How I Spend My Days Off at Home and How You Can Too

From little reminders to activities you can try, this proud homebody is here to help you enjoy the perfect day at home, whether it’s during a long break or just a short weekend.

Source: Pinterest

1. Wake Up Early

NO, DON’T LEAVE. I know. Holidays and waking up early don’t seem like they belong together. I mean, it’s the day when you don’t have to get ready for school or work, so you can finally sleep in. So why don’t you, right?

Okay, hear me out.

You know those days during a break, or maybe on a weekend, when you decide to sleep more and wake up late in the afternoon? Then, not long after, you think, “I only have a few hours left?? Where did my day off go?? Did I only sleep today?”

Yep! Waking up early prevents that kind of regret, because when your day starts early, you have much more time to do whatever you’ve been wanting to do (things you can’t do when you’re busy with school or work). You’ll also feel fresher and lighter as you breathe in the dawn air. And don’t even get me started on all the blessings you’ll get when you wake up early.

BESIDES, it’s your day off. So (spoiler alert for point no. 8), you can still sleep anytime you want later that day! Just make sure to wake up early first 😀

2. Stay Off Social Media

What is the most time-consuming yet worthless thing you do, if not mindlessly scrolling through Shorts, then realizing two hours have passed just. like. That?

I’m not saying you should stay away from your phone during the holidays. I mean, you still have to reply to those WhatsApp messages and access all the entertainment on your phone (Netflix, YouTube, etc.).

I’m saying you should stay away from social media like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Especially features like Reels and the For You Page that get you doomscrolling. Believe me, I’ve tried it. On the days I restrain myself from checking social media, my day off feels much longer, and I get to do more things! You also won’t have to deal with headaches or nausea from staring at a screen for too long. Try it!

3. Gentle Stretch

Alright, now that you’ve woken up early and have plenty of time on your hands, what can you do?

Having a nice little stretch is always a good idea. If you want to go all in with a full home workout, then go for it. But at the very least, do a 15-mins stretch to wake your body up, ease those muscles, and create those beautiful body lines.

4. Make Breakfast For Your Family

A break or even a mere weekend is your chance to spend quality time with family members you barely get to see on busy days. Or better yet, to show them a small act of kindness. The good news is, you also need to eat breakfast. So why not cook a simple breakfast in a bigger portion for you and your family? Hitting two birds with one stone.

I had always wanted to try this simple no-oven brownie recipe I saved on Instagram not long ago. But I hadn’t bought the ingredients, and all I had in the refrigerator were frozen fries and several types of chicken nuggets - cheese, spicy, and original. So that’s what I cooked for my family. I just served them hot on the dining table and enjoyed them with store-bought Thousand Island sauce. That’s it!

What about you? What kind of breakfast would you make for your family?

5. Watch Movies or Series

There are certain movies that instantly come to mind when we talk about specific seasons.

Winter, for example, my go-to (because it’s also one of my favorite movies) is Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. The first Home Alone movie is great too.

Other year-end options include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Little Women (1994) - I think we can all agree the recent version is a fall movie, while the ’90s one is definitely for winter - and The Holiday (2006). Jude Law season, am I right? There’s also a newer movie, Nutcrackers (2024), starring Ben Stiller, which is sooo underrated but really heartwarming and fun to watch.

Source: Pinterest

If we’re talking about New Year, classic rom-coms like Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and While You Were Sleeping (1995) are perfect picks. And if you prefer Korean movies, you definitely don’t want to miss A Year-End Medley (2021)—the ultimate New Year movie.

Basically, every moment of the year has must-watch movies you can play on your OTT platforms at home.

Other than movies, you can also binge-watch series on your day off.

Recently, Stranger Things dropped its final season, and final episode. Wow, what a wonderful ride it’s been. I also really like how they decided to release episodes of Season 5 on three different days: November 26, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve. Turning it into a serial which fans can’t help but tune in to during their days off. Smart move. Love it!

6. Wash Up

“I’m not going anywhere. Can I at least not wash up?”

No. First, taking a bath is a basic hygiene habit. I’m not asking you to go all out with a full pamper day, right? Second, it feels sooo good to be fresh and clean when you’re spending the day at home. With your hair combed, face washed, teeth brushed, and a nice-scented perfume on. Throw on some cozy pajamas and voilà! Perfect holiday.

