The clock reads 4:58 p.m. on Friday afternoon, and the office is buzzing with anticipation for the weekend. You have your weekend to-do list in hand and the determination to complete it. But, sometimes there still are a few boxes left unchecked on Monday morning.

It’s hard to go from the freedom of college to working full time. Before you start a professional career, you usually can fit a variety of activities in during the weekdays. With a professional job, most errands and personal activities are done on the weekends.

When I began my career, I really struggled with getting everything accomplished on the weekends. There was so much I wanted to do. Yet, on Sunday night I would find my to-do list partially checked off, and I’d be wishing I had an extra day.

There’s no way you can get more hours in your weekend, but here are some suggestions to make the most of the time you have.

Prepare for Monday on Friday. Have you ever started daydreaming about your weekend before it happens? Before you check out of work mode, organize yourself and the tasks that will need to be finished next week. Monday morning will be a lot less stressful when you know what you will be doing for the day.

 Disconnect from work. The weekends are a time to relax. Spend time exploring your hobbies. Don’t check your work email or messages if you’re not required. Allow yourself the opportunity to get to work on Monday refreshed and ready to face the workday, not stressed or fatigued.

 Don’t sleep in. It’s tempting to lie in bed a little longer than usual on weekends. But, if you sleep longer, you’ll mess up your sleep schedule. If you’re feeling like you need more sleep, go to bed a little earlier or schedule a 20-minute nap. Don’t sleep your weekend away because you’ll wonder what happened to it.

 Make a checklist and stick to it. Some people would rather go with the flow on the weekends rather than schedule out every minute of their day. But, knowing what you have to accomplish in two days will give you more time to do what you want. You can always plan dinner with friends on Saturday to look forward to after all of your errands or to-do list items are completed.

Next Friday at 4:58 follow these simple tips for a productive weekend and a stress-free Monday.