A Real Weekend
ByI remember Sunday afternoons. After church and Sunday dinner Dad would put on some classical music and read the paper. And my sister and I would read or play games. When the whether was lovely we would go hiking as a family or visit Lincoln Park Zoo. Sometimes we would go to one of Chicago’s fine museums. Winter was sledding or skiing. It was rare that anything was planned.
Do you look forward to the weekends or have they turned into regular days?
Now my clients tell me about bringing work home for the weekend that they didn’t finish during the week. Too often, when you tell yourself you can always bring the work home, you are less productive at work. Sometimes the work gets done on the weekend, sometimes it doesn’t, but it pulls and makes you feel guilty.
Instead of family fun, weekends are eaten up with errands, chores, organized sports and work. We want to keep up, have a house cleaner than Mom’s, and make sure our kids don’t miss out on something. But, all that tension of trying to do everything perfectly wears you out.
It’s hard to relax. Weekends are scheduled just as tightly as the rest of the week.
And when weekends are planned for fun – it’s a big party or a weekend trip somewhere. Even the fun is more planned and complicated.
What if you decided to take a few hours this weekend and didn’t plan anything? You just did what you and your family wanted to do.
Photo from Betsssy
You don’t have to go to every invitation. You don’t have to attend every game. You can say no to busy, weekend shopping.
You can take a nap. Or read. Or hang out with friends.
When you are more tired on Sunday night than you were Friday night, it’s time to stop running, running, running.
What would make this weekend great for you?
Look at your to do list for this weekend. Do you have anything on your list that would make you feel relaxed or joyful? if not, you know what to do.
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Beth,
Hey, thanks for the great post. Ya know, I am actually in the exact opposite position right now. Too much of my life is lazy, relaxed, and unplanned. I could use some structure and some work to keep me sane. I am currently unemployed and looking for something. I had some money saved up, so it is allowing me to be a lazy, which is not a good thing. I sit around and do nothing. I will definitely keep this post in mind once I do get the ball rolling again. Thanks for sharing with me
- Jack Rugile
Simple Sapien
I’m so glad you wrote this. I LOVE proper weekends.
People say to me “what are you doing this weekend?” and I say “as little as possible”. That’s my idea of a perfect weekend!
Great post!
Just recently I decided to stop planning things for Sundays. We now go to church, enjoy a nice meal with just the 3 of us, and relax a bit. I also use Sunday evenings to prepare for the week ahead. It keeps me from running around like a maniac all week. Which is so worth the extra hour or two of effort on Sunday.
Hi Beth, great post-so true. I try to aim for a balance of relaxation,
domestic work,exercise and family time.Usually Saturday ends up chores and definitely planning for the week ahead. Sundays less frenetic-family,relaxation and exercise. regards,
Steve
This post really struck a nerve. We are all way too busy – and it’s with the wrong stuff and for the wrong reason. And I think that’s what the others were saying. About three years ago we started attending church and that has prgressively changed our perspective on how Sundays should be spent. Saturdays are for catching up on what isn’t done during the week. But Sundays are do nothing days. We don’t do any shopping, grocery or otherwise and don’t even go out to eat on Sunday. I no longer work Sundays. And we don’t do work around the house either on Sunday. The past two Sundays we have been truly blessed to have had church social activities in the afternoon. I would imagine that this is what it must have been like 50 or 60 years ago when life centered around the church. And the church is where you went for social interaction with others. I’m particularly thrilled that we have undertaken these activities with other churchs and are meeting new people and seeing other peoples’ churchs. The weekend and Sunday especially should be about refilling and renewing ourselves for the coming week. Sunday especially is a day to honor God and rest. I think we would all be better off emotionally and physically if we took God’s plan for us to heart.
Great post. I agree totally and also just studied about the Sabbath day and how we need to have a day of rest!
I like that marcia! That sounds fantastic Niki and Steve!
Robin and Roxanne, we were made for the rest, so we better take it right?