I am going to point out something I think all of us know: we all need a day of rest. How many times do we complain on Monday morning that the weekend was just too busy? That we had no time to re-set and rest? That we are just so tired. As someone who has worked full time (until the pandemic) all her life, I know that this is common Monday small talk.
Since 2019, I really have changed. I started this blog with the intention of sharing the importance of self care and personal growth and sharing my own journey as a formerly stressed out, anxious ridden thirty something old into one who was growing into a calmer, more self assured later thirty something year old. Since then, I’ve aged into my forties, gotten married, had a baby, lived through the pandemic and the lockdowns. Life has really changed. I even moved homes and stepped down from full time work to part time work as I was raising a young child.
And then came my spiritual change. I always would have described myself as Catholic, but I was the kind of Catholic that just floated through the world, attending Mass a couple times a year, dabbling in whatever I thought was best for me. But in the last year, and especially the last few months, I’ve had a serious reversion and have learned a lot about my faith that I previously didn’t know.
And what I’ve realized is that we are so self punishing in a lot of ways. We demand so much of ourselves, and even of others and it’s really wild when you realize that we expect perfection of ourselves, we expect others to always act righteously (according to our own view of what is righteous so that changes person to person) and in order to achieve the level of perfection we hold ourselves to, we do so much that we eventually burn out and give up on everything, or we just become so anxious that we become physically ill. It’s a truly crazy way to live.
This is the part where I point out that God made the world, and all the things in it, and then He took a day to rest. And many of us would recognize that day as being Sunday in the western world.
All this to say, that we need to take a day (or even two) to rest and re-set. Since Sundays tend to be slow days for a lot of people, I am going to suggest something things we can do on Sundays as practical and spiritual self care.
Attend Church
Well, you know I’m fully into my Catholic faith now, so yeah, if you are Christian, please go to church. If the priest at your parish isn’t providing homilies (sermons) that are clicking with you, try another parish. It might make a difference in helping you shift from being lukewarm, like I was, to really taking in the Word and becoming on fire for your faith. Hearing God’s word, receiving the Eucharist, is the best self care you can practice. I have practiced a lot of self care, and having a relationship with God is the best self care I have ever had. God’s word is truth and thus, is so reassuring and healing. I have never felt so much at peace as when I really started reading the Bible and understanding the great gift of grace.
Time For Family
Make time for family on this day. Time to just have a nice lunch or play a game or watch a movie together. Something quiet and family focused so that you can connect with your spouse and children. Whenever we have a day where it’s just us, I always feel so glad because there is no one I want to spend time with as much as I want to spend time with my family. So I really think that spending quality time with your family is a great way to rest and enjoy yourself at the same time, and a far better way to spend your Sunday than your kid’s soccer practice.
Alternatively, I think it’s also great to hang out with extended family from time to time. It is hard to get together with cousins and their kids or even your own siblings at times, so I do think that family gatherings at holidays or picnics or for other important events are a wonderful way to reconnect with family.
Read a Book
I have often said that reading is great self care. Those of us who love to read always find time to read, but sometimes when you have a family, especially with young children, this can be challenging. Sunday might be the perfect day to take an hour or two and just read a book you’ve been in the middle of for a while, or start one you’ve been wanting to read. These could be fiction books, or books about your faith or even a topic like gardening. Reading is really relaxing and transports you and is a great way to rest and relax. Maybe establish a family reading time so everyone is reading so that you can install a love of reading in your kids (you have to model the way you want your kids to live) and get your reading in as well.
I recommend staying away from reading about topics that are political because I often find that is the exact opposite of relaxation and instead causes emotional unrest.
De-tox from …
There are plenty of things we need to de-tox. Digital media being the one that jumps to mind because I find that as soon you are on social media platforms you are either doomscrolling or you’re getting drawn into the negative blackhole of noise about anything and everything–from politics to knitting (if you can believe that even those who are engaging in a hobby can argue about the hobby, which I assure you, they do) and that’s hardly relaxing.
But there are lots of things you can de-tox from. Maybe it’s shopping. Maybe take one day where you decide that you are not going into any stores because even window shopping can be a distraction from relaxation. Or maybe it’s cleaning–our houses will always need cleaning and if you are finding it’s proving a distraction from your family or relaxation and self care, then maybe it’s time to take a day off from so you can focus on you and your family.
Time in Nature
God’s creation is beautiful so why not take some time on Sunday and get outdoors? Maybe go on a bike ride (or build a snowman) or just sit out in your garden (go on a winter walk) and stop and smell the roses (be amazed by a snowflake) and take in the glory of nature. I have to admit, although I’m not crazy about the oppressive, humid heat we get in southern Ontario, that I have spent more time out of doors this spring and summer and it’s absolutely amazing the way that being out in nature just calms your nervous system. It’s the light and bird song and gentle breeze and all that glorious, natural greenery.
Sunday might also be your perfect gardening day!
Final Thoughts
Even if you are not in the same space I am spiritually, I still think that Sunday is a great day for you to set aside for yourself. You can still take time to relax and rest and put yourself (and your family) first. Weekends are supposed to be a break, a time for yourself and your family, but I feel as though too often they become days where we try and squeeze in too much–errands, activities with the kids at play centres or sporting events, cleaning and other chores–and in the process of trying to get things done or trying to have fun, we forget to rest and take care of ourselves and end up more tired than rested. Not every day has to be a mad rush, and you should be able to say on Monday mornings that you had a day to just unwind and relax, and you should feel refreshed and ready to face a new week.
What do your Sundays look like? Do you have a rest day? Share your thoughts in the comments!