If you go back and look at the schedule of the Daughters of Charity, the community founded by Louise de Marillac and Vincent de Paul, you will see they were very intentional about their time. Their day started at 4:00am and was scheduled to the minute until 8:15 at night when they prepared for bed.  

Something that is striking, aside from their ability to function at a seemingly superhuman capacity, was that there were designated times in their schedule dedicated to recreation and to learning how to read. Even in the midst of curing the ills and woes of the day and tending to the broken society around them, they prioritized time every day for leisure, respite, and personal development. 

Louise understood that these daily routines, which created space to care for the whole person, were essential for sustaining the communities’ long-term effectiveness as an agents of change. 

Reflection questions:  

• What holistic care practices do you integrate into your daily routines?  

• How are you creating spaces in your life for recreation and restoration?  

• How do you hold yourself accountable to practicing daily habits?