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Simple Saturdays

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By Sinea Pies


In a continuation of our “Simple Living” series, let’s talk about Saturdays. 

A Simple Saturday!
photo Thundafunda.com

For many of us, Saturday is the only day when we can get things done. If you are a parent who works outside of the home, or has a home-based business with similar time constraints, then Saturday may be the only available day of the week. 

Add to it family events–birthdays, graduations,  bridal showers, baby showers, weddings, baptisms, company picnics, and so forth–the weekends can be filled up without you having anything to say about it at all.  It’s all good stuff, but it can be exhausting!

So, how to simplify? Getting a Simple Saturday really begins on Friday (or even earlier) It’s all about planning.


First, tell your family that this Saturday is going to be different. No errands, no cleaning, nothing that looks like “work”. In fact, you are NOT going ANYWHERE. You are staying at home and taking it easy. It’s a “stay-cation”. I love it!  Vacationing at home.
Second, filter out what is not a “must”. Pretend that those particulars don’t exist.
Now, make a list. Yes, checklists are your friend. Assign the essential chores to early-evening a few days prior to your big day off! 
So, what has to be done? Put it on your list!

  1. Laundry
  2. Grocery Shopping
  3. Errands: pet supplies, pharmaceuticals, get gas in the car, wash the car
  4. Wardrobe: must church, school or (in the summer) day-camp clothes be ready for Sunday and Monday? Don’t wait till the weekend. Get them ready and in place before Saturday begins.
  5. Food: you don’t want to spend your time preparing meals, unless it is your passion and something you’ve been wanting more time to do. Either get food ready before Saturday or save a few dollars to use for take out (or call for a pizza that will show up at the door).
  6. Entertainment: If you still bring in movie rentals, get your DVD’s before Saturday arrives.
  7. Phone calls/emails: get it all out of the way ahead of time.  Make sure that everyone knows that you won’t be available on the weekend and that’s why you are calling today.  If the phone has been invading your life, tell them with kindness not to worry but you will be turning the phone off. You are having a Simple Saturday stay-cation!
Now that you’re ready…enjoy a wonderful, SIMPLE day off!




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Simple Living

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Simple! What does the word “SIMPLE” do for you?  When I think it, hear it or read it, I find the word “simple” to be a true stress reliever. I’m serious. Does it do that to you? Try it.  Say it slowly, aloud: “simple”.  Doesn’t that lighten the load, if just for a moment? 

Real Simple magazine’s title attracts me every time I see it on the news stand.  The cover design is so attractive and, just like it’s name, it’s Real Simple.   

And yet the magazine is not that simple at all.  It is many, many pages long, filled with tons of advertising and some articles.  (I haven’t counted it up but it feels like the ads outweigh the content by far.)  

So, I don’t usually buy a copy because it is just too big and, sorry Real Simple magazine, COMPLICATED!  I don’t have that much time to read it. But the next time that I’m at the store, my eyes will inevitably be grabbed by that title once more. I just love the word “Simple”.

So, that’s why I’m naming today 
“Simple Day”
…because we all need a break sometimes.

John C. Maxwell tells a story in his book “Developing the Leader Within You”  about a young college student who changed her approach to life for the greater good. She called her newly developed life change “planned neglect“.* She even attributes her rise to success as a concert violinist to it. 

You see, she came to realize that it was going to take a serious investment of her time practicing violin in order to achieve her goal of reaching the top in the profession.  Yet, she was finding that her habit of first making her bed in the morning, dusting, and basically cleaning up her apartment–then hurrying off to her class–was robbing her of valuable, quality time as an aspiring musician.  

So, she gave herself permission to delay making the bed and other “essentials” in order to throw herself into becoming the best violinist possible. She didn’t skip it; she simply put it off until later. Planned neglect! Don’t you love it!

What can we abandon for a few hours, or even a day, to achieve “simple”?  Are there some “good things” that are draining you of the energy you need to be your best? John C. Maxwell would say in such a case that  “The good is the enemy of the best.”  

So, try it. Take some time off for a little “at home vacation”. Regroup and revitalize.  Read a book, go for a leisurely walk, take a nap.  Take some time off. Drop your plans for a little while. Go “simple” and see how much better you feel!

BTW…Contrary to my quirk about the complicatedness of the magazine, I love Real Simple’s website! It is easy to maneuver, beautifully illustrated and filled with great content. Worth every click! Check it out:  Real Simple

“Developing the Leader Within You”
Books and Workbooks

*Maxwell, John C., Developing the Leader Within You, Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1993 pg28