Today’s post is a lot more personal than the usual, and is just a result of my Sunday morning meditation and reflection on how I absolutely LOVE Sundays. And it occurred to me to put it on paper, and then it occurred to me to share it. Because, why not? And also because it may inspire you to find more JOY in your Sunday (or any day of the week that you choose for YOU).
For me, Sundays are the only day of the week that I don’t teach barre classes, and so the only day that I really have for just ME, and for doing my own movement practice. It’s that one day that I can really relax, that I can play in the kitchen with a new recipe all by myself if I so choose, the one day I can call family and friends without being rushed, that I can take more time to be fully present with my husband. Of course I CAN do all these things any day of the week, but being brutally honest, I just don’t as much. Work is priority, as well as keeping the house in order, doing errands, choosing what we’re going to eat, etc, and I end up jamming my days from start to finish. I do include time for my self-care every day, but its on a time schedule.
Sundays, I have no schedule; I flow. And being a very organized and rigid and controlling person (after lots of introspection, I’ve come to realize this about myself), that opportunity to just relax and not follow a schedule is somewhat uncomfortable but I’ve realized how much I truly enjoy it, how I’m happier and nicer and less rushed and less stressed.
So maybe my ultimate goal will be to make every day like Sunday, but for now, realistically, it’s just Sundays and I’m totally ok with that.
OK so now, what do I do on my Sundays that brings me so much JOY? And what can you maybe take away from this?
Here is what I tend to do on Sundays (not necessarily in this order, as again, I actually loosen up!):
1. SELF-CHECK IN.
I wake up and usually before getting out of bed, I ask myself what I feel like doing first. This is the most amazing part of my Sunday.
In comparison, Monday through Saturday I wake up, immediately go do my 15-minute self-care routine in the bathroom, step outside to meditate, have my lemon water, make my matcha latte (if I have time) and rush out the door to teach. Like clockwork. There is very little variety and no time to over think it. After teaching I rush back to make my delicious, ginormous smoothie bowl (my favorite part of my weekday) and I do my morning journaling. Then I shower and get to work with clients and/or other appointments. And the rest of the day is equally as rushed.
So for me, waking up on Sunday and tuning in, asking my body what it wants is AMAZING. AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.
I ASK MYSELF:
Do I want the lemon water o do I feel like skipping it and just having a tea, or golden milk latte, or a decaf coffee? Or do I feel like diving straight into breakfast?
Do I want to start my day with my usual daily meditation, or do I want to do a yoga flow first then meditate? Or do I want to eat breakfast first, then see how I feel about doing my meditation and yoga mid morning?
What do I feel like now? And what do I feel like doing /prioritizing this Sunday?
2. MAKE LEMON WATER AND/OR TEA FOR ME & MY HUSBAND, AND TAKE IT TO HIM IN BED
Not much comment needed here. It’s just an act of love that I enjoy doing (and don’t get to do Mon-Sat). Find your act of love that brings YOU joy.
3. MOVE (= me time).
As I usually teach 2-3 barre classes every day during the week (though I’m looking to change that very soon), I don’t have the time nor energy to do my own practice. So Sundays I absolutely LOVE taking some time to do a mini exercise routine of my choice, and I usually choose a yoga flow, something that allows me to really DISCONNECT and not think about what I teach. And I can say with certainty that this is my favorite part of my Sunday.
Also (pre-Coronavirus times), I may also go for a hike with my hubbie to a nearby tral, or if I’m at the beach, I’ll go for a walk on the beach.. Whatever movement i do on my special Sunday, I absolutely love it, and for me, it’s de-stressing and a means of self-love.
4. COOK at least one meal.
In my case, I enjoy cooking. I admit that I hate washing/chopping/cleaning up, but I suck it up for the joy of making something yummy for me and my family. And nowadays I do little cooking during the week as I feel I have less time and less energy (and I have help Monday-Saturday during the day, so I take advantage of that). My weekday cooking is usually limited to whipping up a quick dinner made of mostly leftovers.
So Sundays, with no one else in my kitchen, I take my time and I cook WITH LOVE…while I sip on a tea or kombucha or wine, and munch a little (terrible habit), but I enjoy it.
5. CONNECT with family.
When I was reflecting on my Sundays I realized I always make time to call a family or close friend. I do so during the week too, but calls during the week are more rushed, usually while driving, while Sunday I can lie on my couch/bed and chat without rush and really BE PRESENT.
After this, I may have lunch with nearby family, I may read, I may do some necessary work for my Monday, I may journal and schedule my upcoming week, I may go outside and socialize (none of that now during corona…), I may watch TV with my hubbie,… but almost always, I do the above 5 things that make my Sunday a super special day for me.
We all deserve to have one day a week (or more) where we can just do exactly what we feel like doing, and nothing else. Less work and more play. Less scheduled routine and more flow. Less doing things because we have to/because it’s our “responsibility”, and more doing things because we feel like it and because it brings us joy.
And disclaimer: EVERY DAY of the week we should focus on doing what brings us joy, and find joy in our work and responsibilities. I definitely do. But having one day a week to do things differently has a special magic, and I highly recommend it.
So I invite you to think of one extra thing that you would really love to do, always, on your special day (Sunday or other day) and make sure you start making that a priority and a habit.