“Unproductive” Saturdays are sometimes the most productive day of the week. When I try to make every day as productive as possible, I will crash and have a very unproductive day (or days) and worsening health symptoms.

What I do on these “unproductive” Saturdays matters. Video games and watching TV do not relax me the same way silent reading does.

I’ll usually want to talk to my family, and maybe a friend.

Perhaps I’ll help a friend with something, or just hang out with them.

I typically do some of the little admin tasks I put off during the week.

It can be somewhat “productive”, but the goal is not productivity, it’s rest.

The goal is to be ready to go to church Sunday morning without any “rest debt” from the week before.

The productivity of the next week is more important than the productivity of this day.

How can I make my own effective “Unproductive Saturday”?

It’ll look different for you, but here are some principles you may find useful:

Do something restful. 

Read a book. Listen to some music. Take a nap. Go for a walk. Sit in silence. Whatever makes you feel relaxed (within reason and morals).

Don’t overlook “harder” things. Sometimes going for a walk is more relaxing than watching a video once you get past the initial “I’m tired” resistance.

Another example: YouTube Shorts are very easy for me to get sucked into, but I feel more rested after an hour of silent reading than after 5 hours of YouTube Shorts.

Do something for self-care you are normally “too busy” to do.

Take a shower, go for a walk, clean up your room, have a little adventure.

Do something small to address whatever has been bugging you that you didn’t allocate time for during the week.

Check in with your body to see what you need.

If I feel a restless need to move, it’s time for a walk.

If I feel overwhelmed, it’s time for silence.

(e.g. noise canceling headphones, a nap, and/or a book)

If I feel easily distracted or very tired, I probably need a nap.

Do what you must do before you go to bed before you need to.

You don’t want to have a “restful” day, only to realize it’s late and you still have work to do. Even if it’s not “work”. Sleep probably has the biggest impact on my mental and physical health than anything else I do. It’s subtle, but effective.

Josh