May I encourage you to consistently rest. Build into your schedule to have a rest day. It doesn’t have to be Sundays.

I remember growing up – my mom always said Sundays were for rest so she didn’t fix big meals. I don’t remember what we did for lunch. Dinner on Sunday’s was home-made popcorn & milkshakes or malts, depending on the ingredients we had.

As a single mom I clung to this same idea…however, since popcorn makes me feel not so hot and the milkshakes always made me sick (hello, food allergies!…) the tradition didn’t stick. but the concept of rest did.

My rule: I don’t do anything I have to convince myself to do, anything feeling like work.

• If I WANT to do laundry, then I do it.
• If I WANT to clean the bathroom, then I do.
• If I WANT to clean out & organize the pantry, then I do.
• If I WANT to sit and read for hours, then I do.
• If I WANT to make a painting mess & clean it up, then I do.
• If I WANT to work on the computer for something personal, then I do.
• If I WANT to color for hours, then I do.
• BUT, if I at all don’t want to do something – I DON’T.

When my two were littles – I decided I WANTED to be with them. I WANTED to play, color, read, watch something with them. It was my pleasure as their mom to just be with them. It wasn’t a have to do. Of course, as they’ve gotten older this changes and looks differently. Lately, I don’t open email on Sundays. Somehow it is my time vortex, I open it because I think I want to and before I know it – I’m on 15 work bunny trails.

Just giving myself permission to have one day in the week I allow for what I WANT to do made all the difference when my children were littles and now they are grown – it still makes all the difference. It still does. This year because I’m the driver again for any of Christine’s activities and she starts the week at 5pm on Sundays. Saturdays are my new Sabbath Rest day, and I still don’t open email on Sunday.

Please, pick a day for a Sabbath. Spend some time with just you and Jesus.

His time is flexible and if your rest day is Monday, He’ll meet you then.
If your rest day is Tuesday, He’ll be 15 minutes early.
If your rest day is Wednesday, He’ll be rejoicing you have a rest day planned.
If your rest day is Thursday, He’ll love you just like on all the other days of the week.
If your rest day is Friday, He’ll waiting.
If your rest day is Saturday, He’ll be so excited to spend time with you.
If your rest day changes each week, He’ll never ever have a schedule conflict.

I promise, you won’t ever, ever regret the habit. and, you’ll find your mental refreshed state you’ll actually get more done when you have the next “normal” day. If it’s too daunting to “lose” a whole day – start with half a day. My recommendation – go cold turkey. I think you’ll find the longer you incorporate this “practice” you won’t even think it makes any sense to try to work 24/7 anymore.