05/04/2025
Changing Sunday Funday to Self-Care Sunday
"Rest isn't something you earn—it's something you need."
I don't know about you, but Sundays (or whatever your designated "rest day" is) can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. One moment, I'm basking in the bliss of a slow morning with a hot cup of coffee, and the next, I'm stress-scrolling through my never-ending to-do list for the week ahead. It's like my brain can't decide if it wants to relax or host an anxiety marathon. But here's what I've realized: the way I treat myself on my rest day directly impacts how I step into Monday. If I spend the day beating myself up for not being "productive enough," I wake up feeling like I lost a battle I never even needed to fight. But when I let grace and kindness take the wheel, suddenly, I'm giving myself permission to truly rest—and that changes everything.
I often think about how I treat my phone. When the battery is running low, I don’t sit there berating it for needing a charge. Instead, I plug it in and let it recharge without questioning its value. So, why do I struggle to do the same for myself? Imagine if you looked at your need for rest the way you look at charging your phone. You wouldn't say, "Ugh, how dare my phone be at 5%? What a lazy piece of technology!" No, you'd plug it in and go about your day, trusting that it's doing what it needs to do. So, why not give yourself that same grace? Your body and mind need downtime to function properly—treat rest as a necessity, not a guilty pleasure.
Have you ever noticed that when you push through exhaustion, everything seems ten times harder? Small inconveniences suddenly feel like personal attacks. Your patience is nonexistent, and even deciding what to eat for dinner becomes a crisis-level decision. This is what happens when we don't let ourselves rest with kindness—we carry that tension into the week ahead. But when we give ourselves the gift of real, intentional rest—without guilt, without the "I should be doing something" voice nagging at us—we start the week with a full tank instead of running on fumes.
So, how do we do this? First, acknowledge that rest is productive. Seriously. If you need to hear it louder for the people in the back: REST. IS. PRODUCTIVE. Your brain and body do essential maintenance work when you slow down. Second, be kind to yourself about how you rest. If "resting" looks like reading a book, great. If it looks like binge-watching your favorite show while eating snacks that definitely don't qualify as health food, also great. Rest doesn't have to look a certain way to be valid. Lastly, remind yourself that giving yourself grace today sets you up for success tomorrow. We can't pour from an empty cup, and no amount of "pushing through" will replace what true rest does for us.
And let's be honest—rest isn't just about physical relaxation. It's also about mental and emotional recharging. We live in a culture that glorifies being "busy" and makes us feel like our worth is tied to our productivity. But constantly running on empty isn't a badge of honor—it's a recipe for burnout. Have you ever noticed how much better you handle challenges when you're well-rested? That's because your mind is clearer, your patience is greater, and you actually have the energy to tackle what comes your way. Rest gives me a fresh perspective, making that looming deadline or that tough conversation seem a little less daunting. It's like pressing a mental refresh button so I can show up as the best version of myself.
Another thing we often overlook is the importance of setting boundaries around our rest. Ever tried to have a lazy Sunday, only to be bombarded with texts, emails, or last-minute requests from people who just don't respect the concept of "downtime"? It's okay to protect your peace. In fact, it's necessary. You wouldn't leave your front door wide open and invite chaos into your home, so why do we do that with our time? Set expectations with the people in your life. Let them know that your rest day is sacred, and you'll get back to them when you're recharged. Trust me, the world will keep spinning if you take a few hours to yourself.
And let's not forget the role of self-compassion in all of this. Some of us have a hard time resting because we feel like we don't "deserve" it unless we've checked off every item on our to-do list. But rest isn't something you earn—it's something you need. You don't have to justify it. You don't have to prove your exhaustion to anyone. Just take the break. Your future self will be grateful, your stress levels will thank you, and you might even find that you're a more patient, pleasant person to be around. (Bonus points if you manage to resist the urge to guilt-trip yourself for not being productive while resting—seriously, that's next-level self-care.)
So, take this as your official permission slip to rest without guilt. Let grace and kindness guide your downtime today so that when the week begins, you're stepping into it with clarity, energy, and maybe even a little extra patience for those Monday morning emails. Trust me, future-you will thank you. And if anyone tries to make you feel guilty for resting, just remind them that even superheroes have to recharge before saving the world.
Stay positive, and have an amazing day!
