When You Work On The Weekend
Five lessons learned from working on the weekend.
From 2008-2013, I worked as a Registered Nurse in the Telemetry Unit and the Intensive Care Unit. I wrote about what it was like to work the night shift, but now I want to write some lessons I learned from working on the weekend.
1. Find time to rest and relax on Monday and Tuesday.
If you’re working the weekend, you still need to rest. Find time to slow down on other days. Block off your time after work and make sure you get enough sleep. You’ll be tempted to keep up with the rest of the working world, but you need to keep some days to recharge.
2. Learn to say “no” so you can focus on what’s important.
For some time, I was working every weekend because I was going to school on the weekdays. So I had to understand that by saying “no” to things that I didn’t really need or want to do, I was prioritizing the time I need to get my school work done as well as work my job. This might mean saying no to watching movies or going out to social events.
3. Don’t neglect your spiritual life.
When you’re working on the weekend, you miss Sunday morning church. Find a way to go to church on another day of the week. Get plugged into a fellowship group. Be purposeful and aggressive with your friends who can keep you accountable. If available, watch recordings of the service and listen to the sermon audio.
4. Find ways to get out of working on the weekend.
Consider another job or ask if you can switch working dates with someone. Or just put in the time so you have seniority and don’t have to work the weekends. This will go a long way in safeguarding your spiritual life.
5. Be grateful for being able to work.
Some healthcare jobs require you to work on the weekends, and that is fine. If this is your career, be grateful for it and make the most out of your time. Become closer and reach out to your coworkers who also have to work on the weekend. Exploit the weekdays that you are free and make the most of those to love God and love people.
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