I’ve determined that I don’t much care for three day weekends. Actually, that’s not quite true, I kind of enjoy the fun of three day weekends. What I don’t like is the aftermath.
As an introvert, I have a finite amount of energy to expend dealing with other human-beings 1. When that reserve is used up I crash pretty fast and tend to become extremely grumpy. Because of this, Sundays are a a day of great stress for me. I’ve got to balance my energy reserves well enough to be able to function during worship, and save just a bit for the afternoon so I’m not a monster at home. I try to time it so I begin to crash near bedtime. This is OK because Monday is my day off. I spend that day recharging and getting ready to handle the week.
This is why three day weekends are such a strain on me. My day of recharging suddenly gets filled with the impulses of extroverts, because a three-day weekend is a social holiday. Now I joke that I’m anti-social, but it’s not really true. I really enjoy having folks over to cook out, or chat by the pool, or get together for a cup of coffee. I am a social creature, and so I love having a cook out on people’s extra day off. It’s just that it screws up my routine of recharging my social batteries, and I feel the impact it has. Without that time of recharging, I find myself more easily stressed, far more grumpy, and more likely to snap at someone when I’m trying to concentrate. Driving after a three day weekend is particularly tormenting.
What’s this mean? It means I’m still exploring ways to compensate for the rest-day a three day weekend steals from me. As much as I enjoy the extra time with friends, it comes as a price.
- I was recently musing on what I should be on my grave-marker. I came to the conclusion it should read, “Shut up and leave me alone.” A friend of mine said she wants, “Just one more story!” I think we ought to be buried next to each other. ↩
Painfully Hopeful 
Don’t worry when it’s time to occupy the marker’s space, the three day weekend will stretch out to eternity and then you will get used to the three-dat week end.
Sent from my iPad
I hear you. I am also an introvert. Where I work, the day after a holiday is always pure chaos, so much so, I question whether it’s even worth it. Monday, I was so stressed about anticipating Tuesday, I had to skip my social plans and curl up on my recliner and cry instead. It turned out that my Tuesday was not as bad as I anticipated, it was even worse. I got through it, but I can’t help but think, it really shouldn’t be this hard…right?
I love your thoughts and the way you have articulated them here.
I’m not particularly introverted but I struggle with stuff that makes me feel very itchy and unsettled. Weekends, particularly Sundays, always seem to get to me. Can’t even put my finger on it… Just something about a Sunday that leaves me feeling more depleted than recharged! THREE DAY weekends even more so!
Thanks for the interesting read!
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This is so true! I always feel as if I need another day off to recover from a three day weekend. I love spending time with people, but I also need to be alone to regain my sanity 🙂