Burgers, Books, and Bedtimes: My Perfect End-of-Week Routine

As the week comes to a close, I find myself once again reflecting on a Friday that has arrived all too soon. It’s the first of November, and with Halloween just behind us, it’s hard to believe the year is already moving into its final stretch. Yesterday, being Thursday, meant it was my regular food shopping day as usual, and this time I managed to rein in the spending, which was a nice achievement. The bill stayed just under £100 this week, so it seems my efforts to scale back are finally paying off.

This week, I decided to mix up my fruit selection a little. I stocked up on strawberries, apples, and grapes. Supermarket fruit can be a bit of a gamble when it comes to freshness, and as expected, I’ll need to eat the strawberries today to get the most out of them before they turn. They’ll make a nice, refreshing start to the day, and then I’ll probably move on to my usual scrambled eggs and bagel for a proper meal. This breakfast setup has become a favourite of mine—it’s quick, easy, and fills me up without being too heavy.

Since yesterday was Halloween, I wondered if I might see a trick-or-treater or two at the door this year, but I wasn’t expecting much. This marks my fourth Halloween in this house, and as in previous years, the streets around here remained quiet, without a single trick-or-treater to be seen. It’s odd because, in previous homes, I’d have to stock up on treats, just in case, but here, it seems Halloween just doesn’t bring anyone to the door. Perhaps the area doesn’t have as many young families, or maybe it’s just the way things are now. Either way, it made for a peaceful evening at home.

After my shopping trip yesterday, I unpacked the bags and put everything away before having a little down time with GTA Online. There’s something relaxing about getting lost in a game for a bit, especially after a busy day. Once I’d spent some time on that, I decided to give the house a good clean and tidy up. It’s nice to start the weekend with everything in order; I always feel a bit more at ease knowing things are clean and ready for whatever the next few days might bring. My dad popped by around six in the evening for a couple of hours, and we had a good catch-up. It’s always nice to chat and spend a bit of time together; I think it’s important to make the effort to see family whenever possible.

After my dad left, I had an early night. I’ve been enjoying watching Unexplained Mysteries on Netflix recently, so I caught up on an episode of that in bed, followed by listening to my audiobook for about an hour. I find that audiobooks help me relax and ease into sleep. There’s something comforting about just lying there listening to a good story, letting it drift over you as you begin to fall asleep.

Today started very early, and I followed my typical morning routine with a coffee first thing. It’s become a ritual for me—nothing too fancy, just a plain black coffee to wake up and gather my thoughts for the day. Once that was done, I went straight into my workout for the day. Since it’s Friday, it was lower body focus day, which meant a set of goblet squats, leg extensions, and Romanian deadlifts. The workout is challenging but manageable, and I feel like I’m seeing some good progress with this seven-day plan I’ve put together.

After my workout, I jumped in the bath for a quick refresh. It’s amazing how good it feels to be done with the day’s exercise early in the morning. It makes the rest of the day feel a bit lighter, and there’s something satisfying about knowing you’ve already ticked that off the list. With the workout out of the way, I put a clothes wash on, ticking off another chore, and then finally sat down to write this entry.

Tonight’s dinner will be bun-less beef burgers with a bit of cheese melted on top. It’s simple but feels like a treat, and I like keeping it low on carbs now and then. I’ve found that having burgers without the bun actually brings out the flavour of the meat a bit more, and it still feels like a hearty, satisfying meal without the bread. After dinner, I’ll likely catch up on the latest episode of The Penguin. I’ve been really enjoying that show lately; there’s something about the plot twists and character development that keeps me hooked. With the darker evenings, I find myself gravitating towards the comfort of early nights. Winter just seems to do that – the earlier sunsets make it feel natural to get into bed and wind down sooner than usual.

Speaking of winter, the weather this week has been unexpectedly mild. For early November in the UK, I was half expecting it to be chilly, but it’s been quite pleasant. Not exactly warm, but not as cold as it could be. I’ve been able to stay comfortable wearing shorts and a T-shirt around the house, which is a nice change. I know the cold will be coming soon enough, so it’s been nice to enjoy this period before the true winter chill sets in.

This time of year always has a particular feel to it. The days grow shorter, the evenings quieter, and it’s a time when I naturally find myself wanting to slow down a bit, focus on the home, and prepare for the colder months ahead. It’s funny how each season brings its own pace, its own feel, and I think it’s important to listen to those rhythms and adapt accordingly.
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Tomorrow’s a fresh start to the weekend, and with today’s chores and workout done, I’m looking forward to a bit of a quieter day with maybe some more time to read and relax. There’s something reassuring about having a routine that fits, but also leaving room for those moments to just enjoy being at home and making the most of a new season.