Imagine this.
The weekend is finally here. Friday night is a blast. All of Saturday is too. But Sunday morning rolls around and you feel a sense of dread as Monday creeps closer. As the hours pass by, the sense of dread becomes a sense of worry… maybe even anxiety.
You’re experiencing yet another episode of the ‘Sunday Scaries’.
If you couldn’t figure it out by the dramatic yet very real introduction, the ‘Sunday Scaries’ is the dread, worry or anxiety that stems from starting a new week of work or school. And it usually happens on Sundays, hence the name.
Yes, getting Sunday Scaries is totally normal, but that doesn’t mean you should let work or school take over the rest of your life. Weekends are supposed to be your time off, but more often than not, they don’t really feel that way.
Although everyone deals with stress differently, here are a few things you can try when faced with Sunday Scaries.
Do something (anything) on Sunday night
Distracting yourself with an activity, such as dinner or a movie, can help free yourself of worries on a Sunday night. Even if it’s just for an hour or two, it can help remind you that life isn’t just limited to work or school.
Make a to-do list
This one’s obvious, but it’s extremely effective if you crave organization in your life. Sometimes knowing that you have a lot on your plate in the coming week can be more worrisome than actually accomplishing the tasks — and that’s when writing it all down in one place comes in handy.
Talk it through with someone
Calling, texting or even sending a voice memo to a friend can help you put all your worries out there. And if you don’t have anyone to talk to (or you’re not comfortable with it), journaling is a great way to get everything off your mind as well.
Don’t put off sleep
Whether you like it or not, Monday is still coming. So instead of putting off sleep and maximizing your time before starting a fresh week, try sleeping earlier to minimize your time frame for worrying.
Figure out where the stress is coming from
Maybe it’s not the thought of a new work or school week that’s causing your Sunday Scaries. Instead, it could be an upcoming presentation, a group project or even a social event. By pinpointing the exact cause of your stress, you can deal with it first and enjoy the rest of your week freely.