The Tranquil Vintessa

I feel like there has been an attack on weekends, and life in general, where we are constantly being pushed to be productive or do something productive at all times. A perfect example of this is the “Sunday Reset.”

I’m not against a Sunday reset. I think starting the week by cleaning and prepping your home can be a calming experience, but it can also begin to feel like another thing to check off your list.

When I was a kid, Sundays were always for rest, not tasks. This was also back in a time when almost nothing was open except grocery stores, and even those opened later in the day if they opened at all. Everything shut down, and the world felt like it took a collective sigh.

Recently, I decided to bring back the idea of relaxation and the “do nothing” mindset. Some Sundays I truly do nothing. I try to avoid being on my phone, working on projects, or even exercising. It’s a rest day. I allow myself to recharge, reclaim my time, and pour back into myself by simply giving myself what I need.

It begins simply by allowing myself to sleep in. I’m not working on a schedule, and I’m not moving for anyone. The ritual actually starts the night before. I take my pup out later so he isn’t begging to go outside early in the morning, and I spend a little more time getting ready for bed. I’ll do my everything shower and put on my comfiest pajamas, signaling that this is a night for deep rest, not just another routine evening.

Once I wake up in the morning, I let myself simply exist for a moment, listening to the birds and the soft snoring of my pup. Then I rise, slip on my moccasins, and do a slight neck roll to fully wake myself up. I head to the living room and light some incense. I usually choose lavender or eucalyptus to signal rest.

I begin making my coffee, turn on some soft jazz, and slowly enter the morning. The beginning of the day is the most important part of the ritual because it tells your brain the direction the day will take. If you begin the day rushed, it becomes harder to calm yourself later. It’s much easier to start gently and carry that softness with you through the rest of the day.

Then I go on my daily walk, listening to the birds and watching squirrels hide nuts and play around the large pine trees along the trail. Being in nature always reminds me of my favorite quote by Lao Tzu: “Nothing in nature rushes, yet everything gets done.” It grounds me and reminds me that life already moves on a natural timeline. When something is meant for you, it will arrive when it’s time.

When I come home, I prepare a simple breakfast of eggs and rosemary potatoes with a light sauce. I eat quietly and slowly. There is no rush. It’s simply Sunday. After my meal, I clean the kitchen and extinguish the remaining embers from the incense, brushing away the ash before beginning my day feeling refreshed and restored.

While we do live in the real world and there will always be things we must do regardless of the day, reclaiming your Sunday to rest and recharge without a schedule can be just as beneficial as tackling an endless to-do list. Sundays can become slow again if we allow ourselves a few quiet moments within them.