I’ve Had the Same Friday Night Ritual for Four Years (It Makes My Weekends SO Much Better!)

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I’ve worked from home since 2018, and since that time, I’ve perfected my weekly routine and don’t typically deviate from it. As a natural homebody and full-time freelancer, I’m grateful that I get to stay in my space whether I’m working or not, but to keep things from feeling too mundane or repetitive I decided to create my own personal “Fridays off” policy, which includes keeping my Friday nights to myself. 

For many people, Fridays are the start to the weekend and a day to blow off steam from the work or school week. That can mean going out, coming home late, and perhaps jam-packing the day with all kinds of (fun!) plans. However, after spending most of my 20s doing this, I figured it was time for a change — especially when I started working from home. 

The two years before I started working from home, I’d come home from the office after a long commute, eat leftovers or a quick dinner that my husband would whip up, watch reruns, and get ready for bed. Before that, I was at university full time and would spend weeknight evenings studying and weekend evenings (including Fridays) going out with friends. Both of these chapters in my life felt like they happened to me, and not like I had any control or even choice (I have to go to work; I have to go to school; I have to go out when I’m not in school). Working from home gave me freedom I didn’t know I could have, and gave me the flexibility to design my week in whichever way I wanted.

Creating my own Friday schedule ensures that I’m doing something I enjoy and creating a ritual out of it. After a week of work, chores, and running errands, I use this day not just as a reset, but as a way to start my weekend and feel up for anything Saturday and Sunday might hold. In fact, Fridays are so special to me that if I want or need to see family and friends during the week, I’ll always suggest a Thursday.

I first started going to spin classes in 2019, but took a break in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 precautions. It then became part of my weekly routine in 2022, and I started going every Friday afternoon. Getting out of the house, especially if I have a particularly busy workweek, is always a nice treat (plus, it’s a great form of self-care). After I get home, shower, and get comfortable, I set up my dining table as a makeshift nail salon and paint my own nails — this has been my longest standing Friday ritual for about 10 years. Next, my husband, who also works from home and cooks every meal from Monday to Thursday, orders takeout for dinner, which also means no kitchen cleanup for me! (I have a fresh manicure after all.) To end the evening, we choose a new movie from our watch list, alternating picks every week. 

The spin class and at-home mani happened to always land on Fridays so once this schedule felt solidified, I recommended the takeout and new movie idea to my husband. I’ve always been a planner and have thrived on routines, so this seemingly new “Fridays off” ritual felt right, comfortable, and intentional. 

My Fridays focus on wellness at every level — from an intense workout to a beauty treatment to an indulgent dinner and movie at home. Whether my weekend is equally relaxing or filled with back-to-back events, my Friday ritual allows me to decompress from the week, feel eager for the weekend, and feel rested for the next week. 

While there are still a few Fridays where I may still have to finish a project, go to a birthday party, or make plans with a friend who only has this day off, I still do my best to focus on some “me time” and never neglect my forms of self-care.

You don’t need to have work-free Fridays or even have Friday be the start of your “weekend” to incorporate a night similar to this in your schedule. If you work Monday through Friday, you can make sure you prioritize a self-care moment after you clock out (whether that’s doing your nails or an extra-special skincare routine) and then have an evening at home that feels relaxing for you: It could include a movie and takeout, or maybe you prefer to try cooking a new meal every Friday — just do whatever signals “I’m chilling.” And if your day or days off fall on a different day, you can do this on the last day of your workweek.