It’s no secret that life as a Mom can feel like a never-ending to-do list. Laundry, cooking, housework, managing behaviors…rest can feel impossible. And, when rest feels impossible, it’s really easy to get bitter. Ask me how I know. What would happen if you shifted your mindset and created a Sabbath? Believe it or not, there are many simple ways to practice Sabbath as a busy Mom.

I initially wrote this post when I was a young Mom, and in all honesty, finding time to rest became a lot harder after my kiddos stopped napping. Rest doesn’t happen accidentally; it has to be protected. Discovering Sabbath rhythms can change the tone of your week and set you up for success. For busy families, Sabbath is a time to reconnect, recharge, and remember that God carries all of the stuff that we can’t…and it’s okay to rest in Him.

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” — Exodus 20:8

What Is the Sabbath?

The word Sabbath means to “stop, rest, delight, and worship.” It’s not about rigid rules, but about taking time to intentionally rest with God. Because, yes, God rested, and not only did He rest, but He called rest good (Genesis 2:3).

In a world where it’s easy to sum up our worth in our performance and accomplishments, Sabbath reminds us that we don’t earn God’s love because we are productive. In fact, we are just as valuable to God when we are stopping, resting, delighting, and worshiping. God is such a good Father, and just like we enjoy seeing our children rest in our love, He adores seeing us rest in His.

“That’s why Sabbath is an expression of faith. Faith that there is a Creator and he’s good. We are his creation. This is his world. We live under his roof, drink his water, eat his food, breathe his oxygen. So on the Sabbath, we don’t just take a day off from work; we take a day off from toil. We give him all our fear and anxiety and stress and worry. We let go. We stop ruling and subduing, and we just be. We “remember” our place in the universe. So that we never forget . . . There is a God, and I’m not him.”

-John Mark Comer

I feel like this is the point where you’d look at me and say, “Yeah, that sounds great. But is that even possible for Moms?” To that I’d respond, “Yes, it is. It’s not just possible, but it’s extremely important. It’s just going to look different.”

Why Sabbath Is Important for Moms

This past year, I’ve experienced burnout like never before. Homeschool, working a few freelance gigs, homesteading, parenting, and all the other things that make up my beautiful life left me exhausted. Tears were a constant, cortisol was hopping, and I’ll be honest, all things Sabbath fell by the wayside.

I notice a distinct difference when I Sabbath and when I don’t. And, I bet you will too. Moms carry the mental load of the house. There’s always something else to do, and rest can feel selfish. But God commanded rest in the Ten Commandments, which means we have to draw a line in the sand, dishes undone and all.

Exhaustion makes motherhood harder at any stage. A weekly rhythm of rest could change everything for you, and subsequently, change things for your kids as they watch you rest.

When a mother rests in God, her whole home exhales.

How We Practice Sabbath as a Family

Our family observes the Sabbath on a Sunday, because that is our day of worship. It’s never perfect; sometimes, attitudes aren’t the best, we run late to church, or the day still feels chaotic. Sabbath is simply a weekly anchor that we do our best to keep. Here are some simple tips to help you do the same.

1. Prep the Day Before

Sabbath starts the night before. For me, that means we do a light house pickup, I finish outstanding freelancing tasks, we lay out church clothes, and do what meal prep we can. If everything feels chaotic on Sunday morning, rest becomes impossible. Sabbath Eve Prep, as we call it, is a total game-changer.

If everything is chaotic on Sunday morning, rest becomes impossible.

2. Set Boundaries for the Day

While Sabbath isn’t rigid, there should still be some loose boundaries on the day. This will vary from family to family. For example, we can abstain from reorganizing the entire house during the Sabbath, but our farm animals still need to be fed.

Here are some guardrails we’ve set up:

No heavy housework
Minimal social media/phones
Simple meals
No freelance work

And yes, the house does get a little messy, but it’s nothing that a 15-minute pickup at the end of the night can’t fix. Boundaries protect rest, give the day a little structure, and ensure it feels different.

3. Lower Your Expectations

If you imagine a day of worship music, peaceful kids, and quiet devotion, you’ll be sorely disappointed, my friend. Your reality (unless you have very quiet children, in which case, super jealous of you!) will likely involve Legos strewn around, snacks, a messy living room, and the kids fighting over which movie to watch.

Thank the Lord that Sabbath isn’t ruined by noise. A reasonable end goal? Create a day that feels slower and intentionally honors the Lord.

4. Bring Your Kids Into the Sabbath

Children might have more playtime, but they also need rest. The older they get, the more pressure they have to excel. Bring them into your Sabbath and teach them from a young age that God is present in their rest.

No child will be a perfect participant, but there are some things you can do to include them. Special coloring and activity books can encourage a slower pace; you can read together, enjoy a movie with popcorn, have them build sculptures, and linger over a delicious meal. Soon, your kids will look forward to the Sabbath as much as you do.

5. Keep Meals Simple

Sabbath food should accommodate rest, not create more work. Especially if you’re not a huge fan of the kitchen. Some ways we keep Sabbath easy include:

Having a Crockpot lunch or dinner
Making the same breakfast every week (breakfast sandwiches, for the win!)
Making sandwiches or wraps
Eating leftovers
And, if the week has been really rough, we’ll pull out the paper plates.

Sunday is also “treat day” in our home, which reminds us that Sabbath rest is totally sweeeeet. Pun intended.

6. Choose Life-Giving Activities

So, we’ve talked about some things that you may not want to do on the Sabbath. How do you fill that time instead? With life-giving activities. This will be super unique to you and your personality.

You might try reading, journaling, taking a family walk, listening to worship music, taking a nap, sitting outside, baking, playing board games, crafting, or playing the piano. In my experience, quiet restoration is best and most fulfilling. If your Sabbath is on Sunday, I encourage you to attend your local church, which can keep your heart and mind focused on the Lord.

Your Simple Sabbath Starter Plan

If you’re ready to dive in, I’ve got your first steps.

First, pick your Sabbath day. And, it doesn’t have to be Sunday. One year, my Sabbath was on Wednesday because that was the day when rest was possible. Next, do light prep the day before. Meal prep what you can, do a quick house pickup, lay out clothes, prep the coffee pot…whatever helps YOU feel peaceful.

On the day of, choose simple meals that don’t cause stress. Limit work and technology as much as you can, plan a couple of fun family activities, and most of all, start small. Remember, your end goal is to feel rested at the end of the day, whatever that looks like.

Remember, God didn’t command the Sabbath to burden us, but to bless us. It’s a gift to you and your family. Let me know how taking a Sabbath day has impacted you!