According to pop culture, living for the weekend is just part of American life. We shoot off memes about soul-sucking workplace boredom, we joke about cases of the Mondays, and we race out the door as soon as the clock hits five.

But what are you working for? The weekend? And when you finally get that time, are you using it productively?

Why do so many of us waste away our weekends, only to spend the rest of the week complaining about our current situation? If you find yourself getting excited for Friday and feeling the “Sunday Blues” when it’s over, you’re living part of your life seriously wrong.

But how do you drag yourself out of that relentless cycle, especially if you’re someone who’s stuck in a job, or even university studies, that you can’t just snap your fingers and walk away from?

Hone your time management skills.

Here’s the definition of time management skills: our ability to use our time effectively and productively, both at work and outside of it.

Sound like something you can use?

Before anything else, it’s important to learn how to truly reap the benefits of your time off, your evenings, and even your work day. Here are a few examples of the kinds of time management skills you should be working with:

1. Prioritize your to-do list, ensuring that you’re spending your time on the most urgent or important tasks in your bucket. And don’t forget to say no to any additional tasks that aren’t high-priority.
2. Plan your day in advance to give yourself a clear idea of what you want to get done, so you don’t waste time finding the most pressing tasks.
3. Track where you’re wasting time to see how to streamline your process. Are you jumping into your email all the time, or taking unnecessary calls?

Whether you’re a worker or a student, time management is a crucial skill to have, and there are plenty of excellent time management tools to get you started.

Take care of yourself, every day.

Hopefully this doesn’t come as a surprise: you have needs, they’re valid, and you’ve got to make time to address them. The truth is, you’re a better co-worker, family member, friend, partner, and you when you put a little intentional self-care into your day-to-day life.

First and foremost, get some sleep. You know you should be getting more. We get a little sub-human when we don’t sleep, and it makes a tough work day feel all the more grueling.

And second, don’t forget to set aside time to do the things you love, whether that means going to the gym, reading a good book, or doing something creative. Put it on your calendar if you have to—just don’t forget about it entirely.

Life is way too short for you to simply be “getting through” through 5/7ths of your week, and then wasting all of your time on the weekends as well. Make sure to approach your week in a more thoughtful, focused way to make the most of your time, and to get excited about your day—no matter what day of the week it is.