6 | CFHN
centralfloridahealthnews.com
Which
Weekend
Habits Wreak
Havoc on
Your Health?
F
riday evening is one of the
best times of the week; Sat-
urday and Sunday are before
you, full of promise and op-
portunity. Unfortunately, it’s an
opportunity that many fumble.
While the weekend is a great
time to rest and recharge, many
people overindulge or fail to
rest, and the result can actual-
ly be damaging to your health.
Test your knowledge and see if
your weekend habits are help-
ing you recover or setting you
back.
1. Many people sleep in on the weekend to “catch up”
on hours of sleep lost during the workweek, but
it’s actually not good for your health. Which of the
following are documented side effects of trying to
make up “sleep debt” over the weekend?
A. Excess calorie intake after dinner and increased
weight
B. Reduced energy expenditure
C. Damaging changes in how the body uses insulin
D. All of the above
2. Many people spend more time on phones, tablets,
and laptops over the weekend, but too much screen
time can interfere with healthy sleep. What is one way
excessive screen use can affect sleep?
A. It permanently reduces the body’s need for sleep.
B. It can contribute to social jetlag, the mismatch between
your internal biological clock and social schedule.
C. It improves deep sleep cycles on weekends.
D. It helps people feel more rested on Monday morning.
E. All of the above
3. True or false? Neurological studies show that passive
rest — or entirely unstructured inactivity like mindlessly
scrolling social media or binging TV shows and movies
— fails to activate the same restorative networks as active
rest, like walking, journaling, or creative play.
4. Which of the following is/are a negative effect of
doing absolutely nothing for two days straight over the
weekend?
A. An increase in food consumption and weight gain.
B. Your cardiovascular system slows down, increasing
lethargy.
C. Mental boredom fatigue that makes it harder to return
to a weekday schedule.
D. All of the above
5. True or false? Being a “weekend warrior” when it comes
to workouts and physical activity — being mostly sedentary
during the week and then spending all weekend on sports
and physical activities — can lead to injuries.
6. Many people overindulge in both food and alcohol
over the weekend, feeling they have “earned” it after
sticking to a diet or limiting alcohol over the week.
Which of the following is/are side effects of this habit
of overindulgence?
A. Damage to your brain and body that is worse than if
you drank moderately every weekday.
B. A likely increase in your risk for liver disease, heart
disease, stroke, and other health issues.
C. Undoing any benefits you gained from abstaining
during the week.
D. All of the above
7. The chances of becoming dehydrated increase over
the weekend. Which weekend habit is the most likely
to contribute to dehydration?
A. Drinking more alcohol and caffeinated beverages than
usual
B. Eating breakfast later in the day.
C. Watching television for long periods.
D. Running errands in the morning.
E. All of the above.
8. True or false? Chronic anticipatory stress like worrying
about the workweek ahead raises cortisol levels and
undermines the very mental repair processes that
weekends make time for.
9. Which of the following are healthy ways to unwind and
de-stress during the weekend, according to research?
A. Try something new.
B. Find meaningful and active leisure, such as volunteering,
gardening, or an enjoyable exercise.
C. Stay as close as possible to your weekday schedule.
D. Spend time outdoors.
E. All of the above
10. True or false? Feeling exhausted on Monday morning,
rather than rested and recharged, means you are likely
doing something wrong.
Compiled by ERIKA ALDRICH /
Information provided by Harvard
Health Publishing, Psychology
Today, Men’s Health, and SGVital
POP
QUIZ!
PREVENTION
FEATURE
ANSWERS:
1. D. All of the above
2. B.
3. True.
4. D. All of the above
5. True.
6. D. All of the above.
7. A.
8. True.
9. E. All of the above.
10. True.
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