13 things successful people do over 3-day weekends

Many successful people plan out their activities for the holiday weekend well in advance so that they are not drawn into the temptation of working, Kerr says. They make reservations, book tee times, schedule activities with their kids, etc.

Taylor adds: "They're strategic enough to have an action plan for the three-day weekend, but flexible enough to tackle any urgent work issues that may arise."

Successful people set email and phone rules for themselves and the people they work with, so that people understand when, if at all, they will be available to respond or pick up.

"This can communicate to employees how critical it is for everyone to take a complete break, and that any and all work can wait," Kerr explains. "Although employees may assume this, they often need to hear it from their leader to be able to completely relax over a long weekend."

"With the breakneck pace of business all week long, many successful people do plan — but sometimes those plans include a little bit of nothing," Taylor says. "The workweek is about deadlines and meetings, so successful people enjoy having a block of time, or a day, to be uncommitted and unscheduled."

During the week, it's hard to give focused attention to those you care about. "A three-day weekend let's you schedule this critical quality time," Taylor says.

Many successful people find giving their time to worthy charitable groups or causes to be extremely rewarding.

"Some successful people plan a mini vacation in their own backyard," Kerr says. "Staycations hold the appeal of still allowing for a complete mental break but without the added stress or planning involved in a trip somewhere away, wherein people run the risk of returning to work more exhausted than when they left."

Another good option: taking a short trip to a destination that only an hour or two away. This is a great way to visit a new place, but doesn't require too much travel or planning.

A long weekend is the perfect time to get outside and breathe fresh air, especially after being relatively sequestered inside all week, Taylor explains.

It doesn't matter if it's January or July — take advantage of the great outdoors.

Successful people understand how important exercise is to their physical and mental health — so they don't get lazy and skip their workouts over holiday weekends.

"This is a great time to unwind with your favorite pastime or hobby, whether it's shopping, golfing, socializing, reading, painting, or something else," Taylor says. Do the things that make you happy; the things you don't always have time for during the week or over a regular two-day weekend.

We all need to rest and recharge our batteries from time to time. Successful people use three-day weekends to do this.

They do make plans and stay active — but they also make sure to catch up on sleep and schedule some free time at the end of the weekend to unwind.

Some successful people will take a different day off instead, and go in to work on the vacation day when they have the office to the themselves and can get more work done without being distracted, Kerr explains.

"If you have the luxury of being able to do this it can be a double win — participating in personal activities when it's quieter, and getting more work accomplished at the same time."

On the last night of long weekends, many successful people think about the short week ahead and key goals they need to accomplish, Taylor says. And they do this without stressing themselves out.