As a university student, I often find my weekends more tiring than rejuvenating. Friday and Saturday nights are filled with vodka shots (or tequila, take your pick), 3am pizzas and miniskirts. Sundays are for ‘recovery,’ i.e., oversleeping, cramming essays and not leaving my bed. I spent a while in this routine only to realize that this ‘recovery’ doesn’t make me feel rejuvenated at all. It often breeds depression and anxiety, and leaves me drained for the coming week. This is not to say I don’t go out on the weekends anymore, because I do, and I have the time of my life while still making the most out of my Sundays. However, I have implemented a few rules to ensure I don’t miss the entirety of daylight on Sundays and eat Cinnamon Toast Crunch for dinner.
1. The Sunday afternoon walk is my most highly regarded weekend rule. I force my feet into my sneakers, put my AirPods in, and stroll—no matter the weather or circumstances. It could be a solo morning walk for coffee, or I could squeeze one in with my roommates after dinner. But for me, fresh air is healing and my day always feels more productive with some movement.
2. Eggs are the best hangover breakfast. And though you feel a magnetic pull to your bed, do not wait till 3pm to eat them. I try to have breakfast before noon (I know… it’s ambitious). But trust me, it helps. Recently, I’ve been into an English muffin with avocado and a fried egg on top.
3. One of the most toxic places on earth is a house of university girls getting ready to go out. It’s a symphony of “I look like sh*t” or “my makeup looks terrible” or “I feel gross.” The pressure is enormous: to look good enough, wear the right thing, and feel good in it. This environment fosters self-hate and comparison, and places the night’s priorities in all the wrong places. In our house, we have decided that getting ready should be fun. This means we don’t talk badly about ourselves, we play Beyonce on the loudspeaker, and we keep our doors open, constantly flowing in and out of each other’s rooms to help with makeup, hair and outfit choices. Trust me, it makes all the difference.
4. Call someone you love on the weekend. Weekdays are long and busy, and everyone’s schedules are in shambles. I try to call someone I miss and that I know will make me feel good on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.
5. Look at your work for the upcoming week and write it down somewhere. You don’t have to start it, but knowing what’s coming can make you feel more in control.
6. Hangxiety and hangpression are REAL. I do overthink everything I did the night before. And I do have extra trouble getting my body out of bed. I keep a journal beside my bed and try to address the things that might make me anxious the next day before I even go to sleep. I scribble down my feelings, even when I’m tired, and then I feel like I can lock them away and be free the next day. In terms of hangpression, I find that having plans with someone else that I must stick to can help; I avoid the vicious cycle of staying in bed all day and then feeling crappy because I stayed in bed all day.
7. Music. I play music whenever I can. While getting out of bed, walking, showering, or cooking breakfast. Whether it’s through my AirPods or on a speaker. It makes everything feel dreamier and it makes me feel more alive, which I need on the days when I’m feeling like a zombie.
I have always thought of Sundays as the saddest day of the week. As a child, I would cry on Sunday nights without even knowing why. They gave me a sinking feeling in my stomach. They felt cold and lonely for no reason. Now, I have actively tried to like Sundays—despite my hangover. To get fresh air and eat yummy meals and bask in the calmness. Viewing Sundays as a rest day rather than a day of sadness makes all the difference. Take things slowly, and let Sundays be beautifully breezy.