Peak burnout season is here. These 6 small weekend switches make a huge difference.

Thanks to our brand partner, POSCA HYDRATE

Ahh, December. It's that delightful time of year when our calendars are fully booked, and our nervous systems are fully cooked.

If your brain feels like it's running on the emotional equivalent of dial-up internet right now, you're not alone. And while yes, there are a lot of festive frivolities happening at this time of year, it can also be a time when many of us are prone to burnout as we crawl to the invisible finish line that is the end of the year.

The good news is that you don't need a five-day silent retreat in a secret off-grid location to feel human again. A few small, intentional weekend switches can reset your energy without another frantic (and let's be honest, failed) attempt at getting your sh*t together once and for all. 

Ready to reset?

1. Turn your phone off (for an hour… or the whole day if you're brave).

This switch sounds simple in theory, and yet feels like attempting to climb a mountain in bad footwear at the same time. 

Whether you commit to an hour, an afternoon or a whole day offline, the effect of turning your phone off is immediate. Your brain gets off the notification hamster wheel, your attention span is resurrected, and suddenly you're not compulsively checking group chats like they're the stock market.

The world will survive without you for a time. And if you're worried about people not being able to reach you, let them know what you're doing so they can manage their expectations around how and when they can contact you. Notice how you feel when everything simmers down for a moment and let your nervous system have a breather.

2. Switch late-night catch-ups to morning.

Look, we all love a night out with a friend. But adding another evening plan during the silly season can sometimes tip you over the edge. 

Instead, opt for a morning walk with your mates to triple-dip on the dopamine. Fresh air, movement and friendship? It really is the holy trinity of feeling good and it's easy to see why dawn culture is growing so much in Australia.

You still get the connection and the conversation, but you also get to enjoy endorphins instead of waking up feeling foggy. 

3. Swap the sugar-hit drink for something that actually replenishes you.

Weekends often come with a little celebratory drink, usually something sugary that tastes amazing going down… and then leaves you feeling flat the next day. A simple, feel-good alternative? Posca Hydrate.

It's a sparkling, sugar-free, alcohol-free drink that comes in three fruity flavours: yuzu, grape and pineapple. 

Plus, it's packed with electrolytes and prebiotics to support gut health. So when you finish the drink you actually feel refreshed and hydrated, which is ideal given the stamina needed this time of year.

4. Plan something fun on Sunday evening.

This one's for the Sunday Scaries sufferers.

Instead of spending Sunday afternoon meal-prepping, doing laundry, and dreading the week ahead, plan something genuinely fun so you have something to look forward to and distract you. It doesn't need to be elaborate, just intentional enough that your brain feels like the weekend isn't slipping through its fingers once again.

Go for a swim. Head to the cinema. Try a new ice cream shop. Or, if you're feeling communal, host a low-key dinner with a couple of friends that feels cosy and restorative rather than chaotic. Everyone can bring a plate and leave by 8pm and still have a plez time. It makes the weekend feel full instead of rushed.

5. Tap into your inner child.

Stay with me.

Adulthood is full of boring tasks, responsibilities and schedules, and somewhere along the way we forget that having time to just play for the sake of joy is essential and just not a childhood phase. And for me, reconnecting with the things I enjoyed as a kid is one of the easiest ways to reset my brain.

Ride a bike. Take a dance class. Read a fantasy book purely because the cover looks fun. Draw something that no one will ever see. Bake the jam drop biscuits you used to make as a child. Go to the park and kick a ball around for the sake of fun instead of exercise. A little whimsy goes a long way when it comes to bulldozing burnout.

6. Romanticise your life.

It's easy to coast through the weekends on autopilot.

Choosing to romanticise it is less about grand gestures and more about intentionally creating moments that feel special just because. It also forces you to slow down a bit and stop doing a million things at once. 

Put on a record while you make breakfast. Light a candle for no reason other than that it smells nice. Create a vibey atmosphere in your home just because you deserve to feel cosy.

Tiny switches, big vibe shift.

Grab Posca Hydrate from Amazon.

Ancient wisdom, remixed for the battles of modern life.
A 2,000-year-old recipe, reimagined as a sparkling functional drink, Posca is your hydrating, energising, gut-loving, zero sugar health elixir, with flavour that hits.
Bold flavour. Big benefits. No regrets. Posca Hydrate is wellness that actually tastes good.