Ok, you've made the leap. You've left the nine to five and started pursuing your own dreams instead of those of some anonymous corporation. Or, maybe you're still in the cube, but an enticing promotion means you're hard at it on weekends, while your usual fun TGIF buddies are out letting their hair down. It's one of life's transitions that can be pretty unsettling. Sure, you miss the old routines. But there's a whole list of new options and benefits. Consider these:
Shopping Without the Crowd
If you've ever done some Christmas shopping at 2 a.m. you know what I mean. The quiet is almost surreal, as you leisurely stroll down the aisles. It's almost zen-like! Well, the same is true of almost any off-peak shopping time, so your new free time schedule will likely give plenty of opportunities and make what used to be a chore much more enjoyable.
Deals Everywhere You Look
Once you get oriented, you'll find a virtual smorgasbord of discounts and deals, off-peak specials that are offered by just about every kind of retailer you can imagine. And don't overlook air travel, because some of the lowest fares available are midday, midweek.
Changing Up the Friend Mix
If most of your friends are still in the grind, that doesn't mean you have to cross them off your social activities list. Remember all those times you found yourself sitting home on a weekday evening pretending you weren't bored? And how you wished SOMEONE would call and say "hey, let's go do something!?" Now, you get to be the initiator.
Just You and Tinkerbell
Ok, maybe not quite that extreme, but you get the idea. You'll be able to visit your favorite or fantasy attractions and not have to feel like it's the crowd at a movie premier. Imagine that favorite park and it's just you and nature.
As with so much in life, there are always tradeoffs. But when your professional life takes you outside the Monday through Friday lifestyle, there's plenty of high-value benefits.