Did you know that on Sundays in Switzerland all the shops are all closed? Since the weekends are when most people have time to buy things, at first this seems odd. But, apparently the reason the Swiss do this is so people can rest and spend time with their families - what a simple yet taken-for-granted concept.

We fill our weekdays with work commitments; so, when the weekend comes, we tend to fill it up with house chores, to-do list and other jobs. Then, it's back to Monday, and we hit the repeat cycle again.

We all need the weekend to catch up on our to-do lists, but we should also try to spare one day a week when we just take a break from work and chores. We need to spend time relaxing with our families, rejuvenating ourselves from the busy week.

Look at top athletes - coaches know practicing every day is harmful; it can cause you to get burnt out prior to the game. The day before a game, athletes usually take it easy so they have energy when it comes to tip-off.

The same thing applies to ourselves in day-to-day life. We should try to set aside at least one day when we can just rest and chill. You don't always have to be on the go. Take time to enjoy what you have worked so hard for.

For me, I try to keep Sundays as our family and rest day. Sunday morning, we go to church as a family; then, we plan something to do together afterwards. It can be something simple like going to the park with the kids or crashing my parents' house for a free lunch.

But to have one day of rest means you need to complete your chores during the other days so you do not need to do them on your rest day. I like to dedicate Saturday morning to cleaning the house and gardening. After accomplishing those tasks, I can really enjoy my weekend, without having something looming over my head.

Often, we fill our weekends with so many commitments that we end up not having time to do needed chores. So, we end up doing them on our rest days. Learn to say no to certain invitations so you can give yourself that one day of rest each week. It could be saying no to that birthday party for that person you really aren't close to or even saying no to coaching your kid's soccer team. The types of things that take up your entire weekend are what you may need to say no to.

Try to really keep your rest day as a day when you can actually rest and do activities different from your day-to-day routine. You can rest at home; although, at home you may be tempted to keep cleaning and doing chores. So, I recommend getting out for a change of scene. Get some fresh air. Go to the park with kids. Have a date with your partner. Go to the cinemas. You have worked hard the entire week, so give yourself a day of rest - you deserve it.

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Are experiences or things more worth your money?

I would say most people who prefer to buy things do so because things appear to last longer than experiences. For example, a ticket to the theatre comes and goes within two hours, while a new pair of shoes could last for a few years.

Of course I am not saying we should never buy things. You might really need a new pair of shoes. But next time you buy a gift for a loved one or for yourself, it is worth thinking about whether you would be better off buying experiences.

Here are three reasons why you should buy experiences, not things.

1. Experiences last longer than things

When you buy a thing, at the start, you probably look after your purchase very well and put it in its proper place. But, after a while, that fancy thingamabob ends up in the corner of your room, gathering dust and not adding value to your life. So, by buying things we do not necessarily need, we just add to the problem of having to find spaces for things to "live in."

If, on the other hand, you used that money to go to the amusement park with your kids, that memory lasts forever. Your kids will get out of the house and stop staring at the TV. Maybe they'll conquer their fears of scary rides and you will bond as a family.

So, although the first thought is that a thingamabob would technically last longer than a trip to the amusement park, the memories and experiences last longer.

When I am on my deathbed, I will remember the times I spent with my family having experiences. I won't think about my Air Jordans I purchased 30 years ago.

2. Experiences don't have to be expensive

Treasured experiences can be as simple as taking the kids for a bike ride or going to the beach.

Once in a while my wife and I let our son stay up past his bedtime for movie night. He gets to watch the popcorn pop in the microwave and gets to watch the latest release of the Avengers.

Kids don't care if experiences are expensive. Our son was just as happy swimming at my parent's pool, as he was when we were overseas at a pool in a Fiji resort.

3. Experiences are great holiday gifts

During gift-giving seasons such as Christmas, the accumulation of unnecessary stuff often occurs. As a family, decide whether you want to buy each other gifts or save the money you would have spent on gifts and put it toward a family vacation.

For Valentine's Day my wife and I decided not to buy each other Valentine's Day knickknacks. We decided instead to save the money for an afternoon tea. Besides adding a few calories to our bellies from the waffles and ice cream with chocolate sauce, we were able to bond and take a break from the kids.

Having experiences gives you a chance to do something different from your daily routine. It helps you get back to your daily tasks refreshed and rejuvenated.

So, next time you are looking for something to buy, try replacing that something with an experience you will remember forever.

This article was originally published on Peace and Hustle. It has been republished here with permission.

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