Easy Like Sunday Morning
Treat Yourself To A Slow Sunday
This voiceover is an audio version of my Slow Sunday Letter below. It is unedited, so may have some stutters, imperfections and background noise. I hope you enjoy listening to it anyway!
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I wake up slowly, naturally. No deafening alarm clock. No reason to jump out of bed. I open my eyes and see the winter sunshine peeking through the gaps in the curtains. I feel relaxed, and ready to embrace my slow Sunday. I stretch, and pull a jumper over my head, and put on my slippers. I wander downstairs and put the kettle on. I return to bed with two cups of tea, one for me and one for my Husband – still snoozing next to me. The bed is warm and cosy. It is still early, and the gift of the day and all its opportunities are dancing through my brain. I snuggle down into the soft duvet and write my morning pages. As my Husband stirs, I start thinking about breakfast… I close my notebook, and finish my tea. I go downstairs in my pyjamas, choose some gentle music, put my apron on, and start preparing food. I love Sundays, they are just the best.
Hello, welcome back! I hope you are well. In this week’s Slow Sunday Letter, I wanted to talk about my favourite day of the week – Sunday! The perfect day for breakfast in bed, reading on the sofa, sleeping in, daydreaming and walking in nature. It is such a gift - and a lovely slow end to the week, a day filled with moments to relax and unwind. So, grab a cuppa, get cosy and dream along with me as we create the perfect Sunday.
Turning your Sunday into a day for simple pleasures
A perfect Sunday can come in many different shapes and forms and will be unique to you and your life. The main magic I want to capture is the slow and calm vibes, that lend themselves so well to Slow & Gentle Living.
I think the biggest gift we can all receive on a Sunday is to simply be present and enjoy the smaller, quieter moments before another week comes around.
Your Perfect Sunday
"Sunday is a time when you sit back and reflect on all the blessings that you have received. Smile at all the good things that you are enjoying." Sara Train
What does your perfect Sunday look like? Do you love doing the same thing every week, or do you like a little adventure? Your perfect Sunday can mean whatever you want it to mean, greet it with a little fun, gratitude and lightness.
Sunday Morning
If neither my Husband or I have to go to work - we purposely keep plans to a minimum and allow our day to unfold naturally. It is the perfect day to rest and recharge. We move slowly and enjoy spending time relaxing alone, or with each other.
I like to wake up without an alarm clock (I am naturally an early riser) and I indulge in a slow, warm shower. I love getting ready for the day completely unrushed. I relish make up free days. Everything on a Sunday just feels easier, less planned, and more nourishing.
I love cooking so I usually prepare a nutritious plant-based breakfast/brunch. I put on some country music and take my time to set the table. We always eat at the table and eat slowly – enjoying each other’s company. We make a pot of fresh coffee and bring it through to the lounge to enjoy a cup, whilst watching a couple of our favourite youtubers (like Those Happy Days and Hippy Highland Living by
).I try and get any gentle tasks, errands or pottering done in the morning, to leave the afternoon and evening open for spontaneous activity and chilling.
Sleep in or wake up and watch the sun rise.
Make a delicious breakfast to enjoy at the kitchen table.
Make some fresh coffee.
Do some gentle exercise or movement.
Go out for a walk.
Listen to some music.
Meditate.
Watch some YouTube vlogs.
Stock up on your groceries.
Complete any errands
Do some housework
Sunday Afternoon
Is it noon already? Just in time to ramp up the cosy vibes. Now, you are home for the rest of the day - light a candle or burn some incense. Send the signal to your body and spirit that you are safe, it is ok to slow down and relax. Make a hot drink, and settle down on the sofa to watch an afternoon movie, read, or catch up with loved ones.
A Sunday afternoon is the perfect time to get creative and spend some time on your favourite hobbies. For me this is often something creative, writing, learning or reading. For my Husband it often means building or organising some LEGO or spending a few hours at his desk ‘pottering’ through tasks.
it’s time to slow down, and all there is to do is nothing.
Plan your week ahead.
Do some art/something creative.
Enjoy the quiet.
Journal/write.
Daydream.
Enjoy a movie.
Phone a friend or family member.
Look through some recipe books.
Do some meal – prep for the week.
Read a book, wrapped in a blanket.
*these suggestions can be done anytime, I was just organising them into morning and afternoon activities for gentle encouragement.
The Building Blocks of my perfect Sunday
Writing/Learning on a Sunday
I’m writing this Slow Sunday Letter on a Sunday- whilst at home, relaxing on the sofa, listening to a Spotify playlist called “Sunday Morning”. It is on these quiet days that I feel most inspired, and reflective. I enjoy processing my thoughts, emotions and anything I feel curious about through writing and journaling. I will often do a workshop or a bit of learning on a Sunday (I use Skillshare a learning platform for creatives often). Sundays are perfect for this slow contemplation, but are equally as wonderful for more active pursuits like going out for a hike or walk, going to the gym, or more chilled activities like knitting, pottering around the house or relaxing in front of an afternoon movie.
