They call it a “French Sunday.” And no, it’s not a fancy ice cream dessert. The French Sunday is a Godless Sabbath day. Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash French law prohibits working more than six consecutive days, and Sunday is the default day of rest for most people. The idea of a French Sunday is simple: don’t pack your day with projects or chores. Instead, sleep in, spend time with friends or family, or engage in other activities you enjoy. The mental health professionals interviewed for the article in Real Simple magazine argue that “The human brain is not designed to be ‘on’ all the time.” “When rest is not prioritized, people remain in a low-grade state of stress even when they’re technically off the clock.” The nervous system never has time to “downshift.” Observing a French Sunday, on the other hand, builds “psychological flexibility,” because “you become better at tolerating uncertainty and making choices based on what you need rather than what your anxiety is ...
