I have tried for the past three months to be on a sabbatical. I have had many interruptions from others. One day of rest will be easier to take, although I greatly need a month or more. Your advise is helpful.

I enjoyed reading “The One-Day Sabbatial” so much, I linked readers of my blog to this article yesterday.

Thanks, David for a great post.

Not to say that parents can’t get time off – but a full day every week? You must be kidding.

Still, it’s worth aiming for . . .

What did God do after he had created the world? He rested. On the seventh day God rested.

I think there is good reason why the Bible advises ppl. to keep the sabbath. Mainly to remember God but also we need to get refreshed and refocused. If we don’t take regular time off we pretty soon become what we do, it defines us and that shouldn’t be the case.

As an observant Jew, from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday, I don’t watch TV, use the Internet, drive anywhere … or do anything classified as “work.”

This is every week. Of the year. Of every year.

I didn’t grow up doing this, but when I took that step in my religious observance, I realized it was one of the best things I could have done.

Beyond the chance to un-plug and spend time with family and friends, it gives me an amazing opportunity to relax my mind and my body. I get some great thinking done, catch up on reading books, and remove myself from the hectic day-to-day life.

To the commenter who wishes he could find time to do this … you can. It doesn’t matter how busy you are. You can make time for it if you set yourself to doing it.

Since I started this habit in my senior year of college, I can’t tell you how much it has rejuvenated me during extremely stressful times and motivated me to work harder in the 6 days I didn’t have off. My rule during college (and it’s translated very effectively into grad school) is that I can do homework 6 out of the 7 days in the week. On Sunday, I go to church, spend time with friends, read, take a nap, or do anything else that I feel like doing besides homework (on one Sunday, it was a trip to Disneyland!). Once I ingrained this habit into my weekly schedule, I actually feel like I was able to accomplish more in school and more in my life outside of school than if I had worked all 7 days.

I encourage you to take one day off from your normal pressing activities each week (and it doesn’t have to be Sunday!), and after a few weeks, see the difference!

It may take some arranging beforehand, but the one-day sabbatical is an excellent thing for recharging and refreshing oneself.