After 5 p.m. it's Friday
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This is an iHeart Podcast. Hey listeners, I am all about simple beauty routines. That's why I love Merit. Their products make looking put together effortless. For example, there's Flush Balm, which is a sheer, buildable cream blush that blends in seamlessly for a healthy natural glow. And let's not forget The Minimalist, which is a two-in-one foundation and concealer that's perfect for those days when you need quick, natural coverage.

So if you're looking to streamline your beauty routine too, head to MeritBeauty.com. You'll get their signature makeup bag free with your first order. Simplify your routine and feel beautiful with Merit. Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good morning, this is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's tip is to adopt the mindset that after 5 p.m., it's Friday.

You just might find yourself feeling more relaxed and enjoying your time after work more. So over the past year or so, I've become more and more interested in how people spend their evening hours. In another year or two, I'll publish a book called The Golden Hours on making the most of your weekday evenings. This time is so hard to use well. People are tired and in many cases, we have family or household responsibilities.

But it's also a lot of time to simply write off. I collected time logs from a ton of people to analyze their evenings, and I can report that on average, people had about five hours after they finished work and before they went to bed on weekdays. Multiply that by four nights from Monday to Thursday, and we are talking 20 hours a week of potential family and leisure time.

Of course, one of the reasons it's hard to really relax and enjoy this time is that we know we are going to work the next day. There will need to be preparations for getting up early and school schedules and activities and so forth. But honestly, if you have young kids, you may be up early on weekends anyway. You have the activities then as well. And yet, in general, people still feel more relaxed on weekends. So here's an idea to contemplate.

Not too long ago, Professor Cassie Holmes was a guest on this show. She talked about one of her studies, where she found that when people were told to treat their upcoming weekends like a vacation, they generally enjoyed themselves more. So if thinking of the weekend as a vacation can make it more enjoyable, then I think thinking of a weeknight as a weekend might do the same thing. So repeat this phrase to yourself.

After 5 p.m., it's Friday. Even if it is 5 p.m. on a Tuesday, there is no reason not to feel like you are off and relaxed and enjoying some restorative time. You can linger over your dinner, even if it's Tuesday. And you can enjoy your downtime at night, after your chores or after your kids go to bed, even if it is a weekday.

My guess is you don't stay up all that late on Friday night if you've been working all week, so we're not even talking about upsetting any sleep schedules. We're just not approaching the next day as some battle to be prepared for. Tomorrow is going to happen one way or the other. So after 5 p.m., it's Friday. I really like this phrase, and I've been experimenting with saying it to myself. Now, obviously, a pithy phrase can't actually make a Tuesday into a Friday.

You should probably still go to work on Wednesday. But it does make the time feel a little different, at least for me. Perhaps you will find this phrase helpful as well. In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening. And here's to making the most of our time. Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast. If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach me at laura at lauravandercam.com.

Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts from iHeartMedia, please visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Hey, listeners. You know I can't be bothered with lengthy beauty routines. Who has time for that? That's why I am so glad I discovered Merit. Merit is all about simplicity, high-performing products, and enhancing your natural beauty.

If you're like me and prefer a less is more approach, you'll love that Merit can help you look put together in five minutes or less. My favorite product has to be the Minimalist. It's a two-in-one foundation and concealer that gives me smooth, even coverage with zero fuss.

I also like the flush balm for cheeks. My shade is archival, and it gives me that healthy, natural flush of color that blends in beautifully and makes me look like I spent more time on my makeup than I actually did. Ready to simplify your routine and make mornings a breeze?

head to MeritBeauty.com and get their signature makeup bag free with your first order. For clean, effortless, high-performing makeup, head to MeritBeauty.com. Hey, listeners. We know you're all about making the most of your time. So why not turn your lunch break into a growth break with Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman. Every Tuesday, Ken sits down with top experts to explore the real questions that help you thrive at work and in life.

Questions like, what are the 10 best foods for your memory? Or how can you ask for the raise you want and actually get it? If you love thoughtful advice and smart strategies, check out Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman, wherever you get your podcasts. This is an iHeart Podcast. ♪