Do you ever struggle to enter into the Sabbath? Do the pressures & distractions of everyday life leave you feeling distracted or disconnected? If your days are anything like mine, you make what can feel like a million decisions all week long and have hundreds of conversations. This leaves my brain feeling like mush like I couldn't think of another thought or participate in another thing. It can leave me feeling very uninterested in anything besides crawling into bed.
How do you switch gears from full-tilt work to Sabbath rest when you do not have much time between the two? It is challenging, but it can be done. I have put together a few ideas that have worked for me on various occasions and some that I plan to implement when I struggle to separate myself.
Give yourself a moment.
Remember to be gentle with yourself and give yourself a minute to lay aside the stress of your work before trying to engage in the next activity.
I hope that the following ideas will inspire you and that you will find it easier to transition from work to rest.
1. I have found that listening to an audiobook on my commute home helps me to "unwind" some before my arrival home. My personal preference is older, wholesome fictional. Older books that fall into the young adult genre are more apt to be clean and contain a wholesome message. I am currently enjoying the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I do poorly with teachings or scriptures when I try to "unwind" after work. Both cause my brain to want to engage instead of just listening to the words being said. I always loved story time in school!
2. Move your body. Try taking a brief walk, preferably outside, if the weather permits. It doesn't have to be a complete workout. Even 10-15 minutes can help you slough off the day's stress. Those endorphins will help boost your mood.
3. Eat a snack. Having a light snack shortly before leaving work can give me the boost I need to get to my next task without being irritable or stressed. My two go-to choices are plain Greek yogurt with berries or a mix of unsalted nuts with a dried fig and dried apricot. I assemble baggies of the nuts and dried fruit mixture and keep one in my desk drawer at work and one in my purse. I'm focused on macros because of menopause.
4. Wash your face. Upon your arrival home, take a few moments to quietly and slowly wash your face and remove your makeup. This simple task can feel luxurious and refreshing. Don't skip your serums and creams because you are trying to hurry.
5. Change your clothes. Bring a tangible separation to the workweek whether you prefer to dress up for tree Shabbat dinner or prefer something more casual-rock those jammies if that's your family's thing. Whatever your preference-put on a clean outfit that fits your preferred genre.
6. Wash your feet: Few things are as refreshing as fresh, clean feet. I'm not talking about a foot soak (which is great when you have the time). I'm talking about sitting on the side of the tub, running water over your feet and calves, and washing away the day with lovely soap. Don't forget to follow up with your favorite lotion.
7. Have a lie-down. There is no need for a full-on nap (unless you want one). Simply spending 10-15 minutes in a quiet room, lying down with your eyes closed, can be a great reset. If you are worried about falling asleep or losing track of time, set a timer.
8. Set the atmosphere. Light a scented candle, infuse your favorite oil blend, and put on some worship music to match the tone you are after. Creating playlists in advance that you can quickly navigate to without much thought will cause your future self to thank you.
Be kind to your tired self.
When you are pressed for time, keep your meal plans simple. Save the elaborate dinner party plans for times when you can take the day off or work a shorter shift.
I invite you to try one or all of the suggestions below to take some of the pressure off yourself regarding your food for the Sabbath. None of these tips I use are anything new or earth-shattering, but sometimes the simplest of things are the most impactful in our day-to-day lives.
1. Disposable dishes, cutlery, and napkins can be beneficial. Knowing that you don't need to wash many dishes can reduce stress or feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes, I will even use disposable baking dishes to further ease cleanup.
2. Keep some oven-ready meals in the freezer. Put one into the fridge on Wednesday or Thursday night to combat the stress of pulling a meal together when you are running on empty. Doubling family favorite recipes takes a little extra time but saves you much on the other end.
3. Stock the pantry. Keep multiples (within your budget) of the items you use regularly for Shabbat dinner and during Shabbat.
4. Don't be afraid to have a sandwich for dinner or whatever other easy thing you can grab. Cold cereal served by a happy person tastes better than a gourmet meal served by a cranky one.
I think you will find that once you have shed the stress of the week and filled your belly, it will be much easier to sit and take in His words, thoroughly enjoying the peace of His presence and the fellowship of your loved ones.
May you have a restorative Sabbath rest as you cease from your labors.
About Me:
Tina Fallstead is a wife and mother whose passion is to enable other women to become all that the Creator has created them to be. She is a member of the Cherokee Nation and is excited to be on the path of learning the ways of her ancestors. She and her husband are blessed to lead a congregation in their community called The Way of Life Ministries. Tina has recently launched a women's ministry called Geulah Gals, focused on 'Hastening the Geulah through serving the community alongside our sisters.
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