3 Tips for a Restful Sabbath
“Therefore, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God. And whoever enters into God’s rest, rests from his own works as God did from his” (Hebrews 4:9-10).
I’m sitting on a train watching the scenery pass by—cute little inlet beaches, marshes, and marinas. I’m traveling alone, and even though I have hours on this train, I’m not really interested in working right now. I wasn’t expecting to feel that way; I have a lot on my to-do list and uninterrupted time away from my family to do it.
But perhaps this is by design. Today is Sunday, and I’ve already built my schedule around relaxing and not working on Sundays. A few years back, I decided to commit to truly honoring Sunday as the Sabbath. This decision was helped along by the pandemic, but God was also inviting me to take a closer look at slowing down.
My first inspiration for intentionally honoring Sunday as a day of rest didn’t come from the ten commandments (whoops!) but from some themes in the “Theology of Home” books. Between reading them and being forced to slow down during lockdowns, it hit me that I needed to honor the Lord’s day.
It’s not only about praising him but about how much he loves us and knows what’s best for us—including making time for rest and taking delight in what he provides for our enjoyment.
Would you like to start honoring Sunday as a day of rest? Are you unsure of how to do so? It takes some preparation, practice, and exploration. Here’s how I got started:
1. Make an Agreement
I talked with my husband about clearing our schedules on Sundays, not making formal commitments to activities outside of Mass. I don’t mean that it’s Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Farmer Boy” over here and we’re in our Sunday best making our boys sit in boredom, but we discovered there is really no need to do anything extra on a Sunday.
After Mass and before not doing much of anything, my husband sips his coffee, I sip my tea, and we review our calendars and budget for the week ahead. This way, we know what or who needs tending to and when. But, that’s basically it as far as “work” goes. We have a mental break and time for some physical restoration (otherwise known as a nap).
2. Unplug
Stay off the phone or the computer. Your children, or whomever you’re in the same room with, notice. Let’s be real: If you’re on devices a lot for work, eventually, it morphs into mindless scrolling or rabbithole searches on the interwebs. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to unplug for a whole day cold turkey right away, so I started with blocks of time. Eventually, I built up to not answering texts or checking emails, and now, I no longer charge my phone on my nightstand, and my laptop doesn’t roam the house with me.
Got kids? I have three boys. They will be the first to tell you to get off the phone. They also notice when you’re relaxed and when you’re stressed. It’s OK to read a book or watch their favorite show with them in the middle of the day. Be present.
3. Declutter
While unplugging helps us declutter our senses and be present in a world full of noise, decluttering our physical space does, too. Though there is a lot to do in our old house, since we’ve decluttered everything from furniture to the pictures hanging on the walls, I have more clarity about what is essential and what is not in all aspects of my life. Keep meaning to clear the basement? Do it! Feeling cramped or like there is too much stuff to clean? Take a look around, and “edit.”
I have found that being intentional about taking a break builds my creativity and improves my relationships. When I return to work, I am motivated to create something of my own first, before consuming others’ content. In my relationships, I’m more charitable with my family, and I’m not so quick to judge a mistake or snap back if there is a disagreement.
God already promised you a day of rest. Now, give yourself permission to restore yourself for one day.
Liz Montigny is a licensed Ziglar Life Coach for Catholic working moms who want to drop the hustle for hope so they can truly live their dreams. She lives with her husband and their three boys in Massachusetts where she homeschools, likes to relax with a cup of tea, and enjoys talking about non-toxic living and building her theatre ministry. You can connect with her at lizmontignycoaching.com.