Sabbath as a Homemaker: Slow Sunday Rhythms
I used to think sabbath rest was something you had to leave the house for — a church service, a retreat, a break from homemaking altogether. But now I know: sabbath can live in the home, too.
As a homemaker, sabbath doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means doing only what nourishes.
Here’s what our Sundays look like, most weeks:
1. The day begins slowly.
Everyone sleeps in which usually means that I have quiet time to myself. I have a hot cup of coffee (that I actually get to finish!) and do something that’s just for me, whether that’s reading, catching up on a show, or just sitting in the quiet and being present with myself. We don’t rush breakfast. I make something simple and comforting — muffins, eggs, or toast with jam. We eat together, even if it’s quiet. We usually use this time to be present with each other. Since we’re not rushing to get to the next thing we get to actually enjoy each other’s company.
2. No pressure to “catch up.”
I try not to fold laundry, scrub floors, or plan the whole week on Sundays. I give myself permission to not optimize. It’s a day of being, not doing. The only “chore” I really have is the grocery store. With our current schedule, Sunday mornings is really the only time we can go. Sometimes if we’re feeling like we really want to be leisurely about it, we’ll drop the kids off with family so we can be SUPER present with each other.
3. I still tidy — but only gently.
A quick morning sweep, maybe the dishes. Just enough that the space feels calm, not chaotic. I clean the way you fluff a pillow. Not as a chore, but as care.
4. I include sacred pauses.
Lighting a candle in the afternoon. Soft calm music, taking the time for self care, maybe even sneaking off for a bath while my partner tends to the kids. This is soul-tending, not time-wasting.
5. We eat something cozy.
Sunday dinner after church was always a big thing in my family. It was a way to connect and fellowship before we went our separate ways for the week. Even though church isn’t apart of our Sunday Sabbath, the dinner is still important. I do my best to feed our spirits as well as our bellies.
6. Evening resets the week.
Clean linens on all the beds, the house tidied and ready for the the morning hustle and bustle. Making sure I’m setting myself up for success for the week.
Sabbath, for me, is not one specific ritual — it’s the feeling of returning to myself. And I build it slowly, in the quiet corners of my home.