The Value of a Slow Sunday

In this episode, we’re going to pay homage to the one day of the week that just begs us to be unplugged, to reconnect with others (and ourselves), and to just enjoy life. That day is Sunday. Are you ready to re-establish this day of rest? Listen in and find out how to do just that!

Transcript

Episode 174 - The value of establishing a Slow Sunday

Welcome back to the Porch. This month we’ve been talking about Unplugging and Reconnecting. We’ve learned what it means to unplug, how we can reconnect, and that boredom has the power to unleash our creativity. For the last segment, we’re going to pay homage to the one day of the week that just begs us to be unplugged, to reconnect with others (and ourselves), and to just enjoy life. That day is Sunday.

Now, depending on how you were raised—or how your household runs now—that one word might conjure up different things. For some, Sunday is church, roast beef, and a nap. For others, it’s a catch-up day: laundry, groceries, and a mad dash to make Monday a little less painful. And for some, it’s a blur, wedged between the excitement of Saturday and the reality of Monday, often neglected in its potential.

But what if we gave Sunday a job? What if Sunday wasn’t just another day to survive—or squeeze productivity out of—but a space to breathe? A day with a different rhythm. A slower one. One that whispers, “Rest, reconnect, and remember what matters.”

That’s what we’re talking about today: the value of a Slow Sunday.

Now before we go any further, let me just say, this isn’t about being rigid. This isn’t about rules or expectations. It’s about making space. Creating an intentional pause in the week. A way to unplug from the demands that keep stacking up and reconnect to what feeds your soul. And honestly? It’s a gift you can give yourself every single week.

I’ll admit—I didn’t always protect Sundays. For years, I treated them like a safety net. If the rest of the week was a mess (which it often was), Sunday became the catch-all. I’d clean, organize, meal prep, and sometimes collapse in the evening wondering why I still felt so worn out. I was crossing things off the list, sure. But I wasn’t refilling the tank. I wasn’t truly resting.

Slow Sundays started for me as a bit of an experiment. I thought, what would happen if I didn’t try to get ahead on Sunday? What if, instead, I let it be a soft landing from the week I just had —and a gentle takeoff—for the week ahead?

Let me tell you what happened: everything changed.

First of all, I had to unplug a little. Not literally from electricity, but from the urge to be productive. That’s the hardest part, especially for those of us who love a good to-do list. But letting go of the pressure to perform is the first step toward a real rest.

Instead of waking up and asking, “What can I get done today?”, I started asking, “How do I want to feel when I go to bed tonight?” My answer is usually - Peaceful. Grateful. Unrushed. Maybe a little full from dessert, or thoughtful about the sermon I just listened to. That’s a good day in my book.

But what does a Slow Sunday look like? Well, it can look like anything—as long as it feels like rest. It might mean staying in your pajamas a little longer. Or having a slow breakfast with extra butter on the pancakes. Maybe you take a walk, visit with a neighbor, or just sit on the porch and let the birds do the talking.

It might mean church in the morning and a pot roast in the oven by noon. Or it might mean silence, stillness, and reading a book that has nothing to do with productivity or self-improvement.

One of my favorite things about a Slow Sunday is how it gives space for connection. When the rest of the week feels like everyone’s rushing in different directions, Sunday can be the day we actually look at each other. Sit down together. Talk without a screen in our hands. Play a game. Share a meal. Breathe the same air without rushing out the door.

It’s also the perfect day to reconnect with your faith. Whatever that looks like for you—prayer, reflection, Scripture reading, or just a quiet moment of gratitude – it fits beautifully into the rhythm of a Sunday. Because the truth is, rest and faith go hand-in-hand. Both invite you to trust that the world will keep spinning even if you stop striving for a minute.

Now, here’s where it gets fun. A Slow Sunday doesn’t have to be serious or solemn. It can be playful. Light-hearted. You can laugh a little louder. Try something new. Bake a pie just because. You can dance in your kitchen or take a nap on the couch with a quilt that smells like sunshine.

You can even make Sunday your no-pants day. I mean, if you’re home and no one’s visiting… live your truth.

The point is: let Sunday reflect the kind of life you want to live more of. If your dream life includes rest, peace, laughter, and connection—then Sunday is the perfect place to practice it.

And yes, I hear you, all the busy people who are listening. You might be thinking, “That sounds lovely, but I’ve got stuff to do. Sunday is the only time I have to clean the house, plan meals, fold laundry, and prepare for Monday.” I get it. I do. And here’s the grace: You don’t have to abandon all responsibility to have a Slow Sunday. You just have to do it differently.

Instead of treating Sunday like a performance, treat it like a retreat. Fold the laundry while listening to music you love. Light a candle while you tidy up the kitchen. Do a little bit, but do it slowly. Intentionally. Without rush.

If you have to prep food, make it a family event. Everyone slices, stirs, and samples. Talk while you work. Laugh. Make a mess. Clean it up together.

And maybe—just maybe—you might figure out that some of those things you think must be done Sunday could wait. Let the laundry linger another day. Let the fridge be a little bare until Monday. Let the schedule slide just a smidge.

The goal isn’t to do nothing. The goal is to feel human again.

We live in a world that tells us rest is a luxury. But that’s not true. Rest is essential. It’s not something you earn—it’s something you need. Like food. Like water. Like kindness.

Creating a Slow Sunday is about reclaiming that rest. Protecting it. Nurturing it. Saying to the world (and yourself), “This time is sacred. Not because I’m doing something amazing, but because I’m finally doing nothing at all.”

I read somewhere that we rest not just to recover from the week, but to remember who we are. That stuck with me. Because when we unplug from noise and motion, we reconnect to the deeper parts of ourselves. The parts that whisper truth, love, and purpose. The parts that remember what really matters.

So if your week has been loud, let Sunday be soft. If your week has been busy, let Sunday be still. If your heart feels cluttered, let Sunday be clear.

Try this: for just one Sunday, don’t rush. Don’t perform. Don’t plan. Instead, embrace the day. Let it unfold like a slow waltz, not a sprint. Notice the sounds, the flavors, the people. Listen for joy in ordinary things. Give thanks for the quiet.

And if you need a little structure to help you transition, create a few gentle anchors:

• A Sunday morning song or playlist
• A favorite breakfast ritual
• A moment of prayer or reading
• A slow walk after lunch
• A wind-down hour before bed

These aren’t rules. They’re rhythms. They help train your mind and body to relax. To expect peace. To receive it.

And yes, life will interrupt sometimes. You’ll have events, emergencies, or the occasional Sunday that looks more like Tuesday. That’s okay. The beauty of this practice is that it welcomes imperfection. You can always begin again.

Let Sunday remind you that the world doesn’t always need more effort from you—it sometimes just needs more presence.

And I’ll tell you something else: When you start protecting Sunday, it ripples into the rest of the week. You’ll carry that stillness into Monday, that presence into your work, that peace into your parenting or errands or whatever fills your days. A Slow Sunday isn't the end of the week—it's the foundation for the next one.

So unplug. Let your devices sit quietly for a while. Let the news go unread. Let the noise of the world fade a little. And in its place, welcome quiet. Welcome peace. Welcome whatever Sunday wants to offer.

Because when we choose to honor this day—to slow it down, to fill it with things that make our souls sigh in relief—we don’t just reclaim time. We reclaim ourselves.

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Thanks again for stopping in. I will see you next week on Living a Simple Life with a Back Porch View. And while you are waiting for the next episode, grab that glass of refreshment, pull up a rocker, and sit back for a while. It’s time to relax and enjoy