These days, anyone and everyone has access to you at all times through email, texts, calls, and DMs, so we can easily exhaust ourselves by being overly available. Most people’s jobs require them to be glued to their phones and computers, even on the weekends.
Some people refuse to live that way and prefer to be completely unreachable whenever possible. People like this value their alone time. All week, they work hard to fulfill their responsibilities, but the second five o’clock hits on a Friday, they disconnect. They’re happy to have time alone, allowing themselves to reset after a stressful week, because they need that time to recharge for the upcoming work week.
People who prefer to be completely unreachable on weekends often share these personality traits in common
1. They are independent
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Throughout the work week, we rely on many people around us. From our bosses at work to our friends and family, it can be difficult to find time for ourselves. It can be especially challenging when someone doesn’t enjoy working together with others or having people constantly in their space. Once the weekend rolls around, it can be the perfect time to let go of stress and put time into themselves.
One study found that people who choose to spend time alone often do so because they enjoy it. Highly independent people rarely feel lonely. Instead, they use this time to focus on their hobbies or rest to prepare for the next week. Checking emails or replying to messages on social media isn’t a priority.
2. They are selfish when they need to be
We often think of selfish people negatively. They’re notorious for worrying only about themselves and disregarding everyone around them. That isn’t always the case, though. Some people know that in certain situations, they need to put their foot down. Instead of being there for everyone, they go unreachable to give themselves their much-needed space.
Selfishness can actually benefit our mental health. We can’t pour from an empty cup. By prioritizing themselves, they can be more available to others during the work week. They need their weekends for themselves.
3. They’re chronically stressed out
Let’s face it, our weekdays are filled with stress. For some people, it’s hard to shake that feeling even when they’re out of the office. Someone who needs to truly unplug during the weekends may be dealing with chronic stress. It isn’t easy for them to relax, and they often need to be intentional with their time. That means turning off their phones and being completely unreachable during their days off.
Some people call this a digital detox. This is a period where they completely remove themselves from their phones and social media. These periods without the internet are known to make people feel calmer and increase their quality of life.
4. They’re selective
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Some people are naturally selective about the way they spend their time. I’ve never been the type of person who was down for anything. Sure, I’d say and do whatever people wanted to avoid conflict, but secretly, I was suffering. Someone like this may be less afraid to put their foot down when they need to. They’ll pick and choose how they socialize to prioritize their mental health.
If they’re feeling overwhelmed after a long week, it’s not uncommon for someone like this to step away from their phones and social gatherings. It doesn’t mean they aren’t interested; they know what they need and put themselves first to fight off burnout.
5. They enforce strong boundaries
Boundaries are not easy for everyone. Some people are naturally inclined to advocate for themselves. This means they unapologetically do what they need to for themselves. Often, this requires them to set boundaries and maintain them, even with the most important people in their lives. Even though it sounds counterproductive, boundaries actually lead to healthier, more fulfilling relationships.
They need to know they can’t control other people. They can’t prevent someone from calling them on a Saturday with a work-related problem. What they can do, however, is enforce boundaries with those people. By not answering, they’re making their boundaries clear.
6. They are self-motivated
Self-motivation rarely finds me. When I’m at home, especially on a weekend, I struggle to do anything productive. Not everyone is built like me, and that’s probably for the best. Some people take their weekends to get stuff done, and prefer to be unreachable while they do it.
When you’re trying to get something done, few things are more distracting than picking up your phone to text someone back or reply to a message on social media. Self-motivated people want to get the most out of their time, especially when they don’t have to work. Weekends are a great time to work on goals they may not get to during the week.
7. They value their time
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Some people aren’t afraid to do what they want when they want it. Often, we can get caught up in putting others before ourselves. Whether that’s spending time with them during the weekend or dropping everything to talk to them on the phone, we can lose time we wanted to put into something else. Those who choose to be completely unavailable during the weekends value their time differently.
Most of us see our time connected to how much money we can make. The hours we spend at work add up to what goes in our pockets. When someone values their time, whether that’s shown by taking time off work or choosing not to socialize over the weekends to disconnect, they may be happier. Researchers found that valuing time like you would money can make you happier and focused on achieving your goals. This can make spending time alone over the weekend valuable to some.
8. They’re intentional
People who live intentionally have a clear sense of purpose. They know what they want to accomplish and where they want to give their time. By aligning their actions with their intentions, this type of person likely has higher emotional well-being than others. They’re not the type of person to get caught up in other people’s drama or problems. Instead, they set their intentions for the day and work hard to achieve them.
Living intentionally can lead to better sleep and a happier life. They experience less loneliness because they know their purpose. They need that alone time to focus on their needs.
Haley Van Horn is a freelance writer with a master’s degree in Humanities living in Los Angeles. Her focus includes entertainment and lifestyle stories.
