Self-care in general has transformed a lot over the years.
It began simply as a way to encourage people (especially moms) to do more for themselves.
And, that’s all well and good, but somewhere along the way, it became something many people now feel like they are forced to do.
So, if you are one of those people feeling overwhelmed with the idea of a perfect self-care routine, it’s time to take a step back and reevaluate.
Instead of focusing on having to fit self-care into your daily life, why not just start with one day a week?
Like Sunday.
You might be wondering, why set aside Sunday for self-care?
Well, Sunday is actually the perfect day to dedicate to yourself since it is often already a day of rest for many people.
Even if you have kids, you are likely winding down on Sundays after a fun weekend and getting ready for the new week to begin.
You might be meal-prepping or doing laundry and getting clothes picked out for the week.
Whatever it is, take advantage of what’s usually a slower day by adding some simple self-care activities to your Sunday routine.
Setting Up Your Sunday Self-Care Routine
First things first – figure out what your routine is going to be on Sunday because that will dictate how much time you have to set aside for self-care.
And, don’t forget, self-care doesn’t have to be done alone, so even if your household is busy on Sundays (is there ever a calm day when you have kids?), you can still do this!
What you want to do is focus on how you can incorporate self-care into Sundays, whether that means an hour during the day, or changing your entire Sunday routine.
Think of Sundays as a reset day.
A day when you get your planning done for the week, and you also give yourself some time to relax and reset your body and your mind for another busy week.
How is Sunday self-care different from daily self-care?
Honestly, it’s not.
I know…now you are thinking…
“Well, what’s the point of Sunday self-care if it’s no different than regular self-care?”
But, that’s not the point of Sunday self-care.
The point of Sunday self-care, specifically, is to schedule time for self-care, every week.
And, in doing so, hopefully, provide a chance to relieve some of the pressure you might feel regarding fitting in self-care at other times during the week.
You should still choose things to do during the week for yourself that will help your overall wellness (both physical and mental) and allow you to relax.
Maybe simple things like going for a walk in the mornings or reading as part of your bedtime routine (you can find more ideas for easy and practical self-care here).
But, you likely have a bit more time on Sundays to really set aside for yourself.
Dedicated time for yourself.
Then, if you have a busy week and can’t fit in self-care like you normally do, you know you have your Sunday self-care day or routine to fall back on.
And, that’s the point of Sunday self-care: to take away some of the stress of doing other self-care during the week.
Think About Your Current Sunday Routine
In order to turn Sunday into your weekly self-care day, you need to consider what you tend to do on Sundays.
This self-reflection helps you determine if these are things that can only be done on Sundays or can be moved to another day of the week to give you more time for yourself.
Make a list of things you do every Sunday first.
Then look at your list, and cross off anything that isn’t really necessary or might no longer be serving you.
With what is left, determine if any of those activities can be moved to Saturday.
For example, if you do a lot of cleaning and chores on Sundays, could they be moved to other days during the week, freeing up a bit more self-care time for you?
Think About the Type of Person You Are Too
Something to keep in mind is that what you consider self-care might change depending on if you are more of an introverted or extroverted person.
If you are an introvert, you probably find that you are the most relaxed when you are alone.
This doesn’t mean you want to be (or should be) alone all the time, but that you often need a little bit of time to yourself each day to recharge and gain your composure.
Extroverts, on the other hand, are more social creatures, getting their energy from being around other people.
If you consider yourself an extrovert, you probably enjoy time with others more than time alone.
But what does that mean for your self-care routine, specifically your Sunday self-care routine?
Below are practical ideas, activities, and tips for Sunday self-care, no matter what type of person you are.
Self-Care Sunday Ideas and Activities
As we already talked about, self-care on Sunday is pretty much the same as what you would do any other day of the week.
But, it is more about dedicating a day to yourself, especially if you don’t have much time during the week to really focus on yourself.
Below are some general ideas and activities that can be great to do on Sundays specifically.
1. Let yourself sleep in – You likely don’t get to sleep in throughout the rest of the week, at the very least give yourself this time on Sundays! Your body (and mind) need the rest.
If you have kids this probably won’t work (I’m just talking from experience, lol). But, maybe you and your partner can trade off and every other Sunday someone gets to sleep in a bit while the other one handles the morning routine with the kids.
2. Go to brunch with friends – Self-care can also mean doing something you enjoy with other people. Grab a group of friends on Sunday to go to brunch.
3. Head to a park or the beach with your kids – You can also enjoy more time with your kids without cell phones and TV. Go outside to enjoy the fresh air and exercise.
Ride bicycles around your neighborhood, have a beach day if you live near the beach, or even do a picnic at the park. Fresh air is great for everyone and letting your kids run around is a great way for them to burn energy.
4. Have an hour of pampering – You might not be able to dedicate the entire day to self-care, but at least fit in some pampering time.
Take a bubble bath, give yourself a facial, paint your nails. Do something just for you for an hour.
5. Catch up on your reading or creative projects – Self-care Sunday is the perfect time to pick activities you enjoy, but rarely have time for during the week.
Maybe there is a book you have been trying to read or a creative project you would love to do. Set aside an hour or two for those things on Sunday. You will feel less guilty about not getting to them during the week.
6. Get ready for the week – Self-care can also mean just giving yourself time to really reset and prepare for the week ahead.
Maybe you can prep some freezer meals or get breakfast ready (I love having breakfast burritos or overnight oats ready to go!).
Or, catch up on laundry and plan all your outfits for the week. For some people, getting things ready for the week is a form of self-care and if you’re one of those people, take advantage of Sundays.