Or, if it’s really that hard, once a day is fine. After all, it’s cold, and you’re not sweating or going anywhere that exposes you to dirt and pollution. But still, at least take a bath once.

7. Planning & Journaling

I happened to create this guide during the New Year, so I used this break to reflect on last year and set goals for the year ahead. BUT you can plan your days anytime. Not just yearly plans like resolutions or stuff. There’s also monthly planning, daily planning, or even weekly planning during the weekend. And actually, it’s never too late to do annual planning at any point in the year. You can still do it even if you find this article in the middle of June.

Let me know in the comments below if you want a planning guide! I’d be more than happy to share it with you.

Besides planning, you can also do some short journaling to reconnect with yourself( it’s easy to lose yourself when you’ve been hustling too hard or doing repetitive tasks every day, you know). Or you can simply list the things you’re grateful for~

8. Take A Nap

You’ve been waiting for this.

A day off is the day to release all the fatigue you’ve built up during the week. On weekdays, you have to wake up early to avoid traffic, fight off sleepiness in the afternoon, and go to bed late after finishing this and that. So a day off is the day to rest, like really rest!

You have a whole day to yourself, especially when you stay at home. And if you wake up early, you even have all the time in the world to sleep.

There are times when I fall asleep around 8 in the morning while my family and I are watching animation together, or when I briefly fall asleep at 5 p.m. just lying on the carpet while it’s raining outside. But my favorite is the afternoon nap. After I’ve done this and that in the morning, I have lunch, and then, like a baby, the sleepiness hits. That’s when I restore my energy with two to three hours of sleep.

Basically, you can sleep anytime on your day off!

9. Read Books

Ah, don’t you just love the idea of not doing anything all day but reading books?

There are so many interesting books at the store waiting to be grabbed. There are also so many untouched books on the shelves waiting to be read. The brain is just craving new insights and new stories—it wants to be fed. But sometimes our time gets taken up by other activities. Argh!

So yeah, the holiday is the time to finish those books!

What books are on your TBR list? As for me, I still have three unread books at home (I’m currently reading A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara), yet I already have eight more titles I want to purchase—but I’ve made a promise to finish this one first before buying another, haha.

10. Watch YouTube Videos

There are so many things to watch on YouTube, you know. Vlogs, podcasts, and more.

Recently, I really enjoyed watching Q2HAN’s vlog from their trip to Copenhagen last year. I’ve always loved their relaxing and therapeutic vlogs. They somehow make life feel romantic. And at this time of year, when it’s always cloudy, windy, and rainy, Copenhagen’s vibe feels like a perfect match.

My favorite couple from a dating show called Heart Pairing also opened a YouTube channel named Shin Wooji. The way they package their vlogs really suits my taste and preferences. Even if you haven’t watched the show and have no idea who they are, I think you’ll still enjoy the videos where they leisurely explore places around their neighborhood during their dates.

Another video I want to recommend is a podcast hosted by Yoo Inna, created in the style of a radio broadcast. The chill conversations with the guests, along with Yoo Inna’s ear-candy voice, make the show a truly soothing watch.

Just lie on your bed or sofa and take your time watching YouTube videos you enjoy. What a perfect way to spend your weekend, huh?

Or Just Let Yourself Do Nothing and Be Okay with It

During a break, you might feel the urge to do things you didn’t get the chance to do before. For example, completing all 10things I recommended earlier. Or doing chores, pampering yourself, being productive… la-di-da, la-di-da.

However, your body, mind, and heart don’t always move in the same direction. Maybe your mind wants you to “make the most of your holiday” or “be productive, Pinterest style.” But what if your heart says no? What if your body is just too tired? Then it’s okay not to do any of those things. With one condition: you’re truly fine with it.

I don’t want you to feel bad because you spent your break lying on your back instead of getting a haircut, doing an ear candle, or getting a massage. I don’t want you to beat yourself up for not cleaning out your closet because you wanted to take more time to pray or meditate now that you have a day off. If you get overly full from a hearty meal, I want you to feel grateful instead of blaming yourself for getting sleepy afterward and not opening your laptop to work on projects.

Forgive yourself for not “making the most of your break.” For not “being productive.” Allow yourself to heal in your own way. No guilt. No regret. No “I should’ve.” No “if only I.” Only by accepting your own way of resting can you truly feel rested, fully satisfied with your holiday, and relieved that your day off is well spent.