The Importance of Sundays

Sundays are complex little creations. They’re both an ending and a beginning, both dreaded and anticipated.

Sundays are the second part of those wonderful things called weekends. (They’re a great invention; we should make them longer than two days.) In that regard, Sundays are loved and anticipated because they are half of that glorious period of time. Sundays are for relaxing, and even religiously, Sundays have been known as a day of rest.

A lot of people, however, find themselves dreading Sundays, myself included. It’s a reminder that the weekend is almost over and Monday is about to begin. It’s the last bit of freedom for the forseeable future of a week and all you want is to spend those last glorious hours reveling in your relaxing freedom. I get it, and I’m right there with you.

The mixed feelings people have towards Sundays are part of what gives Sundays its magic and its power. Because Sundays are so powerful. They are that beginning and that ending wrapped into one, and Sundays can make all the difference.

I’ve found that Sundays can really impact the way I feel about life, the week that’s ending, and the week that’s about to start. How I spend the time from when I wake up on Sunday morning to when my head hits the pillow Sunday night has become so important to me for my overall happiness and well-being.

Sundays are your last day of freedom before the week ahead. They are your last day to relax and take it easy. So, do that. Spend your Sundays relaxing. I’ve found that relaxing on Sundays is more beneficial for me than any other day of the week. I’m an introvert who loves her friends deeply but definitely becomes mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted after human interaction. So, I try to plan things and hangouts with friends on Saturday (or a little Sunday brunch in the morning). Same goes for any other tasks I have to accomplish on the weekend (i.e. all those errands like taking the car to the shop, getting that overdue haircut, going grocery shopping); I always try and do these activities that will keep me busy on a Saturday. It allows Sunday to still be my day, and with a week of work, commitments, and stress looming, I need and want that day to be right before the hectic week begins. It allows me to be as fully rejuvenated and rested as possible.

Now, not to contradict myself, but I also think lazy Sundays can lead to lazy, unproductive, sluggish weeks. So, be productive and active on Sundays to some degree. Oftentimes, I find that I end the days I stayed in bed or on the couch all day to “rest” just as I tired as when they began. I haven’t done anything; I haven’t allowed my brain or body to really do anything worthwhile. So, I try to do something productive on Sunday. It doesn’t have to be anything big; just find time during your relaxing to also get up and do something. Whether it be going for a run, running one of those errands that I didn’t do on Saturday, or gardening, allowing (and sometimes forcing) my body and/or mind to do something on Sunday can be very rewarding. I immediately feel like I’ve accomplished something, and that feeling of accomplishment attaches itself to both the closing week and the one that is starting. It makes me proud of the week I’ve just gone through and makes me empowered and motivated to tackle this new week.

I’m a pasta girl. It’s the majority of what I eat. After a long day at work during the week, I don’t want to spend another 30 minutes to one hour preparing myself dinner. In addition, I basically live off of sandwiches, salads, or wraps for lunch during the week. My meals are repetitive, which isn’t really a problem for me. I don’t get sick of the food I make routinely, and I like that it is quick to prepare. But it means that anything outside of my routine meals seems like a treat and something to take pride in. I’ve found preparing a home-cooked meal on Sundays can be a really great way to prepare for the week. Most likely, you have the extra time to spend on cooking something different on Sundays. You can try new recipes (maybe expanding your pallet and finding a new favorite dish) or make an old family recipe. Plus, I’ve found the home-cooked meals I make on Sundays seem to be more balanced (oh hey, vegetables. I don’t see you often enough) and overall better for me. While you might want to just grab takeout on a relaxing Sunday, I often feel sluggish and just kinda bleh after eating a processed meal made by someone else. My home-cooked meals normally fill me with more energy, which is so important when you have the week ahead of you. You’ll eat a delicious meal and take pride in what you’ve made (and for those of you that don’t really cook as often as you should, that home-cooked meal can be one of those productive accomplishments I mentioned).

Lastly, I’ve found that having things organized or planned can take away some of the worry, make you feel like your life isn’t a mess, and like you have your sh*t together. Organize your life on Sundays. Sometimes this can mean literally cleaning and organizing your room, apartment, home, car, etc. But it can also mean just organizing your mental life and prepping for what is upcoming. I’m really into organizing my life in both ways. An organized physical space lends itself to a more organized emotional and mental space. Throughout the week, I normally throw my handbag, shopping bags, books, jackets, and shoes anywhere and everywhere in my room. Things accumulate and my room and apartment becomes a bit cluttered. Oftentimes, when I feel overwhelmed and stressed, I find that a messy living environment will add to the disorganization of my mind and my anxiety. Cleaning my space, whether it be just putting those shoes and other personal items where they belong or actually breaking out the dust cloth and vacuum, that organization can go a long way in putting me in a clearer and better mental space. It ends one week and starts another with positive vibes, both physically and mentally. In addition, you can organize your life in other ways on Sundays. If you have a really busy upcoming week(s), updating your planner or making to-do lists for the days ahead can de-clutter your mind, leave you feeling more prepared, and be a key to the success of the following week. Making organization a goal can again help you live your Sundays to the fullest, simultaneously ending your week on a high note and starting a week off right.

Hope these tips help some of you wonderful folks live both Sundays and life to the fullest. Let’s tackle this week with positivity and optimism!