What I love seeing in the U.S. is the Friday afternoon traffic. No, not the angry honking, or the rush-hour jams we see here—but a parade of joy! Cars streaming out of town with bicycles hanging on their backs, boats being towed behind, and inside each vehicle, laughter bubbling like soda.
The Americans aren’t escaping work—they’re recharging from it.
They’ve worked hard through the week, given their all to their jobs, and now it’s time for what they call “the weekend.” But look closer, and you’ll see something deeper: most times, their fun is never reckless, their relaxation never destructive. Monday morning, they return with a tan, a story, and a sparkle in their eyes. They’ve not run from their work; they’ve refuelled for it.
Now, that’s a rhythm worth learning from.
When I see those weekend caravans, I’m reminded of how God Himself balanced His week. Six days of creating, commanding, shaping, and forming—and on the seventh, He rested. But have you noticed something? He didn’t rest because He was tired; He rested to delight in His creation. He looked at all He’d made and said, “It is good.”
That’s the kind of rest we need—a pause to rejoice, not to collapse.
A rest that fills you, not flattens you.
Sadly, most of us have misunderstood the word “fun.” For some, its loud music, late nights, and sleeping through half of Monday’s meeting. For others, it’s an endless scroll on the phone until the blue light burns holes in their sleep. Then we wonder why we feel like zombies!
Fun that drains isn’t fun—it’s fatigue dressed in fancy clothes.
True rest doesn’t mean shutting down; it means tuning in—to your inner self, to your family, to God. Sometimes, it’s a walk without your phone, a laugh with your spouse, or reading that book that’s been waiting on your shelf for years. It’s not about escaping your life; it’s about re-entering it with joy.
Try this: on Friday evening, before you leap into your weekend plans, ask yourself—“Will what I do now help me work better on Monday?” If the answer is no, you might be escaping, not resting.
Remember, even God balanced work and rest. He didn’t create endlessly. He paused. Reflected. Celebrated.
So next Monday if you crawl back to work half-asleep, coffee in one hand and regret in the other, maybe it’s time to rethink your weekends. If you go back more tired than you left, then you didn’t rest—you just changed your battlefield!
Balance your work and your fun, my friend. Let your fun feed your work, not fight it.
And if on Monday your boss asks, “Had a good weekend?”—don’t just nod and say, “Yes, sir.” Smile, and mean it. Because when you’ve truly rested, your work will start smiling back at you…!
The Author conducts an online, eight session Writers and Speakers Course. If you’d like to join, do send a thumbs-up to WhatsApp number 9892572883 or send a message to bobsbanter@gmail.com
