No Guilt Pleasures

EARLY WEEK

Come Monday, only 23 percent of Americans feel energized for the week ahead.

BE SPONTANEOUS. A new study found that when we make a snap decision, we feel more creative and energetic. So pick the first dress that catches your eye in your closet, or order the drunken noodles you always promise you’re gonna try “next time” at that hot Thai lunch spot.
GET A PRO BLOWOUT. Most chains offer them for as little as $20. You’ll get a killer scalp massage, and you won’t have to worry about your hair for days. Bonus: Some salons offer complimentary wine.
STEAL A SUNDAY RITUAL. If you have a comfort breakfast on Sunday, move it to Monday or Tuesday to help fuel you through your to-do list.
EXTEND THE WEEKEND. “Take Monday off instead of Friday, when you’re usually in a good mood anyway,” says Mary Lou Quinlan, author of Time off for Good Behavior.
PHONE IT IN. Call your crew to set dinner plans, says Will Schwalbe, coauthor of the e-mail-etiquette book Send. “Otherwise you’ll send a million messages back and forth, which will stress you out.”
REFRESH YOUR SCENT. We build up resistance to a perfume’s charms since we wear it on your skin. No need to splurge on a new scent. “Spritz your favorite fragrance on your drawers and desk,” suggests Michelle DeAngelis, founder of life-coaching company Planet Joyride. It’ll take on new life in the air.

64% of people say they ask themselves on Sunday night, “Where did the weekend go?”
TRADE-UP TRICK
INSTEAD OF: Plodding through a novel picked by that boring book club… DO THIS: Start a burger club that’s dedicated to rating the juiciest patties in town.

MIDWEEK

They don’t call it the midweek slump for nothing.

HEAD TO A TAPAS BAR. ‘They encourage sharing and conversation, and men feel more open to approaching,” says Cheryl Greenhill, director of operations for the global concierge company Quintessentially.
BECOME AN INSTA-EXPERT. Log on to video jug.com to view video clips on everything from how to beat someone at blackjack to how to exit a car without flashing your goodies.
FEET FIRST. To relax every part of your bod, simply roll each bare sole over a clean tennis ball, suggests Denise Vitiello, spa director at the Mandarin Oriental New York.
EAT ALFRESCO. Natural sunlight boosts levels of the feel-good chemical serotonin. Sit wherever hot guys abound (like a bench near the baseball diamond of a park) and give yourself license to ogle.
ORDER ANOTHER ROUND. That yummy strawberry margarita does more than take the edge off hump day. New research from the Journal of Food and Agriculture finds that combining vodka, rum or other liquor with strawberries or blackberries maximizes the fruits’ antioxidant vitamins. Cheers to that!

41% of singles think Wednesday is the best night of the week for a first date.
TRADE-UP TRICK
INSTEAD OF: Pouring your heart out to your diary when you can’t stand writing… DO THIS: Hop on iTunes and create a play list that reflects how you feel.

WEEKEND

Weekends weren’t invented for laundry runs and oil changes. Reclaim Saturday and Sunday.

NO MORE NO-FAT. “You’re less likely to consume as many calories if you go for the genuine goods,” says Susan Bowerman, assistant director at the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition. Trick out a box of brownie mix with cayenne; the spice keeps portions in check.
BE LIKE A GUY. Men aren’t multitaskers
They’re multislackers (sometimes). Take a page from their book by doing three self-indulgent things at once: lounging on a blanket in the park, caressing each other’s arms, and feeing each other bite-size chocolates.
SHOP RIGHT. Nix the impulse sale buys where you end up with cheap stuff that you didn’t want. Instead, save up for the label item you crave. For a tactile treat, try on a pricey cashmere sweater just for the hell of it. And you know that trendy dress you saw on Ashlee? Head over to like.com or starstyle.com to scoop up a similar look at a fraction of the cost.
TAKE A SENSUAL SOAK. Light a few candles; dissolve a couple of drops of calming lavender oil into warm water. As the tub fills, stand on a towel while massaging a salt scrub into your skin. “Once you’re in the water, the scrub will dissolve, creating this therapeutic experience for the body,” says Regina Viotto, spa director at the Paul Labrecque Salon & Spa in NYC.

46% of people say Saturday is the night when they’d most likely see a move or show.
TRADE-UP TRICK
INSTEAD OF: Going to the standard dinner and a movie... DO THIS: Log on to eventful.com for fresh date ideas.