On the nature of Shabbat or the Sabbath.

Because Zayin ז is the seventh letter, it is assigned to the seventh day Sabbath (Shabbat). Being assigned our sun’s day makes sense since we don’t shine with our Vau, the way we do with Zayin.
While Sabbath’s rewards may seem vague and intangible, taking time to honor your inner light- supporting your baby self – the one who felt adored just for being – (not the older one rewarded for performing) is an essential and helpful practice. Numerous studies show we work best with periodic unplugging. Then we become, paradoxically, even more productive.
I know its hard to conceive of scheduling time for yourself when already feeling rushed.
That’s the point though as we practice, it will become ~effortless as it is a healthy habit.

The Sabbath is the special time we take to honor and nourish our relationships, our l’oves’ work and our inner spirit’s flame. While there are Sabbath hours[7] every day it is worth observing on a special day too. By scheduling and organizing, week to week, we we become more efficient with the time; like a muscle growing stronger. After a day or week of being in a milieu of relative incoherence- such as happens when with those who aren’t kin(d), you need to regenerate.

For this reason, it is important as parent, to model healthy behavior- not just showing up for others in group settings. But to give everyone (including “mom”) opportunity to work on their preferred crafts and creative (tangible and measurable) activities.

While celebration of G-d can be done in a group gathering, like temple or church, for creation – we need “me” time – including cleanup- so our keel is strengthened and our ships are ready for another week.

It takes effort to dedicate oneself to rejuvenating and recreating our flame of spirit- especially since this means unplugging from the social matrix.

Naturally, the inner child grows too – and learns what feels most fun for them. Call it indulgence, but when we take time to notice what “floats our boat” and helps us feel positive and brimming with our sense of mission, the world is again our oyster.
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With our sacred Zayin tools (all of them) we conjure our heart’s calling. On your Sabbath, aim to keep your mind soft- let your heart and ears lead you. Perhaps you’ll be lucky enough to be around some imaginative children – may they lead you on a mini adventure.

Especially when school starts cooperating with more essential hands-on crafting, this will be much easier to do.
There’s always something to tweak in projects we are completing. Maybe it’s finish sanding or staining; maybe basting a hem, or polishing some little tiny parts. Consider your crafts as horcrux’s of you as it were-imbued with energy of dedication from completion of all the little steps it takes to do a thing. Make it complicated enough so it takes time. There is no rush.
What Sabbath looks like for you isn’t part of any man’s (or woman’s) game or vision – it’s your own. I make mine tangible by dressing up a little, singing and meditating. It can be on any day of the week (though I might argue Sunday is “best”- being Sun’s day, but do what works). Sunday is also a good day to bless your creative tools before using them for the week ahead of you- so your hands especially (unless you’re a professional dancer, than your feet).
As a young adult, when you leave your nest and fly, to your school, job, or vocation, observing your rituals of Sabbath, will help you stay grounded and centered and refreshed. Coming at the end of another packed week’s cycle helps one sustain.
While one must decide to cut time away from humdrum and busy-ness, do those chores the day before so your conscience will be clear. Take a rest from the mundane[6]- which will always be there – like shopping, laundry, and cleaning.
(You always get to feed yourself and pets. But maybe your ‘Sunday ’is a good night for pizza and leftovers. Get fresh for Monday’s clean slate.)
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As a general soul-strengthening practice, it helps to observe Sabbath (Sun’s) hours on non-Sabbath days too, whenever possible. You can scatter time throughout a day or after you’re home. It’s nice to designate them within your collective- your body will get into the groove more quickly. With this practice your corpus regains at-one-ment – (being in one mind with where you are space according to your senses.) Only then do we get into “flow” which is great to practice.
Coming from a place of atonement, you increase chances for best possible outcomes – and hence effectiveness.
Anxiety drops as well as burnout.
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While you’re observing Shabbat, you’re not producing for your collective. In some situations this might create a hardship: another might do your job for you. Thank Goodness not everyone’s spiritual Sunday is the same!
So from your employer’s perspective, while you observe your time of sun hours, and he’s on a production schedule, this a period of dis-ability.
Especially if you’re paying a worker to do a thing that’s requires interdependence – with other’s depending on you.
As employer, why not run with it? Build it into the schedule that everyone gets their multiples of 15 minutes to do whatever they want – every two hours (more or less). Sounds generous but, in time with regular access to their personal lives, they’d feel more often “all caught up” having used those times to deal with stuff in a timely manner. Disruptive drama distractions will decrease. Overall people will feel more valued.
Just the shift in activity alone, including the process of changing ones location to go outside or meditate, will feel refreshing. So plant a sustainable garden with a fountain and standing stone.

If you’ve had a rough day or you’re stuck in a perseverant thought loop, you might get some pounding exercise, do some tapping, or bang a drum (quietly). Perhaps sit down for a couple of minutes and jot about it then pat yourself gently all over – come into the here and now. With practice and hindsight you’ll one day realize everything was “perfect” about it – from your soul’s growth perspective.
We need others to stimulate and move us emotionally, mentally, and spiritually – before it gets physical.

So try to add some Zayin hours during a week, but don’t forget to work that out first with your collective. There will always be give and take, trades and sacrifices, as time wends his way through your life.