Why you should take one day off per week
You need at least one day off every week.
Take one.
My own personal journey of taking a day off for myself goes all the way back to childhood.
My dad is a retired Methodist pastor. When I became a teenager and wanted to make as much money as possible in my first hourly jobs, my dad was permissive in allowing me to get a job but, as a Christian pastor, it was important to him that I took at least one day off to honor the “day of rest”. Seeing as it was both on religious grounds and a seemingly good boundary for myself, I obeyed his order. I didn't think much of it (although I’m sure I used it to feel better than others as if I was enlightened, unlike the heathens around me. Welcome to life as a child of elitist parents).
When I moved to New York City, I had another opportunity to make this choice. Upon joining adulthood, I only had two desires: I wanted to be paid as a performing artist and I did not want to be caught up in the monotony of a typical 8 to 5 job. Seeing that most performing auditions happened during standard work hours, it was a natural fit to work food service jobs that were highly flexible. And that I did! As a result, I was not only allowed, but I was expected to work Sundays. I didn’t mind it. At that time, this worked for me because I wanted the typical Monday through Friday work hours to be available for auditions. One noticeable side effect was that I had to mourn not being free to go out on weeknights like many of my peers, but the trade-off (the opportunity to perform) was worth it, in my book.
Then, after a few years of this, during a trip home to Texas over Thanksgiving, I vividly remember speaking with some of my high school friends about our journey into adulthood. I wanted to know everything. We shared our fun and crazy stories of lives in our 20s. I asked about work life, applications, jobs, dating, and growing up. And, at one point, I asked one of my friends about what she did last weekend. Her response:
“I did nothing last weekend.”
😳
Unexpectedly, I found myself triggered. How is it that she was talking about a weekend??
🤔
It suddenly dawned on me—OMG I’m totally missing out on “weekends”. I intellectually knew that I had chosen to work on weekends, but now that I was with dear friends from home, I naturally was able to compare myself to them and see an obvious alternative. They had a predictable and repeatable day off. And, man, I was seething with jealously.
After five years of working at the whim of whatever my employers needed me to do, it was now clear that this situation was the result of my own choices. I realized:
Part of my burnout is due to me working too many jobs. I haven't reserved my own “me time”. I have allowed my job life to overtake my own personal needs. And you know what, I'm done with that. No more! I'm going to do whatever I need to do to make sure that I have at least one day off each week!
That day, I decided I would always take Sundays off.
And I never looked back.
I felt the relief in 2011 as I had taken back my time (thanks Maxine Waters!).
One year later, during Thanksgiving 2011, I distinctly remember that, yet again, I had similar conversations with my friends. Lo and behold, they again obviously spoke about the weekEND.
And it hit me a second time.
😳
They had TWO days off. In a row.
I felt jealous...again. So again, I thought:
What am I doing with my life? Leigh, you’re going to take two days off….in a row!
So when I went back to New York City, I again made a stark change and, from that point forward, I refused to work both Sundays and Mondays.
I can tell you now—it was the best decision I ever made.
I became notorious for being “the guy”that never works Sundays and Mondays. And the wins rolled in. My health benefited from it, I gained a renewed sense of control, and, if you can believe this, I increased my income by 50% that year! Obviously, this is anecdotal, but my assessment is that, because I was more rested, I had clear boundaries, and I was just plain happier; I was in turn a better worker, a better employee, and was better well-received all-around, all of which resulted in raises!
Taking time off allowed me to be my best.
This made me curious, so I did some research. Let’s go to church/synagogue/temple for a moment here:
Judaism:
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. — Exodus 20:8-11
Buddhism:
Uposatha [a Buddhist holiday] is not only a day of rest, but has also from ancient times been a fast-day. The rest on the Sabbath was originally the consequence of that day being the festal and sacrificial day of the week, and only gradually became its essential attribute on account of the regularity with which it every eight day interrupted the round of everyday work. —Edward Westermarck, 1907
Hinduism:
In India, the division of time into weeks has all along been observed. The remembrance, however, of the seventh as a Sabbath or sacred day of rest has been completely lost. Instead thereof, there have been substituted certain periodical anniversary days of high festival, in honor of the principal divinities...There is scarcely a day...which...is not celebrated by one or other of the leading sects. —Caleb Wright, 1853
Secular:
Sunday is the best day. Quite apart from any question of religion, this holiday has been observed for many years as a day of rest. -a worker from Bombay in the 19th century
Christianity:
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished. — Genesis 2:1-3
I mean, look. Even God gave himself a day off. Whether you believe or not, humanity has made a good point here. Everyone needs a break.
What are my takeaways?
I deserve my own time. I, like anyone else, have a limited amount of time each day, each week, each year, and, well, in my entire life. I deserve to give to and honor myself in the best way I can possibly muster and, by example, show other people what it means to truly put yourself first.
For all the reasons, I know that what works for me won't work for everyone, but there is something I know to be true. Everyone, and I mean everyone, can carve out one day off for themselves. The question is, how important are you to yourself? It won't look the same for everyone, but it can be done. I challenge you to figure out what day of the week that is for you, what stipulations and boundaries you will create, and why you're doing this. It will not only be a breakthrough moment for yourself, but it will reverberate amongst those around you. You and others will feel better as a result of this.
The thing to remember is, you must prioritize yourself first. You're the one creating the amazing life that you’re experiencing. You've worked this hard to become as great as you are so start enjoying those rewards by celebrating you.
How well are you treating yourself?
