Are you also someone who feels their weekend just slips away, leaving you feeling just as exhausted as the workweek? I used to be, and I know how demotivating and devastating it can feel.

But you need your weekends to be more than just two days of a break because, throughout the week, you are juggling deadlines, meetings, and personal commitments. So, more than anything else, you need your weekend to rest, recharge, and truly enjoy life.

So, how to become minimalist and turn your weekend to your safe space instead of the extension of your to-do list? Wait, what? The secret to enjoying life is minimalism.

Well, yes! Learning how to become minimalist isn't just about decluttering your space-it's about decluttering your mind and life so you can finally make the most of your time off.

And here are five secrets on how to live minimalist and create weekends that genuinely refresh you.

1. Set clear boundaries between work & life

Your weekend should belong to YOU. Period. No designation, no job profile, and definitely no manager can tell you or make you live otherwise.

Yet, it's easy to let work creep in-checking emails, taking calls, or simply thinking about Monday. The truth is you don't need weekends just to sleep or catch up with friends; no harm if you do just that. But you need it because of much more than just rest.

Throughout your work week, you are busy catching up on your work and professional goals, so giving yourself a breather in between is essential for you to know if you are on the right track or not. Plus, it is also necessary to recharge and prepare yourself for a brand new week so that your body, mind, and soul remain alert and productive.

And this is exactly where minimalism comes in and encourages you to declutter your mind by setting firm work-life boundaries.

How to become minimalist? You could try the following:

• Turn off work notifications on Friday evening.
• Set an out-of-office response for non-urgent matters.
• Schedule personal activities in advance so work doesn't take over.

A minimal lifestyle means having control over your time so that you can have clearer boundaries and more energy to be present where you are. After all, the better your personal and professional goals are separated, the more you will enjoy your work and breaks.

2. Declutter your physical & digital space

Believe it or not, messy surroundings contribute to mental clutter. Studies show that over 70% of people feel stressed and anxious because of the clutter in their homes or work spaces.

But clutter isn't always just physical because as much as that messy drawer or closet might be troubling you, so are your unread messages, emails, and unused apps that pop notifications and distract you.

If you truly want to enjoy your weekends, start by decluttering your environment, and by the environment, I mean both your physical and digital space. Minimalism supports the concept that fewer distractions lead to greater peace and the key to "how to minimalist" your space lies in simplicity.

How to become minimalist? You could try the following:

• Tidy up your workspace on Friday so you don't carry that stress into the weekend.
• Clear out unnecessary digital clutter: delete unused apps, unsubscribe from emails, and clean up your desktop.
• Keep only what adds value-if there is anything that doesn't serve a purpose, let it go!

A clutter-free space creates a clutter-free mind, allowing you to focus on what truly matters and ultimately helping you enjoy your week off in more peace.

Click here to download our eBook on digital minimalism.

3. Prioritise experiences over possessions

I know you keep hearing this often, but this is no joke; it is pure gold, and you must never forget it.

Finding the answer to how to live minimalist isn't about giving up everything you love. Instead, it is about achieving clarity and finding out what things you should prioritise because it is these things that truly bring joy.

Research shows that experiences bring longer-lasting happiness than material things. When you spend your time making memories and doing the things you actually love, over spending your weekends shopping for more stuff, you create space in your life for the things that add actual value.

And how to become minimalist? You could try the following:

• Exploring nature, going for a walk, or trying a new outdoor activity.
• Taking a spontaneous day trip instead of scrolling through online sales.
• Spending your time with loved ones instead of accumulating more things.

Minimalism shifts your focus from owning more to living more, and with this approach to life, you will learn to differentiate between mere possessions and memories and experiences that make your life more intentional.

H3 4. Plan a slow, intentional weekend

If your idea of a perfect weekend is filled with too many activities and finding yourself hyper and overstuffed, then my friend, your weekend is going to be as exhausting as your work week.

When you choose to simplify your commitments and do only what truly nourishes, you discover the path to understanding how to live minimalist. Weekends are not for keeping your body and mind engaged in a random manner, just like your work days, because then you aren't allowing yourself to reset your energy.

Instead, when you plan to spend your weekend in a more intentional way, you start living with a greater purpose and gain the clarity to understand what serves you better to truly live and enjoy your time.

How to become minimalist? You could try the following:

• Saying no to obligations that feel like a burden.
• Blocking out "nothing time" where you can just rest.
• Doing one thing at a time rather than multitasking.

An unhurried weekend allows you to enjoy the moment and recharge fully, helping you prepare yourself better for your personal and professional goals.

H3 5. Align your weekend with your professional goals

Well, of course, there are many of you who do not see weekends as time off from your career but instead as time for your career growth. And to be honest, that's great as well because you are choosing to use your time for growth and self-improvement.

But for each of you thinking so, here is a little reminder that you shouldn't take it for granted. This time isn't about working more but rather using your time intentionally to align with your professional goals in a fulfilling way. Why? Because then you will be purposefully directing your time and energy towards something that adds value and not just letting your work spill onto the weekend.

And how to become minimalist? You could try the following:

• Reading a book that inspires or educates you.
• Taking up a hobby that fuels creativity.
• Practicing mindfulness or journaling to gain clarity.

Decluttering your mind is necessary to keep only what helps you grow while letting go of distractions.

Click here to download our eBook on professional minimalism.

Minimalism is about achieving freedom

Minimalism isn't about having less; it's about making more of your time, energy, and experiences.

But you must understand that whether it's your work week or your weekends, your focus should be on investing your time and energy in things, goals, and experiences that build you and help you grow positively.

And when you master how to become minimalist, your weekends won't feel like a rushed attempt to recover from the workweek. Instead, they will start feeling like a fulfilling, more meaningful part of your life.

Click here to read more such blogs on gaining clarity in life and achieving the freedom to live life as you wish.

Click here to learn more about minimalism.

This blog was written by Ayesha Mollah, a professional blogger who has embraced minimalism since 2023. Being on the minimalism journey is helping her find "clarity" amidst the chaos.

Commonly Asked Questions

1. Isn't minimalism just about getting rid of things?

It's a very incorrect concept that minimalism is about only decluttering physical things. In reality, minimalism is a lifestyle that helps you simplify all aspects of life, whether your schedule, digital space, or even your mindset so that you can focus on what truly matters.

2. How do I start being a minimalist if I have a busy professional life?

In fact, if you are a busy professional, take this as your sign to start practicing minimalism because you are in the greatest need of clarity and simplifying your life. And as for the steps, you can begin with small things, like decluttering your digital space or setting work-life boundaries.

3. What if I feel guilty about saying no to weekend commitments?

It's natural to feel a little awkward or even guilty in the beginning because, for years, you have been doing otherwise. But you should remember that saying no to things that drain you means saying yes to things that truly recharge you. So, it is important not to let guilt overpower you and make you lose focus.

4. How can minimalism help me reduce weekend stress?

Minimalism is a mindset, so when you start applying it to your life, you reduce your mental fatigue and stress when you let go of unnecessary distractions and commitments, helping you to rest and recharge properly.

5. Can I still enjoy entertainment and social media while practicing minimalism?

Of course you can! Minimalism doesn't mean becoming anti-social, but you need to focus on mindful consumption so that you engage with digital content more intentionally rather than mindlessly scrolling.