Sunday already? 7 hacks to make your weekend last longer before Monday crashes in

Gasp! It's Sunday and your weekend has barely begun. Now it's going to end soon. But hold that depressing thought. There's still time to fix this. With a few clever hacks, you can stretch your weekend, or maybe, apply it for the next one.

Let's have a go, shall we?

Sometimes, it's really okay to switch off your alarms for the weekend. You've earned it after a long, hard week. Instead, give your body permission to wake up naturally. Even if you sleep in only an extra hour or two, it can feel like extra time in your day. Your brain wakes up more slowly, stress levels drop, and suddenly your morning coffee tastes better than ever. It’s good to know how a tiny act of sleeping in can make the weekend feel longer and more luxurious, and no one likes starting a day already annoyed.

That said, don't sleep for the whole day, okay? Okay.

Work emails, messages, and deadlines kill your weekend quickly. The first step in reclaiming your free time is setting strict boundaries. Turn off notifications, close your laptop, and let your colleagues know you’re offline. Protecting your weekend isn’t selfish, it’s smart. Without work invading your mental space, you will feel less stressed, more present, and able to enjoy your time off fully.

You don’t need a plane ticket to feel like you’re on holiday. A micro adventure can be anything from exploring a new park, wandering a quirky neighborhood, or trying a café you’ve been eyeing for months. Even short excursions break the routine and make your weekend feel bigger than it actually is. Bonus points if it involves a little exercise, walking or cycling makes time feel slower and your mood instantly better. The goal is novelty: your brain perceives new experiences as 'extra time,' stretching your weekend in the best possible way.

Screens steal a lot of your time. Social media, emails, and endless scrolls can make hours vanish without notice. Dedicate at least one or two hours to being completely offline. Read a book, take a long bath, oil your hair, or simply stare out the window, no judgment. Disconnecting allows your mind to slow down, notice details, and appreciate moments. You might even find yourself thinking creatively or coming up with ideas you’ve been putting off. By reclaiming even a small chunk of time away from screens, your weekend stretches out, feels richer, and leaves you genuinely refreshed instead of digitally drained.

Weekends feel shorter when chores sneak in one by one. Dishes, laundry, and tidying can eat away at hours if you let them. Instead, batch them: tackle all your errands and tasks early, then reward yourself with uninterrupted leisure. The beauty: Once chores are out of the way, you can truly relax without guilt hovering over your head. It's like clearing mental clutter: fewer responsibilities, more freedom. Your weekend hours suddenly feel longer because you’re savouring every fun or restful moment rather than spending precious time stressing over tasks you didn’t plan for.

Weekends work best when you balance rest and activity. Too much doing nothing can feel wasted, while over-scheduling can feel exhausting. Find a middle ground: binge your favourite show, take a nap, read, and fit in a walk, hike, or a creative hobby. Alternating rest and action keeps your energy high and the day interesting. Your brain perceives varied experiences as longer periods of time, meaning you get the best of both worlds. By consciously mixing downtime with small adventures, you’ll feel like you’ve squeezed every minute out of your weekend, without burning out.

Constantly checking the time is the quickest way to feel like your weekend is slipping away. Treat your days off like a timeless experience, at least for a few hours. Let meals, naps, and activities flow naturally. You might be impressed at how much you can fit in without a schedule breathing down your neck. Forgetting the clock gives your brain the impression that time is expanding, and suddenly your weekend doesn’t feel rushed. It’s the simplest hack for stretching hours: focus on what you’re doing, not how much time you have left.