How can I recharge myself over the weekend?
It’s the end of the weekend, and you’re exhausted! You’ve either spent the last two days running errands, doing chores, or driving your kids to their various activities. By the time the kids are in bed on Sunday night, you’re too worn out to even begin to think about what Monday morning will hold for you. Whether you’re a working mom, with bosses and deadlines constantly coming at you; or you’re a stay-at-home mom, juggling babies, bottles, and housework; we all need down time! Self care Sunday may be just the thing you need.
As far back as I can remember, I’ve dreaded Sunday evenings (usually around 7 o’clock it starts). In middle school and high school, I started getting anxiety when the weekend was coming to an end. It got even worse once I joined the working world, knowing I would be returning to a week of chaos before having a chance to relax again. Now that I’m a mom, I need down time more than ever. And I think it’s safe to say our kids do as well. So take a break, and use these 7 secrets for a successful self care Sunday, so you can renew yourself for the week ahead.
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What is self care Sunday?
So here I am going on and on about self care Sunday, but what is it exactly? Self care Sunday is a small piece of the week for you to cut out some time for yourself to recharge, so you can continue to pour into others. As mothers, we get so caught up in everyone else’s needs that we usually forget to take care of ourselves. Self care Sunday is a great way to block off time every week, so that you stick to giving yourself some much needed love and rest.
Sunday is also that last piece of the weekend before you get back to the normal routine of life, so it makes it the perfect time to calm your mind and reset yourself.
Why is self care Sunday so important?
We all need time to recharge, even those moms you run into that look like they have it all together. If you’re a working mom, the weekends are most likely your only downtime. And if you’re a stay at home mom, you are more than likely the only one with your kiddos all day, every day. And if you’re a work from home momma, do you ever get a break?
Self care Sunday is all about scheduling a time for you to be alone, rest and recharge. We can’t give all of ourselves, everyday and not expect to become run down, short-tempered, or burnt out. Take some time for yourself momma, so you can continue to be there for your family!
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What do you do on a self care Sunday?
What you do on a self care Sunday is solely up to you and your family, and it can be different week to week. Maybe this week you only have time for 5 minutes of self care, then next week it’s a family day of self care, the following week allows for 30 minutes of self care, and the last Sunday of the month is a day you spend with your girlfriends. Whatever you choose to do, it should be something that allows your mind and body to rest and relax.
What are the secrets to a successful self care Sunday?
- Schedule a time for self-care.
If you want your family or friends to know about your plans for self care Sunday and get them on board, make sure you put it on your schedule. Whether you use a family planner or if you just keep it logged in your personal calendar, keep it on your schedule, just as you would a doctor appointment. It’s up to you what your self care Sunday schedule looks like, but make sure you carve that time out for yourself. - Unplug.
This can look different depending on what your self care Sunday goal is. If you’re staying at home, and just want time alone, then I suggest putting down your phone and staying away from social media. If you’ll be away from your kiddos, you might not want to shut off your phone, in case there is an emergency (also let people know what is regarded as an emergency). If you decide a family camping trip is your ideal way to spend a self care Sunday, then I say no phones or electronics of any kind. - No chores (or do them early).
I want to tell you the best way to spend your self care Sunday is by not doing any chores; however, if you’ve spent all day Saturday away from home, then this might not be feasible. If that’s the case, get those chores out of the way early, so you can work on your self care and spend the rest of the day with your loved ones. Of course, there’s no shame in just forgetting those chores all together. - Change it up each week.
If you’ve decided you’re going to go all in during self care Sunday and have scheduled a weekly massage and that’s your time away, I say go for it! But sometimes life can get in the way. So rather than skipping a massage one week (and possibly never getting back to it), plan to change up your self care routine every now and then. Some days you may even need to include your family and just take a walk outside. It’s okay if it’s not the same each week, you’re still giving yourself time to rest and something to look forward to. - Don’t stress about self care.
If you feel like you just don’t have time for self-care, the last thing you want to do is stress over your self-care routine. You can do something in as little as 5 minutes to take care of yourself. Just make sure that it’s not always only 5 minutes. If you’re ever stuck what to do during your self-care time, the easiest thing is to just breathe. Focus on nothing but your breathing until everything else drifts from your mind. - Include your family.
Like I said before, you can include your family in your self care routine. It might be a family game night or movie night. Kids and husbands need down time too. It’s also okay to include your family by saying let’s unplug for an hour each Sunday and spend time apart, maybe reading or drawing. Just give everyone a break now and then. - Plan your week ahead.
So Sundays are the last little hurrah before going back to the weekly struggles (whatever they may be for you). But it’s also your last chance to get everything in order before the next week starts. So it’s a perfect time to sit down together with your family and plan out the schedule: soccer practices, dance recitals, dentist appointments, meal planning. Yes, it seems like one of those chores I told you not to do on Sunday, but it will be so beneficial to your mental health during the course of the week.
Conclusion
Self care is so important when you are a care giver because you have to stay in the best mental shape for those that you are caring for. It’s important to have a specific time once a day or at least once a week to be able to feel like yourself and be able to rest, even if it’s just to take some deep breaths or a walk in your yard. Life easily gets in the way if we let it, so make sure to schedule self care to keep yourself in the best mental shape.
Have you implemented self care Sunday into your self care routine? What did you find worked best for you? Let us know in the comments.
Related Articles for Self Care Sunday:
7 Secrets to a Successful Self Care Sunday
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