandez is the author of efficiencyandorganization.com, a site that focuses on how people in every aspect of life can achieve more by being more organized and efficient with their processes to become consistent, timely, and successful. She is an expert and a lifelong learner of organization, time management, personal efficiency, and goal achievement. Some of her strategies are shared in this article, along with other researched and proven tips, techniques, and strategies.
The book, Efficiency and Organization, is available on Amazon. Her second book, Organization and Efficiency in Personal Finances, is also released and available on Amazon.
thewellbeingblogger.com 
These are great suggestions for activities to do! I do enjoy sleeping in on the weekends and I often clean our apartment too. We often watch a movie over the weekend as well, and last weekend we watched Lilo and Stitch!
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I’m sure any parents reading this will appreciate the ideas; I can imagine that when time is busy ut can be stressful to know what to do!
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Surely. Thank you for your perspective.
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