Comments on: sunday life: in which I quit the sunday afternoon email catch-up habit

By: i don’t wear makeup on weekends | Sarah Wilson

i don’t wear makeup on weekends | Sarah Wilson — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:25:47 +0000

[...] this ad picks up on the same gist. And the chick is wearing a Fair Isle jumper. Which I mention in another [...]

By: sunday life: how to work a four-day week | Sarah Wilson

sunday life: how to work a four-day week | Sarah Wilson — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 23:05:38 +0000

[...] your own parameters… it’s become a theme on this page. Last month I wrote about taking Sunday off to rest. Yep, it’s hard to switch off these days. But it’s only hard. In Grandad’s day, work [...]

By: have a sweet weekend March 19 xx | Sarah Wilson

have a sweet weekend March 19 xx | Sarah Wilson — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:11:36 +0000

[...] It’s Friday and sunny. Who’s to complain? I hope you STILL have no plans for Sunday. [...]

By: have a sweet weekend: 12 march xx | Sarah Wilson

have a sweet weekend: 12 march xx | Sarah Wilson — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:45:31 +0000

[...] Mitch Albom and Deepak Chopra and was contacted by Dan Buettner who did the Blue Zones study about how to live longer that I wrote about recently. Mitch Albom and I…he asked me to not tell you I was actually bending [...]

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:32:56 +0000

Yep, watched it. Dan actually contacted me to say hi after I posted this. Uncanny.

By: Brad

Brad — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:22:02 +0000

Sorry – URL included brackets. Here’s the direct link to that video:

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/dan_buettner_how_to_live_to_be_100.html

By: Brad

Brad — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:19:49 +0000

Nice article and well researched.
I watched that Dan Buettner video on how to live to be 100 (link from Ted.com website
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/dan_buettner_how_to_live_to_be_100.html) and I totally agree.
I’m a Seventh Day Adventist and observing a day of rest from sundown Friday night to sundown Saturday night definitely allows you to turn off from your stressful working week and gives you a calm and retrospective look at what you’ve achieved (or need to achieve) the following week.
It sort of puts things into perspective and allows you deal with a lot more items in an orderly an more productive fashion.
I do believe that humans were not created to work 7 days without rest as anyone who does this (unknowingly or willingly) soon burns out and suffers emotional or health issues and ultimately a shorter and less happy life.

By: Peter

Peter — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:25:23 +0000

Another interesting post Sarah. I used to use sundays to catch up on the ever-present weekly backlog of work for years. That has all changed as a result of the winding down and eventual loss of my job. Initially I was at a loss to know what to do with this free time on Sundays, I was grieving over the loss and concerned about my future. Then I decided that I had to take a day free from all of these hassles to unwind and recuperate. Started taking ‘lost sundays”. Phone off, suit myself,chill out days.
Now I’m focussed on setting up my own business which has a whole new set of freaking stressors that come along as part of the deal. The new relaxed sunday regime leaves me re-energised to deal with the challenges in the week ahead. I have discovered the benefits spelt out in your post as a result of a sudden change in my circumstances. I think it’s a change for the better. My lost sundays work their best magic if I leave my watch in a drawer and ignore the clock.

By: thea

thea — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:27:41 +0000

hm… I used to DESPISE and dread that sunday feeling… and then I quit the work I hated and do what I love… since then I look forward to mondays… call me a freak, but Spoonful makes me happy

thea.
xx

By: Fran

Fran — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:43:03 +0000

I grew up Catholic but stopped going to church weekly in my late teens … but I do think that kicking off Sundays with that ritual set the tone for the day .. it became a day of family and home and perhaps a laid-back BBQ … I think my parents gave us that day of ‘mindful witness’ you so eloquently describe Sarah!

Now I have 4 kids of my own, and juggle alternate weekends with 3 of them visiting their father .. I’m still searching for a restful ritual that defines Sunday for us .. I always wonder if I have failed my kids by not setting up some of those rituals that made my childhood such a golden memory

The beach has started to be our replacement church in recent months and I think we just might keep that going through winter .. (If I can drag those teenagers out of bed!)

Thanks for the thoughtful article.