Click here for my Skillshare referral link for 1 month free...
A Calm Home
After a busy week I love spending Sundays at home. A place to slow down, to enjoy your downtime and to recharge your batteries. Our home is an environment that should be uplifting, calming, inspiring and stress-free. A calm home makes for a calm heart. When everything feels balanced, a slow pace and peaceful day thrives.
Simple Pleasures
“On Sundays, I can unwind and reconnect with the natural world.” Linda Jones
Any opportunity to embrace simple pleasures in life are worth grabbing and holding onto with both hands. I think Sundays are just the perfect day for simple pleasures. A day to stop, slow down, be in the present and focus on gratitude. Treating yourself to regular simple pleasures is such a good way to nourish your mind, body, and spirit.
You could buy some fresh flowers, do some gardening, bake something, have a long bubble bath, spend some time reading, go for a walk, or listen to some of your favourite songs.
Plan Your Week
"There is always something new to learn and feel each Sunday." Bishop Gerald Causse
Sunday is the perfect day to plan put your week. I love spending some time on a Sunday afternoon to plan the week ahead into my notion. Notion is an amazing planning space- completely free for personal use and you can think, plan, write and manage your projects. I think of it as my second brain, and I download so much into it!
Spending some time mapping out your week on a gentle Sunday is a good way to focus on your goals and what you want to achieve. It helps start your week with clarity and purpose. I really like doing this on a Sunday, rather than a Monday as it always makes me feel less anxious about Monday and more positive about the week ahead.
Cooking and Meal Prep
As part of my planning on a Sunday, I like to do some meal planning and meal prep. I also find cooking and spending time in the kitchen very relaxing and so it is a good gentle activity for me. Even just making a batch of soup, hummus or chilli for the week ahead can make such a difference when you have some ‘go-to’ meals ready to grab and go!
Reading
Currently Reading:
Twelve Moons by
and The 1% Wellness Experiment byBoth of these books are written by really inspiring women, I was drawn to both because I wanted to feel empowered. I have just started Twelve Moons and I already feel so drawn to Caro and her writing. It is a beautiful book- written honestly at a very vulnerable time in the authors life, framed by the twelve moons and changing nature all around her. I am really enjoying it so far.
The 1% Experiment is all about micro gains and how you build a life that is both productive and nourishing.
‘By the end of the experiment you will have created a bespoke tried-and-tested toolkit packed with techniques to lower your stress, strengthen your self - confidence, nurture you connections, instil calm and increase joy’
If you want to learn more do check out
wonderful podcast chat with - follow the link below:Sparkle on Substack with Gabrielle Treanor
I read everyday, but there is something about Sunday reading that hits different! I love curling up on the sofa, with a hot drink and blanket and spending some time with my nose in a book.
Get Outside
Getting outside is so important, and while normally I don’t need any encouragement, on a Sunday I can need a little coaxing as my instinct is to get cosy at home- especially in the colder months. Last summer, I started running and I loved getting up early, and getting outside before the rest of the world fully woke up. Having a more active morning and then a more restful and cosy afternoon is the perfect balance for me on a Sunday. This gives me some extra gentle motivation to get my body moving, get outside, do any errands or housework before indulging in a chilled afternoon.
Tuning into my Creative Side
Spending some time on creative hobbies is a lovely way to spend your Sunday - whether it is painting, colouring, knitting, cooking or baking, playing a musical instrument, candle making, scrapbooking - anything at all that flexes your playful creative spirit. It is lovely way to invest in you, and it is just plan good old fashioned fun.
I really hope this has inspired you to really embrace your next Sunday and enjoy that feeling of contentment and joy that comes from truly relaxing and being in the moment. Sundays give us a chance to recharge our batteries, spend time with our loved ones and prepare for the coming week. Spending time doing things that bring you joy whilst connecting with those around you is such a blessing.
What does your perfect Sunday look like? What are your favourite Sunday rituals? I’d love to know your thoughts!
Thank you for being here,
With Light & Love
Emily xxx
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Loved reading this as I sip my coffee and have a carrot and chickpea soup simmering in preparation for a later lunch.
I will go for a walk in the woods later and then have my Sunday summit where I reflect on the week past and define the week ahead.
Slow slow slow.
I've purposely planned my entire life around not waking up to an alarm clock (almost never). I've been super blessed and privileged to have more control over my work schedule, which allowed me to push back my earliest appointments to 11 a.m. That alone was the biggest game changer in dealing with anxiety and insomnia because I go to bed with a calmer mind and a mental buffer if I need the extra time in the morning.