We talked about self-care for introverts and extroverts above, but what does that mean as far as activities or ideas for those types of people?
Sunday Self-Care Ideas for Introverts
1. Have quiet solitude on Sunday – Self-care for an introvert can be as simple as just making sure you have some quiet alone time on Sundays.
You need this time to yourself to regroup and relax. It can be really hard when you go all day around other people and never give yourself this time.
Even just an hour or two can really make a difference for someone.
2. Find nature-inspired activities – Introverts also tend to enjoy time outdoors…again in a quiet and peaceful environment.
Try to find some activities you can participate in that will encourage you to spend more time outside.
3. Embrace your creative side – An amazing way to practice self-care as an introvert is to do something creative. Learn how to crochet, write a poem, color in an adult coloring book, or start painting.
Sunday Self-Care Ideas for Extroverts
1. Enjoy social time with friends – What might be a little more up your alley is scheduling time with friends. What better way to practice self-care than spend time with those you love the most?
Plan on getting lunch or seeing a movie. Go to a baseball game.
Do something social with your friends specifically on Sundays, then you don’t have to try to fit it in after work during the week.
2. Volunteer your time – Looking for something more meaningful and fulfilling? You might like to volunteer somewhere as your self-care.
Look into local community centers or animal shelters open on Sunday and see if they need any help.
A soup kitchen or food bank are other good places to look for volunteer work too.
3. Join a local club – Another social activity that helps with your self-care is joining a local club, like a book club.
You will be encouraged to read more, and you can get together once a week with your book club to chat and talk about the book or just life in general.
Or, maybe you are into sports. See if there is an adult rec league for your favorite sport and get involved with that.
Not only will you be doing something you enjoy with other people, but you will also get some exercise in too which is always good!
Tips for Your Self-Care Sunday Routine
Finally, here are a few tips to keep in mind to make sure you have a good Sunday self-care routine and really understand what self-care means and how to avoid common mistakes.
Self-Care Encompasses Emotional, Mental, and Physical Health
Self-care does not fulfill just one need in your life. Different activities provoke different benefits in your life, including helping with your emotional, mental, and physical health.
What works best for you is going to be something that helps you relax, de-stress, improve your mood, and is something you absolutely love to do.
Your self-care is going to look different from your friends or your spouse or even your kids. It’s unique to you.
Your Self-Care Needs Can Change Regularly
Just because you have committed to writing in your journal and meditating every morning for an hour as your self-care routine, doesn’t mean you have to do this forever.
Sometimes, what you choose as your self-care activity changes, or you need to make adjustments based on your schedule.
Periodically revisit what you are doing for self-care often.
As your life and the seasons of life change, so will your self-care and what is actually going to benefit you the most.
A Common Mistake is Forcing Self- Care
This can’t be said enough – your self-care routine should not make you more stressed!
This is a sign that you are forcing yourself to do something you don’t want to do and that is doing nothing for you.
In fact, it is likely causing you more stress.
Remember, everyone is different when it comes to self-care and everyone is going to benefit from different things.
Just because your friend does yoga or you read that it’s a good self-care activity doesn’t mean you have to do it. You might hate yoga.
Don’t force yourself to do something just because you feel like you should be doing it.
Sundays in general open up new possibilities for self-care, whether you do it alone or with family.
Take some time to reevaluate your Sunday routine and see if you can incorporate some Sunday self-care into your day.
It will likely make a huge impact on your week if you can go into Monday feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
What types of Sunday self-care activities do you like to do (alone or with family)? Tell me about it in the comments below.
10 thoughts on “Sunday Self-Care: Dedicate One Day Each Week to Yourself”
I’m not religious but I have always associated Sunday with self care. Sunday’s feel like a reset. I feel that self care can be anything that brings peace, even napping 🤣 great post!
Totally agree! That’s always what Sundays have felt like to me.
I have to admit, I love to take care of myself that’s why I love to take long baths with bath salt and masks.
Taking care of yourself is so important Mina. I’m glad you are already incorporating some self care time into your routine!
I love this idea. I have a small son so it is very hard to dedicate a day but my husband usually takes my son out to run errands and I have some time to read/watch a show. So important!
You are so right Aryn, a whole day of self care is hard with littles. But, having just an hour or two once a week really makes a difference and that’s what I try to do for both myself and my husband! Glad you’ve found a balance with your family!
Letting yourself sleep in and not feel bad about it is such a good way to practice self care! Its hard though haha I sometimes feel like I’m wasting time but then remind myself that letting myself relax and recharge is never wasted time!
I’ve tried self care in the past as a routine, but I usually lose the routine aspect. Unfortunately, Sundays are short for me since bedtime comes early for me. I have to go into work early on those days so I try to get in bed around 430 to 530 pm just to try to get in at least 6 to 7 hours. I sometimes feel I only get 1 day off of work because of my busy work life. Sadly I lose a lot of time with my kiddo on that day as well. Any advice to make me feel like I have more time on my hands on my short day?
Hi Ashley, that sounds tough! Maybe Sundays aren’t a good day for dedicated self care and there’s another day of the week that would work better for you? You could also try incorporating something into your bedtime routine, even something as simple as reading for 10 or 15 minutes. And, you could even read with your kiddo during that time as well. Maybe there is a book series you can start with them (depending on their age). Books like Harry Potter or The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe could be a good place to start. Hope that helps!
We have the whole Harry Potter series and I have the Chronicles of Narnia on my wishlist! That would be a good habit to pick up! I might start doing that thank you!!!!!