Happy Sunday: How to Make Weekend Self Care Work for You
You can look at Sunday two different ways; it’s either the end of the week, or the beginning of a new one. Depending on your perspective, you can spend your Sunday either recovering and rejuvenating from the week before, or you can look at it as the beginning of a fresh start that ushers you into a new week. Either way you look at it, you’ll want to start and end your week with a happy Sunday.
Let’s take a look at some of the best ways you can spend your Sunday so you can put together the self-care Sunday routine that works best for you!
Beginning the Week with a Happy Sunday
Just like how a good morning sets you up for success for the rest of the day, beginning your week by spending time doing things that bring you joy can help make the rest of the week go smoothly.
It’s important not to let your sleep schedule go awry over the weekend; it will only make that alarm more painful on Monday morning. Get up on Sunday morning within the hour of when you’d get up for work. This way your body is adjusted to your normal day-to-day sleep schedule, and you don’t feel like your whole Sunday has gotten away from you if you slept in.
After waking up, spend 30 minutes drinking your coffee, sipping your tea, or slowly eating your breakfast. Try to avoid looking at your phone; just take a deep breath and just be. If you live with someone, spend this part of your morning chatting with them. It’s a wonderful way to start the day.
Just like some people like to do their exercise in the morning, take some time on Sunday to start your week off right with a yoga class or nature walk. These activities are easy on the body, but give great mental health and physical health benefits. They give you time to reflect and process the week before and think through the week ahead. You can also try listening to a meditation during both of these activities, and that will definitely feel good and help clear your mind.
Another way to set yourself up for success is by spending your Sunday preparing for the week ahead. If you spend the time preparing for upcoming meetings, important deadlines, or even meal prepping, you’re giving yourself the gift of more time in the future to spend on important tasks.
Meal prepping can be a huge time saver for the rest of the week. You can either pre-make meals specifically for lunch, prepare ingredients to get ready for cooking later, or you can do the easiest method: doubling your Sunday night meal so you have leftovers to take you through the beginning of the week. If you’re making something like soup, stir-fry, or a pasta dish, you’ve got something that’s easy to store in a container and heat up at work. Eating a home-cooked meal is generally healthier than running to the local fast food place, and you’ll be saving money to spend on the important things.
And a homemade meal tastes better than a fast-food burger any day!
Ending the Week with a Happy Sunday
If you look at Sunday as the end of your week, it’s best to practice self-care tasks that bring you deep relaxation so you can rest.
Here are some great deep relaxation ideas to bring you a blessed Sunday:
- Bathtime. There are plenty of ways to customize your hot bath in a way that brings you the most relaxation. You can put essential oils in the water, you can read a book, you can light a candle, you can enjoy a glass of wine, you can listen to music, or you can soak with your partner! Whatever relaxes you, try to incorporate it into bathtime. The best part of it all? Shutting the door and only letting who you want in with you.
- Skin Care. Some people find that the perfect self-care Sunday involves spending time on skin rejuvenation. It’s so satisfying to find a face mask that feels like it pulls all the toxins out of your skin and leaves you fresh and clean. Don’t forget about the rest of your body, too! Your shoulders, knees, and toes deserve just as much pampering as your face. Try out different body scrubs to see what works for your skin type.
- Puzzles. A puzzle or board game could be the perfect way to unwind if you’re looking for a different way to use your brain. When you’re focusing on your next move or where to find the next piece, you can’t be thinking about long to-do lists or frustrating clients.
- Reading. There’s nothing like grabbing a good book, cozying up with a good blanket and a lap dog, and falling deep into a novel. There are so many books out there to fit every type of reader. Don’t pick the book that you think will make you look smart. Self-care activities are supposed to be fun, not a chore. Reading time is all about you; if you like sappy romance, gripping graphic novels, or campy feel-good reads, read them!
These self-care Sunday ideas will help put you in the right frame of mind to tackle the rest of the week from a calm perspective.
Another way to bring a sense of peace to your Sunday is by tying up any loose ends from the rest of the week. Once you finish up chores, small tasks, and anything left on your to-do list, you’re giving yourself the opportunity to start the week with a fresh slate. You don’t need to worry about lingering to-dos, and instead can focus on the new goals and tasks for the week.
Once you finish up those tasks, write in a gratitude journal. Give thanks for the blessings you had the week before, and write about the opportunities you’re grateful for in the week ahead.
Your Happy Sunday Is For You
The focus of creating a relaxing Sunday should always be about you. It’s not about doing something Instagram-worthy or doing things that are “supposed” to be relaxing. If you hate baths but feel calm after a boxing session, do that! Your happy Sunday is about you and doing what you love. Find activities that take the world off your shoulders and focus on your breathing, your thinking, and your movement. If your Sunday is completely filled, just taking 15 minutes to meditate can make a world of difference. Always carve out just a bit of time for you. You’re worth it.
Author, Artist, Photographer.
Sarah Margaret is an artist who expresses her love for feminism, equality, and justice through a variety of mediums: photography, filmmaking, poetry, illustration, song, acting, and of course, writing.
She owns Still Poetry Photography, a company that showcases her passion for capturing poetic moments in time. Instead of poetry in motion, she captures visual poetry in fractions of a second, making cherished keepsakes of unforgettable moments.
She is the artist behind the Still Poetry Etsy shop, which houses her illustrations and bespoke, handmade items. She is the author of intricacies are just cracks in the wall, a narrative poetry anthology that follows a young woman discovering herself as she emerges from an abusive relationship.
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