It is one thing to be successful, another to be exceptionally successful. But to attain a high level of success, you have to be willing to put in the work. So, how do you get more done in less time?
Author Charles Duhigg says in his book The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, “Change might not be fast and it isn’t always easy. But with time and effort, almost any habit can be reshaped.” For some people, that could mean they only have time on Saturday and Sunday to build on weekday habits or start new weekend-only habits that help them become successful, but they make the most of that limited time.
So, what can you do with your weekends? Try following some of the habits of successful people to see how they spend their weekends and set the tone for a week of crazy, productive work.
1. They Wake Up Early
Apple CEO Tim Cook is said to wake up at 3:45 a.m. every morning, including weekends. It’s wrong to assume that because it’s the weekend, you need to stay in bed until midday. So some habits of successful people start with watching the sunrise, even on the weekends, because they know time is precious and shouldn’t be wasted, no matter what day it is.
Pro tip: Create a routine to help you get going on weekend mornings. You can sign up for early exercise classes, spend extra time making a healthy breakfast, or sit down and schedule your plans for the weekend.
2. They Read
“Reading is important. If you know how to read then the whole world opens up to you.” —Barack Obama
You cannot negate the power of reading. By reading and expanding your knowledge, especially when you have extra time to focus on it on weekends, you are better informed to approach your tasks for the week.
Try adding some goal-setting books to your reading list, such as The 5 AM Club: Own Your Morning, Elevate Your Life by Robin Sharma to begin developing good daily habits or Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals by Michael Hyatt to develop more long-term goals.
Pro tip: If you aim to read more books, spend the weekend wandering through the shelves of your local library. Your library may also give you access to ebooks that you can check out without physically going to your local library branch.
3. They Spend Time Reflecting
As Socrates said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” And the habits of successful people follow that philosophy, using the weekends to look back at what worked and what didn’t. By reflecting on your week, you can focus on the improvements you need to make when your weekdays start again and develop a more mindful weekend routine.
Pro tip: Meditation can be a great way to center your mind and prepare for the weekend. Set a specific amount of time aside to reflect on your past week or use an app like Calm or Headspace for guided meditation.
4. They Make Time To Pursue Their Interests
Successful people know that chasing success shouldn’t mean forgetting their favorite hobbies. In fact, exploring your interests can help you move towards your goals. The weekend allows you to build habits for success, such as being creative with whatever you like to do most in your spare time. It can also be a good time to explore new interests or try hobbies you haven’t tried before to find new things that interest you.
Pro tip: Set aside a specific scheduled time each weekend to help you stick to your goal of pursuing your interests. For example, you can sign up for scheduled basketball games at the gym each weekend, set aside time to craft with friends or make a habit of dining out at a new restaurant every Saturday night to try different foods with other foodie friends.
5. They Give Back
“It seems like the more I give, the more I get, and that is the way it is supposed to go in life.” —Dolly Parton
More than 75 million Americans find a way to formally volunteer with an organization or program each year, so you won’t be alone in finding time to help your community. There are also plenty of informal ways to help, such as checking in on a neighbor or running errands for friends in need.
Pro tip: Use your existing skills to help others, such as volunteering to work on their taxes if you’re an accountant, using your knowledge to tutor students on specific subjects, or working with an organization like Habitat for Humanity if you’re good with construction projects.
6. They Disconnect
A recent survey found that 53% of Americans want to cut down on their phone usage, citing desires to have better time management or improve their mental and physical health. The weekend is the ideal time to seek a break for successful people with small goals when building habits for success, such as a social media detox that you build on each weekend or specific phone-free hours to help you stick to a routine that allows you to disconnect regularly.
Pro tip: Try using an app for your phone or computer that can block out distractions and help you disconnect. Apps such as Freedom, Session or Stay Focused can help you set a schedule for shutting down your access to certain websites or blocking your ability to browse any sites to help you avoid online distractions.
7. They Connect With Family
Weekdays might not offer busy, successful people enough time to spend with family and friends, but the weekend can be an opportune time to catch up. You can try new things with your family to help get out of the house, such as exploring outdoor trails or going to a local park, or for those who prefer quieter activities, a family game or movie night.
Pro tip: Get a family membership to local attractions like museums, zoos, or movie theaters to have an activity ready for you and your family to spend time together over the weekend.
8. They Stay In Shape
Exercising is energizing, which is why it may be a popular habit for successful people who need a refresh from the stresses of the work week. Not only does it strengthen your body, but allows you to clear your head and embrace fresh ideas for the new week. You can try different exercise options to find the best one for you. Try thinking outside of a typical gym to see what works. There are online videos for yoga or other workouts at home, or you can walk or jog in your neighborhood.
Pro tip: A gym membership can be a good investment if you take advantage of it. Check out the amenities of local gyms that best fit your weekend, like scheduled classes, extra weights, or a pool if you prefer to swim laps.
9. They Build Momentum
Successful people don’t settle for average. They are always focused on excellence by keeping up the momentum. “Success is the product of daily habits—not once-in-a-lifetime transformations,” according to James Clear in his book Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. The weekend is a good time to put things in perspective, gain clarity, and refocus on the most important goals you want to bring into the week ahead.
Pro tip: A goal-tracking app can help you keep your weekday momentum going into the weekend, but you can also check out less high-tech options like a bullet journal or a basic spreadsheet to stay on target.
10. They Plan For The Upcoming Week
It’s not just about where you’ve been but where you’re going, which is why one habit of successful people on the weekend is to plan ahead. The weekend is a natural time to reset your personal and professional plans, look forward to projects you have to finish at work or engage in personal pursuits during the week to help nourish your mental and physical health. It can be helpful to use a planning tool that best fits your organizational needs.
Pro tip: Consider various options to find the best tools to organize your week. You might find a to-do list or calendar app on your phone, like Sunsama, to be helpful. For those who prefer traditional pen and paper, write down and review your plans for the week using a planner, journal, or wall calendar.
How Will You Spend Your Weekends?
The weekend has only a finite amount of time before you’re back to the humdrum of Monday morning, so use it well by trying habits for success to see how you can incorporate them into your life and test out the ones that work best for you.
This weekend, think about ways to recharge, explore things that make you happy, learn new things with SUCCESS+, and spend time with people you care about. Adding new habits that fill your cup back up after a weekday of work or personal obligations can give you the reset you need for a successful week ahead and effective use of your weekend time.
This article was updated in April 2025. Photo by damircudic/iStock.com
