I’m old enough to remember when Sundays FELT different.
My family of origin attended church services every Sunday morning. Following church, we would get something to eat and often visit my grandparents or great-grandparents. (I would complain about their TV reception for NFL games.)
When we were at our house, no one tackled any big projects. No one mowed the lawn, did major cleaning, or worked on the house or landscaping. My parents might work on smaller, enjoyable projects, and my sister and I would do homework, but nothing significant was done.
Somewhere along the line, that changed. Now, Sundays usually feel just like another day to get stuff done, and I don’t think that is good for several reasons:
Working all day, every day is no way to LIVE.
We spend too much time “waiting to live” in the modern world. We think that “someday” things will slow down, and we will have more time to do what we enjoy. But in reality, tomorrow is not guaranteed.
A friend, who is roughly my age, recently started feeling off. He is now in a queue waiting for a major surgery.
An ancient proverb says, “It is better to go to a house of mourning than a house of celebration.” As with many ancient proverbs, the author leaves it up to us to discern what that means. Here is my take: a house of mourning provides perspective on what is important in life.
Life is short. Stop putting off living until “later.” “Later” may never come.
Productivity wanes when all days are the same.
I am scheduled to travel out of town tomorrow, so I have been uber-efficient and effective today.
You have experienced the same. It’s remarkable how much of your task list gets accomplished when you leave for vacation tomorrow.
Most of us would be more efficient and effective if we PLANNED to take one day off per week.
Our most important relationships need time to grow.
In his seminal work, The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Achor cites research showing that people are happier when they feel socially connected. This research has dramatic implications for our divided culture and personal mental health.
Relationships lead to happiness and make us more hopeful and productive. And relationships TAKE TIME.
One Jewish scholar I follow sets aside one day a week when his family does not work (Sabbath). They use a little saying to remind them of what they do on this day or rest: No work. We rest. We play. God loves us.
That routine gives room for their relationship with family and friends to flourish.
So, here is your challenge for this week.
Pull out your calendar and mark off a day each week in February when you will do NO WORK and see how it goes.