Why Monday Is My Favourite Day of the Week in Shenzhen

Last weekend, I visited Hong Kong Disneyland! It only took fifteen minutes on the high speed train to get there, and we spent the whole day exploring the park and going on the rides. It was so much fun! One of the best things about living in Shenzhen is how close Hong Kong is. You can even visit for half a day if you want to, making spontaneous trips incredibly easy. If you're from England like me, you'll also be pleased to know there are multiple M&S Food halls where you can stock up on all your favourite British biscuits!

The next day, I headed to my weekly Chinese class, which has become one of my most enjoyable parts of the week. Not only am I learning the language, but I've also made lots of friends through our shared interest in Chinese. After class, I treated myself to a facial at my local salon. I have a membership there, and while weekly facials would feel like a luxury back in England, they're surprisingly affordable in Shenzhen. I love making them part of my weekly "day off" routine, especially on a rainy day! My weekend evenings are usually spent meeting friends for dinner. There are so many restaurants to choose from, but my favourite has to be Chinese barbecue. I only wish we had more of it in England because it's absolutely delicious!

Thursday marks the beginning of my work week, and after two adventure filled days, I give myself permission to slow down. I enjoy a lazy morning, catch up on laundry and cleaning, and take a little time to recharge before heading to work. Teaching is incredibly rewarding, but it also requires constant energy and interaction. Taking that time for myself means I can show up for my students feeling refreshed and ready to teach.

Friday is a bit of a wildcard. Sometimes my friend and I will meet for coffee before work or go to get our nails done, while other days, I'll head in early, grab a book, and spend some quiet time reading in the park before my classes begin. Those peaceful moments help me slow down before another busy weekend arrives. Although Saturdays and Sundays are our busiest teaching days, they always seem to fly by. One of my biggest teaching hacks is to spend around twenty percent of my weekday planning time preparing for the weekend. It means I go into my busiest days feeling organised instead of stressed. I'll share more about that in a future blog!

By the time Monday comes around again, my routine starts all over again, but that's one of the things I love most about living here. Every week follows a familiar rhythm, yet there's always something new waiting around the corner.