The Unconventional Tyranny of the Recurring Weekend.

I know this sounds weird, but not everyone loves the weekend.

I don’t.

Especially so when there is massive disruption to the regular rhythm of life that we choose, which we don’t break out of just because we wake up to a Saturday.

Especially for the things we love to do.

Just for purposes of clarification, “Unconventional” means that I adopt a different perspective when it comes to evaluating the weekend and “Tyranny” means there is no way I could escape, defend against it. While it does sound like a warfare of sorts, it actually means the opposite. It is a suppression of what I want to continue doing, in order to do what I don’t want to do which could be deemed necessary so as to achieve happiness and peace both internally and externally.

It is wordy, I know.

But these are real sentiments.

I, for one, love to work.

That is because I believe in what I do and I love what I do professionally. Every workday energises me as I spring out of bed and mechanically start thinking about the people I meet and the value I bring.

Weekends weigh me down. Thank goodness there are only 2 days in a weekend. I have always had Friday blues thinking about the disruption to my routine in terms of extracting myself from the environment I adore, to one that is alien.

And which may sound weird to many, I am actually referring to “home”.

“Going Home” is not just a physical activity for many others. It has a strong psychological bearing. It means going back to a place where we get to rest, relax around people we feel safe with and forge a bond through activities at home.

I understand that.

But not everyone thinks that way.

I don’t.

For one, I don’t operate in that mode. I don’t understand why having to sweat it out vacuuming the floor is an Act of Love when there are robo-vacuums doing a better job via automation. I don’t understand why we have to eat at the dining table worrying about spilling every drop of soup or sauce when we can obviously eat out and not worry about cleaning those tables. I also don’t understand why there is so much joy watching television or Netflix programs that are delivered in languages that we cannot comprehend.

“When we don’t understand, we enjoy the show more.”

Really?

Okay, maybe that is just weird to me.

Lunch and dinner appointments during the weekdays are played with different set of game rules. Always be early, always be the one waiting for our guests, always smile, have a strong handshake and talk shop.

Lunch and dinner in a weekend social setting is about being late, beating others to be the last one to arrive, frown and bitch about the working week, covering our mouths as we laugh loudly, rocking our chairs back and forth and talk everything non-productive, from the latest Korean Drama to trendy fashion matching singlet with bellbottom jeans.

I scratch my head.

These non-commercial settings are immensely pressurising because I can not, not attend.

“We only meet my friends once a month!”

These non-commercial settings are immensely pressurising because I cannot, not participate.

“What Korean dramas have you been watching recently?”

Truthfully and thankfully, none, you b**ch.

I just can’t wait to go, to be left alone and get back to my working desk.

In those environments, I would occasionally excuse myself to the toilet cubicles so I can reply to emails and set up meeting invites for that week.

I know many people excuse themselves to the office toilet cubicles for a nap during workdays. I do that at the weekends.

In a strange and uncanny fashion, I can understand why people are dying at the office the way I am dying in spirit over the weekends.

Too many tasks and activities just don’t make sense to me, and they are on my critical time-path towards the next working week.

I can’t wait for the working week to come.

And as I hide in the toilet cubicle at a shopping mall writing this story, I keep staring at the timer on my phone.

“Damn it. It is only 330pm on a Saturday.”

Yup, you got that right.

7 and half hours since I got up and I feel like I am ready for bed once again.

It is THAT tiring.

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About the Author:

As a Consultant by training, I believe in making the complex simple.

Because simplicity adds value.

Simplicity helps us gain clarity, and clarity helps us to grow.

And if we are not growing, then what’s the point of anything else?

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