Why we need weekends!
After every workweek we are rewarded with two days to kick back and enjoy. Whether that be spending time with your family, going out or lazing around the house. The best way to describe our favourite two days is FUN. Have you ever asked yourself WHY … Why do we have weekends? Why are they only two days? Why are they so important? Lucky you, this post has all those answers!
Why do we have weekends?
It’s the 24th January 1970. A Friday afternoon like no other. A packed crowd roars in anticipation for what we know thirty years later as the Soweto Derby. To the crowd in attendance it’s the “Match of the Year”. The match is played and lives up to everyone’s expectations. It ends in a 6-4 victory to the Buccaneers. The next day was supposed to be work as usual … nope! Everyone’s with their friends talking about the “Match of the Year”. So in celebration of how well staff performed after two days of high absentees. We got weekends.
I joke, I joke!
The 1800s saw
the rise of the industrial revolution. A time of change for everyone. For
workers in particular, this meant leaving the warm outdoor farms for cold steely
factories. This resulted in union strikes as employees were no longer
comfortable working the same amount of hours in their new work spaces. The
government granted them their wishes with two days off every week.
Why are they only two days?
As you can imagine, the negotiation process for the two days was strenuous. Luckily there was one point that made employers see past all the money they’d suddenly be losing.
Religion. The last two days of the week (Saturday and Sunday) were traditionally viewed as religious days and everyone accepted that the existing working hours, restricted them from fulfilling their religious duties.
Which brings us to the answer of our question. Why are weekends only two days? We still haven’t found compelling reasons for more days. So I’d like to start.
Wednesday – Champions League.
Why are weekends so important?
There are many reasons, like:
- Focusing on something other than work on the weekend, usually results in better productivity during the week.
- A better economy because weekends are also an opportunity to spend the money we’ve worked for all week.
- Taking time out to relax will reduce the risk of burnout and mental illness in the long-term.
The best reason is beautifully described in a quote by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. “Enjoy the little things in life because one day you will look back and realize they were the big things.”
That brings me to the end of this blog post. Have a great weekend and thanks for reading!