Everybody loves Friday. It is the day associated with happy hours, taking off early, and sighs of relief.

I treat Fridays like Wednesday.

I’ve been in the Customer Service industry since I was 15. Working weekends is something that I’ve grown used to, but am still frustrated by. There are obvious downsides to never being available when everyone else is. I can’t go to a Saturday barbeque, and I can’t have Sunday brunch. Instead, I am benefiting from the people who go out on weekends. Earning my tips, and enduring the crowds at the vineyard. It’s not easy, but there are silver linings to having Monday and Tuesday at my disposal.

I Never Have Trouble Scheduling Appointments

People struggle to find doctors who are available on weekends. Cutting into a workday is necessary sometimes, but I never have to. Tuesday afternoons are often open for any doctor’s appointment. What’s more, I can schedule them after rush hour so I don’t have to deal with traffic along the way. This applies to other appointments like car maintenance, grocery shopping, or vet appointments. Although the vet still counts as a doctor… you get my point.

To-Do Lists Get Done Faster

Since I don’t have many social obligations on Monday and Tuesday, I don’t have any excuse to put off my chores. That being said, I still spend my days off at a leisurely pace. But between breakfast and television, I still fit in doing the dishes and laundry. There doesn’t seem to be the same pressure to get things accomplished. I don’t have anywhere to be (save a doctor’s appointment), so I can break up my time at a manageable pace.

Friends Are Adaptable

I’ve had this schedule for some time now. Long enough that my friends know I am not available during “traditional” hours. So they accommodate me. Instead of getting together on Friday, we’ll plan a Sunday evening so I can swing by after work. Monday’s have also been a good time to host a few people for dinner. And if there happens to be a gathering on a weekend that I want to go to, everyone knows that I can’t stay late. This also applies to events that I can’t go to. I realize that there are things I’m going to miss, but no one is going to say I’m missing them on purpose. That’s how life is with a weekend work schedule, and my friends understand.

Guaranteed Alone Time

There is something to be said for solitude. I love seeing people, but I see them plenty at my job and I need a break. I get lonely, missing out on the weekend fun, but I am also thankful that I get the entire house to myself. No husband, no crowds, only me and the dogs. I know myself enough that moments like this are necessary for my mental health. I cherish the time by myself and use it to replenish my well-being.

Working Wednesday through Sunday might not be for everyone. There are days when I wish I weren’t one of those people. But I enjoy my job and I still get my weekend. Though it lands on different days than everyone else. I am joined by many, many people in the service industry. Please remember when you are out on a Saturday, the people helping you are a different breed. We dedicate ourselves to the weekend by serving you. And while you are dreading Monday, we can’t wait for it to get here.

Photo by ArtCoreStudios courtesy of Pixabay