Sunday: The Secret to Week-Long Productivity

I don’t claim to have it all together, but I enjoy a happy, balanced, and productive life.  I’m sure there are lots of contributing factors, but I believe much of it boils down to one day a week.

Sunday is my secret weapon to being productive and getting things done.  The funny thing is that I don’t actually do anything on my lengthy to-do list on Sunday.  I don’t even try to check anything off my list.

It might seem counter-intuitive that doing “nothing” for one day a week helps me get more done, but it makes a world of difference.

I can’t take credit for this idea though.  It dates back to the beginning.  After creating the earth and everything on it, God rested on the seventh day.  He has told us to do the same and I must say that keeping the Sabbath day holy is one of my favorite commandments!

I am a firm believer that we are blessed for being obedient to God’s commandments, and observing Sunday as a day of rest is no exception.  We are blessed with greater peace and happiness.  We are blessed to be able to get more done in the six remaining days than could normally be done in seven.  We have confidence that our needs will be met.

Even if you’re not religious, there are lots of great practical benefits to setting aside a day of rest each week.

Relax

One of the biggest things that sets Sunday apart from the rest of the week for us, is that we don’t work.  My husband doesn’t go to work and I don’t work on my blog or Etsy shop.  We don’t do housework.  When we were in school, we didn’t do homework either.

I’ve found that it’s really freeing to give yourself permission to ignore all of your work for a whole day.  The freedom is what brings real relaxation and renewal.  Since not doing work on Sunday is a commitment I’ve made, I feel zero guilt for not thinking about or doing any work.

Recharge

I don’t know about you, but when I’m crazy busy, I feel like a truck without brakes barreling down a big hill.  At first it’s invigorating and the wind feels nice, but I quickly realize that a crash is imminent.

When you’re constantly going, going, going without a rest, you are setting yourself up for a burnout.  Working without a break will take its toll on all aspects of your life.

Regularly taking time away from your work and your normal to-do list will keep you on your toes and energized to do your best the rest of the week.

Re-focus

Throughout the week we are pulled in so many directions.  Between work, school, activities, errands, hobbies, and housework, our schedules are jam-packed.  We spend lots of time on things that are good and needful (or sometimes just fun and frivolous), but on our day of rest we focus just on what’s most important.  For us, this means we spend the morning at church and the rest of the day at home as a family.

Having a day completely dedicated to what’s most important helps us to re-focus our priorities.  Spending a day focused on the big picture helps us to not get too far off track during the week.  Focusing on faith and family gives meaning to what we do the rest of the week.

You might think that “the weekend” in general is sufficient to qualify as your rest.  In my experience, weekends can be at least as jam-packed as weekdays, just with different activities.  Our Saturday to-do list is full of projects around the house and yard, fun family adventures, social get-togethers, and random errands.  While it’s a rest from the weekday grind, “the weekend” is not equivalent to the day of rest I’m talking about.

Do you have a day of rest?  Give Sunday a try.  It just might become your secret weapon too!

How about you?

• Have you noticed the benefits of taking a weekly day of rest?
• What is your secret to being productive?

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