Getting a pastor to take a day off can be difficult because it’s a never-ending job! Unfortunately, ignoring the Sabbath principle can lead to dangerous results like burnout!
Even when a pastor does take a day off it’s often not as restful as it should be. Here are some helpful hints for pastors, and others, on their day off.
7 Things a Pastor Shouldn’t do on Mondays
Let’s start with a few things you should avoid on Mondays! I say Mondays because that’s the day I take off and I know many other pastors who take that day off. However, this applies to whatever your day off is.
1. Go to the office.
I know you just want to check on a few things and you think it will be quick but you know what’s going to happen. While you’re there you’ll remember a few dozen other tasks that really need your attention, and you’ll probably notice that the janitor missed a couple of things when he was cleaning the sanctuary, and you don’t really want to bother him, so you might as well get it yourself, and then Mrs ______ walks in with a disgruntled look on her face and says she really needs to talk to you about how the Children’s Church program is being run, and….
Ok, I think you get the point, stay away from the office on your day off!
2. Counsel anyone.
In my experience there is very rarely a case where someone can’t wait one day for counseling. Sometimes it’s tempting to squeeze that person on in on Monday but you have to think about yourself too. You just finished a marathon day of preaching and ministry. You’re tired physically, mentally, and spiritually you’re probably a little drained. You might not be in the best condition to listen to someone’s problems and give good advice.
They can wait.
3. Turn on his computer.
So you just spent most of last week in front of a computer screen prepping for your sermon and answering e-mails. Take a break from screen, let your eyes and your mind rest. You know it’s going to be nearly impossible to avoid work once you’ve sat yourself in front of the glow of your laptop.
You don’t need it.
4. Check or write email.
Ok, I know we just talked about not turning on your computer, but you probably have a device in your pocket that can also check your e-mail. It seems so easy and quick but it will drain your mental resources quicker than you think.
Don’t do it!
Those e-mails will still be there tomorrow.
5. Plan ministry.
Do you know what kind of plans pastors and preachers make on Mondays? They usually make plans for resignation or in better cases retirement! Save the plan making for a day or two later in the week when any disappointments from Sunday are a bit further out of your mind’s reach.
6. Have meetings.
Some meetings don’t lend themselves well for any day of the week but Monday should be off limits for any meeting!
Unless, it’s a meeting with you and a good cup of coffee.
7. Make ministry related phone calls.
You don’t really do this do you? Write that number down in your calendar and forget about it until Tuesday!
7 Things a Pastor Should Do on Mondays
Ok, I can’t leave you with just the negative side. Yes, it’s a day off and maybe all you’re going to do is lay around on the couch all day, but unless you really bombed your sermon I think you want to do more than that on your day off.
Here are some suggestions.
1. Get some fresh air and exercise.
You’ve probably been sitting a lot so get out, enjoy God’s creation, get some fresh air and move your body.
A healthy pastor is holy pastor!
Well at least he feels holier and his mind will work better when his body isn’t falling apart.
2. Do something with your hands.
I learned this from my father. Use your hands to create something or fix something. There’s something about working with your hands that clears and frees your mind to think.
Maybe that’s why Jesus was a carpenter.
3. Spend time with your spouse/family.
Let your family know you care for them and love them by focusing some attention on them. They’ve been kind to you by letting you study for your sermon late into the night. Now is the time to refresh your relationship with them and thank them for being there.
4. Listen to a sermon.
You just gave your people your hard fought spiritual work. You need to begin refilling your cup. Put on some headphones and listen to one of your favorite preachers and don’t critique his sermon while your listening. Just listen and learn for your own spiritual good.
5. Read your Bible for yourself.
Read it without looking for a sermon outline. Read it without thinking too much about the Greek verbal aspects. Read it and look for the application you and you alone need to make in your life!
6. Do something fun.
Yes, you’re a pastor and you talk about serious things but don’t let fun disappear from your vocabulary or your life. Play with your kids or grand-kids, have a hobby, do something that brings joy to you and others.
7. Sleep in.
Shut that alarm off, sleep-in even if it’s for 10 mins, your body and your mind will thank you. Later in the day you can take a nap too!
Bill (cycleguy)
March 3, 2015I take Friday off Caleb. Otherwise, Tuesday becomes another Monday. I am actually pretty stoked from Sunday so I am ready to go. By the end of the week, I need the break. And I take a break. Now that Jo is retired, I spend the day with her. I spend less and less time on the computer so no emails, no blogging, no reading of blogs (although I do tend to quickly approve comments on mine and then shut it down). Having a phone also allows me to do this quickly. I NEED my day off.
Caleb
March 3, 2015I can see how Friday would be a nice day to take off and give you rest before you need the strength on the weekend! My day off actually starts on Sunday afternoon and goes until Monday afternoon/evening. So I actually break on of my suggestions here because I often have brother’s meeting on Monday night. But for me I consider that my day off is already over by Sundown on Monday.
Ray Paget
March 4, 2015I concur with most of your suggestions. Taking Mondays off is important to me. Building steam all week in preparing my message, Sunday’s like a boiler explosion! I need Mondays to let the dust settle. I’ve never understood how fellow pastors choose Fridays instead of Mondays as their day off. For some being off on Monday is strategic. One of my former pastors said he always took off on Mondays because if he offended someone while preaching on Sunday he wouldn’t be in his office on Monday to hear their complaint. And by Tuesday they would forget about it.
Caleb
March 4, 2015There is some truth to the claim of your former pastor. In my experience it’s best not to critique yourself too much either until at least Tuesday.