Almost every Sunday since mid-May 2020 with a few exceptions, I have been taking my own personal Sabbath, where I tune out of the news and social media and turn off my ringer and all notifications on my phone. Throughout the day and/or sometimes the next day, I share what I am reading, listening to, or watching during my Sabbath.
This past week, I was reminded by a video on Headspace by Casper ter Kuile, author of The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices, about taking a tech sabbath that I haven’t done My Own Personal Sabbath in a while. Actually, according to the blog, the last time I did it, according to the blog posts, was October 3 of last year. I meditated with Eve from the meditation app Headspace, I listened to chill music in The Chill Out Tent, and I read Monday the Rabbi Took Off by Harry Kemelman as I continued the Rabbi Small mystery series.
Since then, I’ve given up on the Rabbi Small series, I listened to a little of The Chill Out Tent to start the year, and am still using Headspace (obviously, see above) along with The Shine app, both of which I recommend. Tomorrow, I think I’ll read a little of The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness by Epictetus, a new interpretation by Sharon Lebell, which I selected as my first book of the year. I also have been reading Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It by Ethan Kross, which I might continue if I can quiet and harness the voice in my head.
New this year, helping me are my wife and an app called Stay Focused, which I had her set a password so I can’t unlock Chrome or Samsung Internet to read news during the day, or scroll Instagram. To be honest, with Instagram, it’s the Stories that distract me and sometimes lead to a doomscroll. It’s not that I disagree with those I follow; it’s just that I don’t want to hear about the world burning down all around us every day. Instead, what can I do maybe on this one day of (mostly) digital rest is to build up myself to face my daily struggles, let alone the world burning down all around us every day.
I say “mostly” because I still listen to music and podcasts (no news podcasts EVER) on Spotify on news, only fictional worlds. I also have decided I will check on blogs that I read regularly, but on my laptop, where I am writing this post. I just don’t use the laptop for news or Instagram or anything else, other than the blog and Zoom with friends and my therapist.
So, that’s what I have planned for tomorrow for My Own Personal Sabbath. What do you have planned for tomorrow? Reading, watching TV, listening to music, spending time with family? Let me know in the comments, and, as always, please do not include links or if you do, just know that I will remove them.
Addendum: I was just reminded by my wife that tomorrow morning we are supposed to be getting freezing rain so a good day to be inside relaxing…and if the power does go off, so be it. I’ll still be able to read on my Kindle and listen to downloaded music on my phone.
Still an unfinished person... 
I cleaned the house and did all the laundry on Saturday specifically so that I could relax and do nothing today. We watched football, of course. I slept in, read, took a cat nap, and pretty much lounged all day. I did manage to get up and make dinner, but then it was back to lounging for the rest of the evening. I stayed off my laptop and tried to stay off my phone as much as possible to just enjoy the day.
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I hope you enjoyed your tech-free weekend, it’s such a great idea.
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My Sunday is usually spent with a long walk, writing a Sunday Salon post, visiting blogs, and sometimes cooking dinner. Dinner was part of the routine pre-pandemic… in NY we had Sunday dinner with my parents, siblings, and their families. In FL we had my FIL, and eventually my SIL, each week. We’re trying to get things back to “normal” but my FIL is no longer well enough to get out. Sometimes we take dinner to him instead. An evening movie or show is a bonus. It’s good to forget the news for a day or two. Happy 2022, Bryan!
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If I get up early enough, I start my Sunday with mass at Bonnevaux in France (which includes a short group meditation session). Afterward, I visit blogs and birdwatch for Project FeederWatch and read for the rest of the morning and early afternoon. Every Sunday my sister and her husband and my husband and I eat a meal together and watch a movie together.
Sunday is my favorite day of the week.
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Ah, so that’s why I see you commenting first here on Sundays. Likewise, Sunday is my favorite day of the week too.
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My Sunday this weeks includes doing blog posts ready for the week, baking banana bread and reading. In theory there will be some work a bit later,but I am going to resist for as long as I can.
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