Sunday, the seventh day of the week, is a very competitive day. In earlier times it was primarily the Lord's Day for Christians. It has always been a day for weekly rest and recharging: a time to pause, reflect, and recover mentally before the work week begins.
Why is Sunday a family day?
Sunday is the traditional anchor day for families to get together. It's the day for gatherings with friends and for talking and bonding with the people who matter before the hectic week starts. Whether it's after services, around a church picnic, or at the family dinner table, Sunday has long been when we reconnect.
Do more Americans go to church or watch football on Sunday?
Today, Sunday is associated with plenty of other leisure activities. Football used to be a Sunday tradition, and now it's played on almost any day or evening of the week. Sports dominate modern television ratings, yet more Americans still attend church in person than watch football on TV.
- Church: About 45 million Americans attend a worship service in a typical week, according to a 2024 study that used cell phone location data rather than surveys.
- Football: NBC's Sunday Night Football averaged a record 23.5 million viewers in its 2025 season (NBCUniversal).
- The exception: Super Bowl Sunday. Super Bowl LX in February 2026 drew about 125.6 million viewers, according to Nielsen.
How do people spend Sundays today?
Each of these has its own place on a Sunday:
- Sunday brunch
- Family cookouts and dinners
- Catching up with relatives
- Sleeping in
- Reading, media, and gaming
- Puzzles
- Nature walks and gardening
- Cleaning and grocery shopping
Do people shop online on Sundays?
Weekends are actually quieter for online stores. Monday tends to be the busiest day for online shopping, followed by Friday, which is often payday and brings the highest total order values. Saturday is usually the slowest day for e-commerce, as people step away from their computers to spend time with family and friends.
Make Sunday count
However you spend it, Sunday is still the best chance all week to slow down. Pick one thing to protect, whether it's a family dinner, a walk, or simply an afternoon without screens, and let the rest of the week wait until Monday. If you need a starting point, try our simple creative writing exercise with the people around your table.