Friday’s here, and I can’t stop thinking about Sunday already! My deep love for Sundays drives me to continually innovate and make my Sunday rituals more interesting and relaxing. But how could I possibly make this happen? Sundays, often seen as task-laden catch-up days, can defy this ubiquitous notion to fully become the day that brings joy and happiness. I have made my Sunday rituals enjoyable by following the tips mentioned in this blog post. After all, Sundays aren’t meant for dealing with existential crises or completing pending chores—they’re for recharging and delighting in life!
Ever since I began my professional career, I have looked forward to such self-care Sundays like a child eagerly awaiting vacations. While Sundays aren’t quite the same as a month-long vacation, they evoke a similar sense of joy. For many of us, Sundays have become a bittersweet shift of restful moments at the start of a demanding work week. But Sundays can become much more. And I will tell you the simplest tips to achieve that. Despite our different work schedules, we all experience exhaustion and respond to it uniquely. That’s why I don’t rigidly define my Sunday rituals. Instead, I retreat one step from these worldly concerns to wash away the week’s qualms.
Every Sunday offers a fresh opportunity, and this is why I continually seek new ways to make this day special. The point being that our other days see us behave routinely, running after deadlines with no time for any respite, striking one task at a time, or if the day demands, we multitask. We follow our Sunday routine with the same energy. This post isn’t about different rituals to engage in; that’s the blog post for some other day, but this is a guide to making the Sunday rituals the way you want them to be.
Tips to make Sunday rituals enjoyable
Bring at least one element from your daily routine
I am not reneging on my words. Being innovative with the rituals is still my main idea, but constantly churning out new ideas shouldn’t become a discomfort. You shouldn’t be rushing around aimlessly. Instead, aim for a solid start that will effortlessly put you in motion. Whatever the nature of my rituals is, my mornings remain the same, except for a few tweaks.
Sundays, however, are uniquely liberating, offering the freedom to either rise early or luxuriate in bed. There’s no alarm and no obligation for you to jump right at its sound. I wake up at 5:30 am during work weeks, but on Sundays, I have a queenly wake-up! For me, waking up later than usual is my self-care Sunday idea. I revel in the bliss of a morning unburdened by urgent emails or side hustle tasks that would typically preoccupy my mind. I wake up around 8:45–9:15 a.m. and engage in stretching. As part of my Sunday routine, I ensure some physical activities, followed by slow and calm yoga and meditation time.
The time passes slowly, and I feel it passing, totally aware of its calming effect in these slow moments. A pleasurable brew of my favorite tea, a nutritious breakfast, and peaceful journaling moments complement my slow, leisurely mornings. A soft smell occupying my entire house and sun rays sneakily entering my room—that’s how my Sunday mornings begin, setting the tone for my rituals ahead. Once I finish with my non-negotiables, I have the freedom to do whatever I desire with the rest of the day.
Set intentions to bring uniformity to your Sunday routine
Intentions have the power to bring about any changes you believe in. My decision to not change my morning habits even on Sundays sprouted from this very intentional thought. In this way, I remain consistent with my morning routine. The primary thought about Sunday rituals is to make them a genuine source of enjoyment and relaxation. And what’s the best way to make this feeling extraordinary than to start the day with intentions? With proper intentions, Sundays can become a sanctuary of joy and pleasure.
Writing to-do lists religiously is the practice that brings an organized approach, a necessary habit that prevents unleashing chaos from multiple tasks. But why should this notion of a work week ruin the idea of enjoying Sundays? Instead, set intentions for your self-care Sunday rituals. As long as your intention is to be relaxed, you shape your activities accordingly. My idea of relaxation is simply savoring a peaceful moment alone while I scroll through my Instagram feed for new recipes.
My intention is to be relaxed, and I tailor my Sunday routine around “alone moments” and “finding new recipes.” This is the beauty of setting intentions. You see, I don’t have a rigid list of pending tasks with deadlines, but I have the free thought of including any random activity that would be the source of my happiness. You usually set intentions for the week ahead on Sundays, but what about the day itself? We made Sundays synonymous with chore-filled catch-up days, a mere extension of your weekdays’ tasks, but by setting intentions, you reclaim the day for personal growth and joy.
Setting the tone before you begin self-care Sunday
Intentions make us able to set the rituals, but setting the tone brings warmth to our experience and reignites the yearning within us. Imagine a clutter-free space infused with aromatic essential oils or soothing scented candles filling the entire room with its beautiful rejuvenating vibes and cold air rushing through the windows, making a home in the dimly lit room. These ensconced vibes make Sunday rituals more enjoyable. Such a refreshing atmosphere sets the tone for my mood and relaxes me instantly, and any ritual becomes a simple and effortless process. I maintain a dimly lit room with a cold atmosphere, and then I engage in my morning routine. I feel relaxed as I progress from one activity to another.
I liken Sunday to a sanctuary; it’s only wise that the day’s vibes lend verisimilitude to it. I usually don’t include scented candles in my regular Sunday rituals (unless I am busy), but my mornings exude cooler, cozier vibes that gradually warm up to normal temperatures. These cozy vibes are a reminder to be kind with yourself, a sentiment that busy work weeks sometimes overlook. Therefore, the tone drastically impacts how you progress throughout the day. A self-care Sunday routine offers a rare opportunity to reset and recharge, both physically and mentally. The way we embrace this day sets the tone for the days that follow.
Do not leave household chores for the weekends
This tip might irk you, but having chores peppered throughout the week reduces the load during the weekends. Instead of dreading a long list of chores awaiting you, you’re free to savor peaceful moments or indulge in a favorite hobby. Weekends are for relaxation, especially Sundays. Spreading out household chores during the work week might seem counterintuitive at first. I won’t blame you if you find this idea daunting, but breaking chores into manageable chunks throughout the week reduces the stress looming over the weekend.
Household chores like tidying the space, doing laundry, meal prepping, and other tasks are often seen as time-consuming. However, adding these tasks to your work week prevents a massive pile-up during the weekends, creating a more pleasant and inviting atmosphere for your self-care Sunday routine. Ultimately, the goal is to create a balance where weekdays are productive yet manageable, leaving your weekends for relaxation. Positively, you will start enjoying Sunday rituals. Incorporating essential chores into your weekday routine may require a bit of planning and discipline, but the payoff is well worth it. So, consider shifting some of these tasks to weekdays and make your weekends stress-free.
Final thoughts
Sundays are my holy sanctum. So, it’s no surprise that I give up everything to make my Sundays better. While I find comfort in completing productive household chores, I don’t overcommit. My idea of Sunday rituals doesn’t involve a rigid to-do list that involves cleaning the entire house or tidying my wardrobe. Instead, my Sunday to-do list remains blank, focusing on enjoying activities that I love. You may see me indulging in a holistic routine, giving myself a DIY manicure or pedicure, or slouching on the bed like a happy panda. It would be quite churlish of me not to enjoy this one day to the fullest.
No more self-care Sundays are lost to a specific routine. Sunday rituals are more than a mere compilation of healthy habits; they have become a way of life. My Sunday mornings begin with a soft, aromatic smell occupying my room with gentle and golden sun rays exuding warmth and waking up my body to this new day. My afternoons see me resting and relaxing, removing any hint of stress from my body. And my evenings see me unwinding in tranquility with a renewed sense of contentment (and, of course, preparing for the devilish Mondays!)