When I was growing up, Sundays felt different.
Shops were closed. Families gathered. The world seemed to slow down.
Whether you called it the Sabbath or simply a “day of rest,” it was understood that life wasn’t meant to be a constant, unbroken stream of work, errands, and obligations. There was space—sacred space—for rest, reflection, and renewal.
Fast forward to today, and that pause button seems broken. Our calendars are crammed. We check emails on weekends. We run from one commitment to the next, rarely stopping to breathe. The Sabbath—whether observed for faith, tradition, or personal well-being—has quietly slipped out of our lives. And with it, we’ve lost something deeply human.
What the Sabbath Offers Us
The Sabbath isn’t just about religious observance—it’s about reclaiming time for rest and presence. It offers three timeless gifts:
- Rest for the body – A break from constant activity allows our energy to replenish.
- Rest for the mind – Without the mental noise of work and deadlines, clarity emerges.
- Rest for the soul – Space to reflect, connect with loved ones, and nurture faith or meaning.
Research on rest shows that downtime makes us more creative, focused, and emotionally balanced. In other words, rest makes us better at everything else we do.
Why We’ve Lost It
Somewhere along the way, productivity became a 7-day sport. Technology erased boundaries between work and home. “Free time” got filled with obligations. We’ve normalized exhaustion as a badge of honor, forgetting that the Sabbath was meant to protect us from exactly this kind of burnout.
We haven’t just lost a day—we’ve lost the rhythm of life that includes both work and restoration.
How to Reclaim the Sabbath in Your Life
Reintroducing the Sabbath doesn’t have to mean following a strict rulebook—it’s about reclaiming intentional rest. Here’s how you can start:
1. Pick Your Day and Protect It
Choose one day a week to step away from work, even household “catch-up” chores. Put it on your calendar as a non-negotiable.
2. Unplug (Even Just for a Few Hours)
Turn off email notifications. Put your phone on “Do Not Disturb.” Give yourself the mental freedom to be, not just do.
3. Create Rituals That Restore You
Read. Take a long walk. Share a meal with loved ones. Journal. Pray. Whatever fills your cup, make it part of the rhythm.
4. Make It a Communal Practice
The Sabbath was always meant to be shared. Invite friends or family into your day of rest—dinner together, a hike, or simply sitting on the porch in conversation.
5. Guard It Like Your Health Depends on It—Because It Does
Treat rest as essential, not optional. Over time, you’ll notice more energy, focus, and joy in the rest of your week.
The Real Gift of the Sabbath
The Sabbath isn’t just about stopping—it’s about remembering who we are when we’re not rushing. It’s about making space for what truly matters and refusing to let busyness steal it from us.
I’ve found that when I intentionally pause—whether that’s Sunday or another day—the rest of my life feels richer. Conversations go deeper. My work feels lighter. And my soul feels… at home again.
Maybe it’s time we stopped treating the Sabbath as an outdated relic and started seeing it for what it really is—a built-in safeguard for a life worth living.
