A weekend comprises the two traditionally non-working days in a seven-day week. This is the Wikipedia definition for the term 'weekend'.
Wondering why is this the subject of my post today? Simple....the term is all over the place. Just look at your Facebook news feed and there is a torrent of 'sigh of reliefs' caused by the onset of the weekend! Go to any workplace on a Friday and the atmosphere is so very lively caused just by the anticipation of the upcoming weekend! Everyone is found wishing eachother a good weekend! There are weekend getaway holiday packages being sold by almost all the travel portals and operators. Long weekends (when one or more additional adjacent day to the weekend is also a holiday) are cause for festive cheer and sometimes delirious celebrations! 'TGIF' (Thank God It's Friday) is a common and well known phrase; even a brand representing the idea of taking time off and relaxing. Sunday evening is dreaded the most as Monday morning lurks close by. I find this a very strange (and interesting!) phenomenon. I call it the 'Weekend Mania'.
Even about 8 - 10 years ago, this phenomenon was unheard of. I do not recall looking forward to the weekend during the early years of my work life. Nor do I recall anybody else lamenting that the weekend was too far away! In fact I used to hate most of the weekends because I would not have anything to do. Of course, I did travel a bit during the weekend, went on treks and caught up with friends and family. But I missed being at the workplace.
So what has changed? I am no sociologist, but I believe a few questions would need answers when we dwell on what might have changed. Are we are driving ourselves too hard? Is it the case that competition at all levels is ensuring that everyone puts in their best efforts all the time? There is no let up. The pressure is just too much. Either you slog and go up or you get left behind. But then, I remember, this was always the case. Is it that the younger generations have been pampered by chunky starting salaries at the start of their careers, causing them to think about concepts like 'work life balance' (the phrase deserves a whole post for itself) rather than worrying about slogging and earning their way up?
Another angle to this is that 'weekend' is a foreign term to India, imported into the corporate lives of Indians gradually over the last decade, as Indians started engaging with the western world more and more, due to the economy opening up. 'It is almost weekend' has become a very well-used phrase for bonding across boundaries, suggesting that 'I am as tired as you'. A few years ago, it was normal to go to work on a Saturday, for some a half day, but still a work day. Nowadays, the idea of working on a Saturday is frowned upon; do not even suggest a working Sunday.
The jury is still out on whether this is a healthy trend or otherwise. The weekend is generally meant to be spent with friends and family and doing things which are important to you. The assumption is that it is a contributor to improving the quality of our personal lives. It is time meant to be spent bonding with those who are special to us. I wonder if that is really the case, looking at the increasing divorce rates, suicide cases, fractured families and dysfunctional relationships.
Oops...the weekend is almost over. Need to prepare for tomorrow and wait in anticipation for the next weekend.
Take care.
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