TGIM: Weekend Woes

Welcome back to Thank God It’s Monday!
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tl;dr After the holiday weekend, your goal should be to feel good on Tuesday. Enjoy your drinks and snacks, and simultaneously take action to feel satisfied about your weekend in hindsight. Some restrictions will bring more fulfillment than living restriction-free.

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Happy Memorial Day weekend! I hope you all did something that brought you joy.
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Whether you are enjoying some (finally) nice weather at a barbecue, biking on the boardwalk, or simply spending time with family, I hope it has been a weekend well spent.

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If you indulged in some of your favorites this weekend, like sweet treats or a few drinks, I hope you did that in a way that leaves you feeling good.
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The bottom line: do things you enjoy in a way that does not leave you filled with regret.​
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This past week, I was talking about how some people say they have eaten so well (aka whole foods) for so long, they no longer crave fried foods. You know, around here we’re all about mostly whole foods, getting your steps, and staying hydrated. But I don’t know if there will ever come a day when crispy chicken fingers don’t sound absolutely delicious.

But the best way to enjoy chicken fingers for me is in a way that I do it without regret. It’s like when you spend time on your phone or sleep a little extra. Sometimes you eat chicken fingers, spend time on your phone, oversleep, and feel guilty about it. But other times, you can do the same exact actions without feeling regret at all. So if the difference is not in the action itself, it comes down to the mindset around it.

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It all comes down to intention. If you eat chicken fingers, do it with the intention of enjoying them. If you want to scroll on your phone, scroll for an intended amount of time. If you want to sleep in, do it intentionally. Do it in a way that you will feel good about it.

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This might mean eating the chicken fingers with vegetables or making sure the rest of the day has balanced meals. Or maybe scrolling can be after a long day of working hard on a project or lots of physical activity. Sleeping in might be wonderful after a long stretch at work, but not necessarily enjoyed as much if you’re doing it every day off.
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We think we want no restrictions on our indulgences. But we end up feeling guilty, sick, or even more lethargic (from too many chicken fingers or too much scrolling).

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When do you actually enjoy these indulgences the most?

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Probably when you do it in a way with some boundaries. When you set a goal and stick to it, even when it comes to fun and leisure. The best chicken fingers are the ones you don’t feel guilty about.
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So I hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend in a way where you don’t feel guilty or anxious going into the week. What can you do tonight to make yourself feel good, starting the week off on the right foot? What can you do in the future to make sure you enjoy all of your indulgences without regret?

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If you found some value in this, please share it with a friend you think would enjoy it! And let me know if you’d like to be added to get TGIM.​
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This week, my podcast recommendation is new from Science Vs. “The War Keeps Raging Against Science.”

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With that, I hope you’re ending off your holiday weekend refreshed, relaxed, and excited for the week. And consider any opportunities for indulgences that come up as an opportunity to practice them with the intention of feeling your best after.
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Until next time,

Shannon