Waking Up Thinking About Work on the Weekend? Here’s What You Need to Know!
Picture this: it’s Saturday morning. You should be easing into the day, maybe having a slow coffee, or finally reading that book you keep meaning to pick up. But instead, your brain is swirling with work thoughts:
“Did I reply to that email?”
“What if I’ve missed something for next week?”
“Maybe I’ll just jot down a quick plan…”
Sound familiar?
If this is you, let me just say that you’re not alone. I really hope that helps you feel a little better?
Being a business owner comes with a LOT of responsibility. It’s only natural for your work brain to pop in when you’re supposed to be off-duty. You care about your business, after all, and that’s a GOOD thing.
But let’s get real for a moment: if you’re waking up every weekend like this, it’s a sign that something’s gotta give.
Why Do We Do This to Ourselves?
When you run a business, it’s like carrying around a never-ending to-do list in your head. You wear ALL the hats: CEO, admin, marketing, customer service, tea-maker (let’s not forget that one). And because everything feels so important, it’s hard to switch off.
Add in a little societal hustle culture and—BAM—you’ve got yourself a recipe for weekend worry.
The Big Risk: Burnout
Here’s the not-so-fun truth: running on empty doesn’t work. If you keep letting your weekends turn into sneaky workdays, you’re heading straight for burnout.
Burnout isn’t just feeling tired. It’s the full-on I-can’t-keep-going-like-this kind of tired. Exhaustion, lack of motivation, even starting to resent the very thing you used to love (your business!). And here’s the really hit bit…you often don’t even realise you’re there until you’re already in the thick of it. OOOOOOF!
So, What Can We Do?
The answer is simple (and not always easy): REST.
Now, before you roll your eyes, hear me out! Rest isn’t a luxury. It’s not something you earn after working yourself into the ground. Rest is a NECESSITY.
If you’re thinking, “But if I don’t work, everything will fall apart!” - I get it. I’ve been there and a lot of clients have too. But trust me, your business won’t implode if you take a weekend off. In fact, it’ll probably thank you for it.
5 Tips to Stop Work Thoughts from Taking Over Your Weekend
Schedule downtime like it’s a meeting
If it’s not in the diary, it’s not happening, right? Block out proper no-work time in your calendar. Yes, your business is important, but so are you.Create an end-of-week routine
Close the laptop, write your to-do list for Monday, and physically step away from work. This signals to your brain that it’s time to clock off. I’ve got an audio guide which you may find helpful for this!Practise mindfulness
When your mind starts drifting to work, bring yourself back to the moment. A deep breath, a grounding walk, or journaling can help shift you out of “work mode.”Outsource the things that drain you
Not everything needs your personal touch. If admin or social media is eating your time, get some help (and ahem, if you need a VA, I know a good one 😉).Start small
Taking the whole weekend off might feel like a pipe dream right now, and that’s okay. Start with an hour or even a morning where work is strictly OFF the menu.
You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup
Look, I know taking a step back feels scary. We’ve all been told that hard work is the secret to success. But here’s the thing: you don’t need to work HARDER. You need to work SMARTER.
Your business doesn’t need a burnt-out, stressed-out version of you. It needs the energised, creative, and happy YOU. And the only way to be that person is to rest, recharge, and reclaim your weekends.
So, what’s the plan this weekend? Can you commit to one hour (just one?) of guilt-free, stress-free rest?
Because YOU matter just as much as your business does. 💛
I truly hope you’ve found this helpful.
Have you experienced (or currently experiencing) burnout? I’d love to hear from you - come over and DM me on Instagram (I promise this is not a sneaky ploy to get you to work with me - I‘m fully booked at the moment anyway 😉)
