Ep 10: The Perfect Day Off
Hello, everybody, and welcome to another episode of B1 English Talks. I'm your host, Brandon, and this podcast is here to help you improve your English at the B1 level and feel more confident in your progress. Each episode, we'll dive into real, fun life topics to help you sound more natural and practice your listening skills. Let's get started.
Today's topic is about days off from work. Everyone loves a great day off, but how do you choose to spend it? Do you like to relax, or do you plan something more exciting? Today, we're talking about how to plan your perfect day off and some of the different ways you can describe it in English.
For some people, the best day off is all about relaxing. You might sleep in (phrasal verb), or enjoy a quiet morning with a cup of coffee or warm tea. Maybe you'll catch up on (phrasal verb) sleep or read a book instead. If I had a completely free day, I think I'd start it with something peaceful (Second conditional) like a walk in nature or a nap in the afternoon to recharge. That's if the weather allows me to take a walk. It's quite cold right now.
Others prefer a more productive day off. They might use the time to clean or organize their homes or take care of (phrasal verb) small tasks they usually don't have time for. It can feel really satisfying to just get things done (phrasal verb), even on a day off. For me personally, yeah, I'm more of a mix. I love a good walk on a day off, if the weather's right (First conditional), of course. I also love to be productive. I love to get ahead on (phrasal verb) cleaning, laundry, the chores, the house chores. Also, I try to get some work done. I will usually do some marketing. I tend to still have a couple clients even on days off. I work both jobs. I have two jobs right now. But I try to find time to relax too. One of my favorite things to do is to lay in bed at the end of the day with a couple hours before bedtime and watch a movie. I love a good movie.
Some people prefer to plan something exciting for a day off. Not me. Of course, not everyone wants a quiet day at home. For some, the perfect day off means planning something exciting. You might take off (phrasal verb) for a day trip to the beach or explore a nearby city. If you enjoy the outdoors, you could go for a hike, ride your bike, or even have a picnic in the park. When I have free time, I sometimes plan an adventure with friends or family. This is true. It's a great way to make the most of a day off or just try something new.
For a conditional example: If I had more time, I would visit a place I've never been to (Second conditional) or try an activity like kayaking or rock climbing. Speaking on this, personally, I love kayaking. I love canoeing. I hate rock climbing. I have a fear of heights. So this is not an activity or a hobby that I would engage in on a day off. I would prefer canoeing or kayaking would be cool. Going to the park, getting on a nice run, spending some time with a friend or a loved one—that's a really great way to spend a day off. Or, I just thought of this, hammocking—laying in the hammock reading a book. Only on a summer day, of course. But, man, what a relaxing way to spend a day off.
But there needs to be, of course, some balance. Sometimes, the hardest part of planning a day off is deciding how much time to spend with others versus spending it by yourself. Maybe you'll hang out (phrasal verb) with friends for lunch at a cafe or go shopping with your family. On the other hand, some people prefer spending the day alone, enjoying the peace and quiet. But I believe it's good to have a balance of the two. Giving the morning to yourself and your chores and being productive and having a quiet time. And then the evening or the late afternoon to spend time with friends and family and catch up (phrasal verb) and do activities. This is the best of both worlds, as we say.
Splitting your time between what you need to do on a day off versus what you want to do. Who you want to spend time with and spending time with yourself. You might meet some friends in the morning, spend the afternoon unwinding at home (gerund form "unwinding") is the opposite example. One of my friends always tells me, if I can balance being social and having some quiet time, my day off feels perfect. (Second conditional)
Future plans for your day off. What about the next time you have a free day? Think about what you love to do. Next Saturday, I'm going to relax at home and watch my favorite TV series, (Future with "be going to") for example. Or I'll visit the park and have a picnic with my family. (Future with "will") If the weather is good, I'll go for a hike or a bike ride. (First conditional) These are some options. Having a plan can make your day off feel even more rewarding. When you set the plan and accomplish it, that's a good feeling.
I love to plan my days off. If I plan a day off way ahead of time personally, I usually reach out to a couple friends and say, hey, this is what I want to do, are you free? If they say no, then the day is mine. But if they say yes, then we have something to spend together, we have something to do.
Here are my final thoughts, guys. There's no right or wrong way to spend a day off. It's all about what helps you feel your best. Days off are about recharging. Whether you prefer relaxing at home, being productive, or planning an adventure, every day off is a chance to refresh and recharge.
So how does your perfect day off look? How would you spend a perfect day off? Think about it, and maybe even practice describing it in English.
Thanks for listening to today's episode of B1 English Talks. Remember, if you're ready to connect with me, reach out to me on Instagram at EnglishWithBrandonH. What's your favorite way to spend a day off? Let me know. Have a great day, and I'll see you next time.
B1 Grammar Points:
Conditionals: "If I had a completely free day, I'd start..." (Second conditional), "If the weather is good, I'll go for a hike..." (First conditional)
Future Forms: "Next Saturday, I'm going to relax...", "I'll visit the park..."
Modal Verbs: "You might sleep in", "You could go for a hike"
Phrasal Verbs: "Catch up on", "Take off", "Get ahead on", "Get things done", "Hang out", "Catch up"
Key Vocabulary:
Leisure activities: relax, unwind, recharge, read a book, watch a movie, go for a walk, go for a run, have a picnic, hiking, biking, kayaking, hammocking
Productivity at home: chores, cleaning, organizing, laundry
Social activities: meet friends, go shopping, have lunch at a cafe, day trip
Weather and conditions: quiet morning, cold, if the weather allows, summer day, outdoors, picnic in the park
