Start where you're at!

Taking a whole day to rest might feel a little daunting at first. That's okay! They key is to start where you're at and work your way up. Try first to make space for a few hours on a day to work through the rhythms of sabbath (stop, rest, delight, and worship). It typically takes a few hours to fully take advantage of resting in this way, so try as best as you can to at lease find 3-5 hours if you can't do a whole day.

Plan

One of the most difficult parts about taking a whole day to rest is that there are still things we need to get done. Sometimes we need to simply release these things to God and trust him, but there are things that we may REALLY need to get done. If this is the case, think ahead to what things you can get done before your sabbath day. If you need to study for a test or write a paper, plan out your week so that you get it done before you take your sabbath (or have time after sabbath). Make a plan for what day and time you will practice sabbath. Here are some examples:

Friday at sundown until Saturday at sundown (full 24 hours).

Sunday morning until Monday morning (full 24 hours)

3-5 hours on Saturday morning, Saturday evening, or Sunday evening (or some other time in the week).

Stop

The Hebrew word shabbat literally means "to stop or cease." This is the first step of sabbath. Stop working or studying, and enter into this rhythm of grace. It's a great idea during sabbath to set aside technology for the day. By "stopping" this normal part of life, we can get some much needed rest from social media and the constant need to feel connected. Our tool on Silence and Solitude can be a great partner practice to help you stop and create space for time with the Lord.

Rest

Take advantage of this day to sleep in. Try not to set an alarm and simply sleep until you wake up. See this opportunity to sleep as a gift from God! If you like to nap, find a time during the day to take a good nap! Think about the things you do that give you deep, soul rest. Going for a hike might be something that gives you deep rest. Feel free to do that! One of the common misconceptions about sabbath is that it's supposed to be a time where you sit in a chair all day and do nothing. The whole purpose is to be intentional about creating space to find rest, and then to see that as a gift from God.

Delight

This is one of the best parts of sabbath! Throughout your sabbath time, be intentional about doing activities, eating food, and being with people that fill you with delight! Similar to the note on "rest" think deeply about the things and people who really fill you up in this way. Fill your day with as many of these things as you can!

Worship

As we work through all of these movements, we must see this as a gift from God. All gifts from God ought to be received with thankfulness and for us to worship Him. As you are doing activities that you enjoy, allow your enjoyment to spill into times of worship! As a part of rest, it is also helpful for us to put ourselves in a position to connect deeply with Jesus. Our tools on Reading Scripture and Prayer might be helpful places to look if you want more direction.

For something that everyone does, sleep can be surprisingly difficult! If you are having a tough time falling asleep, try out some of these tips:

Get At Least 8 Hours!

There are an abundance of studies that prove that humans at least 8 hours of sleep a night. If you are a teenager, that number is closer to 9-10 hours! This can be hard to do, but we want to encourage you to prioritize it and plan accordingly.

Put Your Phone To Bed

The blue light that our phones, computers, and most LED devices use is actually really bad for our brains when we're getting ready to go to bed. Blue light simulates natural sunlight so it tricks our brains into thinking its daytime. Try to limit your tech use about an hour before going to bed.

Turn Down the Lights

Similar to blue light, the lights in your house can keep your brain from knowing it's time to go to bed. An hour before bed, try turning off non-essential lights in your home and only keeping on low, warmer light.

Take a Warm Bath or Shower

As you're getting ready to fall asleep, your body drops its core temperature by a couple of degrees. This drop triggers to further release of chemicals that get you to fall asleep and stay asleep. One of the ways you can help your core temperature drop is by taking a warm shower or bath before going to bed.

Turn Down you AC

Similar to the above recommendation, turning down your AC can help you fall asleep at night. The suggested, optimal sleeping temperature is actually 18.5 degrees celsius or 65 degrees fahrenheit (assuming proper bedding). Ask your parents about this one because they're probably the ones paying the electric bill!

Read a Book or Journal

If you can't fall asleep, it might be helpful to get up and read a book or journal until you're feeling more tired. Oftentimes stress can be a cause for not being able to fall asleep. Journaling can be a great way to relieve stress before going to bed!