I remember I used to love Sundays when I was at uni. They’d involve a slow start, mainly due to Saturday night partying, and all my group of friends would start converging at our favourite Sunday pub from anytime after 2pm for a late lunch. This pub was perfect because it had all the old-school board games from Trivial Pursuit to Monopoly, as well as a few pool tables and table football. It was a great way to spend the perfect Sunday afternoon. 

We had it all covered: social connection, games and good food. What about today though? I don’t know about you but most of my friends are spread out across the world. They also have families now so they tend to prioritise that but not always. We still need our friends. In fact, having deep social connections has been shown to be a key component of happiness. We are social creatures after all. 

Then again I also remember Sundays before going back to boarding school. They were anything but perfect. They revolved around stress and panic about when we would drive back and what I need to pack. There was no quiet time or down time and looking back, I realise how important that is to me. 

What’s your perfect Sunday routine? Or do you like to just go with the flow? Here are some ideas but I’d love to hear yours: 

1- Slow Mornings start my Perfect Sunday

I love taking my time over my pot of tea with a book. I stopped reading newspapers years ago. My books range from fiction to psychology and philosophy so depending on how I feel, I’ll either opt for escapism or intellectualism. 

Obviously this all happens after I’ve walked and fed my dog but there’s something in the air that’s different about Sundays. People smile more and look relaxed. They take their time with their days or stay in their pjs till at least lunchtime. 

2- What’s your Favourite Self Care Activity? 

Some people like to play sport or go for walks. I sometimes do my dance classes but other times, I just enjoy long walks in nature with my dog. Taking time to reflect on the week, if I’m living to my values and feeling my stress points has become so important for my mental well-being. 

Nowadays, I tend to leave socialising for Saturdays and so Sundays has become my ‘me-day’. It seems such a luxury to read a book, walk outside, have a nap or simply sit with my dog doing nothing but these all make up my perfect Sunday. With the world becoming faster and faster though, it’s actually a necessity if we don’t want to lose our minds and our health. Not only does rest reduce our risk of heart disease but it also helps us step back and clear our minds. We tap into our ‘resting system’ or the parasympathetic nervous system which also allows us to sleep better in the end. 

3-Reflection / Doing Nothing / Mindfulness 

Rest should come naturally to us but with all the stress and anxiety we carry around with us, it’s actually not easy to let go. Many of us feel guilty taking time out for ourselves and yet, it’s worth remembering that rest can only make us more productive and happier. 

Sleep and rest allow us to regenerate and whilst reflection and doing nothing doesn’t come easily, give it a go. You can try listening to the traffic or other sounds around your house. Eventually, you might even realise that you’ve forgotten about your anxiety, even if only for a few seconds.

My favourite thing is to listen to nature and then imagine how much is going on within. How many ants are walking around that I can’t see? What other lives and communities are happening around me as I sit and listen? It’s amazing how much activity is going on that we don’t know about. All of this also helps me be mindful in the moment and to feel alive. 

4- Make 3 Goals to Motivate yourself for Monday 

Some people like to plan the week ahead and to get ready for Monday. I personally leave that to Friday afternoon when a do a recap and a plan. Interrupting Sundays with thoughts of work or other responsibilities doesn’t feel right for me. It might for you though and it can be a huge stress release for many people. 

At the end of the day, you need to do what’s right for you. Play around with things and see what works and create your own perfect Sunday. My biggest breakthrough though was the day I learnt that I could say no to anything and everything on Sundays. I re-defined it as ‘me-day’ and I’ve loved it ever since. I know it’s not easy because we all have obligations, including with our families, but we can usually negotiate some time for each of us. Make sure others around you know what you need. Often, sharing is the best starting point.