Making the most of your Sunday

Sundays can be a family’s much-needed lifesaver. Because life in these modern times moves exceptionally fast.

There are the kids’ playoff games and piano lessons (because it didn’t fit any other day). And why not schedule the tutor at 4 p.m.? There’s work that started out as one hour to get ahead but three hours later finds you still reading emails or worse, your social media accounts. You committed to phone a relative, recall that your co-worker’s birthday is tomorrow and suddenly it’s Sunday night. Haven’t thought about dinner, someone needs a tri-fold poster board and, from the bottom of the backpack resurrects the notice that tomorrow is picture day. Forget working out.

Or, maybe you worked out, bought a couple of shirts for the school photo, got the birthday present, made the cake, ordered pizza, and made it to the grocery store. Someone chauffeured and the other worked on the ride to the game. And by 8 o’clock everyone’s exhausted or overwhelmed by all that’s left to do.

No one can remain healthy at that pace. No family can either.

It’s time for a redo. This Sunday, simply plan to relax. Count to five.

1: Instead of sleeping in, plan to wake at a comfortable morning hour. Waking up early when you have no pressure to do so is a gift of time. It’s a time to indulge in a chapter of a good book. Share a cup of coffee with your loved one. Make it to your place of worship without drag racing. Unplug for a couple of hours and discover even more time.

2: Prioritize your day. Decide what has to be done and who can help. Include something enjoyable to anticipate. Everyone can chip in with cutting and pasting the trifold and in a half hour, it’s done. A bike ride with the family doesn’t have to be an all-day affair. Cook together. Better yet, double the recipe and serve the second portion later in the week.

3: Plan your week. In a half hour you can look ahead for the stressors and make a realistic to-do list. At lunch or dinner, spend five minutes around the table sharing so that you can work the logistics (who’s carpooling, rotate the chores, schedule review time, etc.).

4: Pack. At least decide what you’ll wear tomorrow before going to bed. It’s not only good for adults, but it’s a great habit to model for kids. Have a docking station or outlet assigned so that phones charge overnight and do not distract with countless pings. Lay out the snacks for the week. Or be super-efficient like the single dad who made a loaf of PB&J sandwiches for the week and set them in the freezer. Each morning, he’d take out three sandwiches and by lunch they were ready to eat.

5: Reflect. Whether it’s in your church or your journal, take time to look back on what worked and what did not. As a youth minister often reminded us, we live in a first world country. The roadblocks we experience in life are most often just bumps. We have the necessities and most often, a way to receive help. Say thank you. Forgive as much as you can. Be of help to others. Remember that your family can be your others.

This is no foolproof plan, but it can certainly be doable and easily modified. And, it’s good for you and your family.

In the words of the ancient Roman poet, Ovid, “Take rest; a field that has rested gives bountiful crop.” And Sundays are the perfect day of rest.