Dealing with the Sunday Scaries
Everyone gets a case of the Sunday Scaries from time to time. Lately, I feel like I’ve had more Sunday Scaries episodes than I would like to have. Towards the beginning of the shelter in place/self-isolation era of 2020, I found that my bouts of Sunday Scaries kinda…tapered off a little. Of course, there was still an overwhelming sense of dread about life, but I didn’t hate Sundays. Granted we all kinda forgot what day it even was half the time. But lately, as things have kinda swung towards “normal,” or what everyone thinks should be normal now that they are just over the whole pandemic thing, I find my Sunday Scaries returning at an unfortunate level.
I think my Sunday Scaries stems from the crazy idea people have that my entire workday should revolve around whatever they want. I dread busting my ass on 45 different tasks only to have someone say “well what about this one?” I’m one human being. Not a robot. And as much as I organize my day I can forget or put a smaller task off for later without having to answer for it constantly. Anyone would have a dread that the second they open their email after two days away they are going to be bombarded with a crazy amount of things all at once. Keeping straight working hours has been a blessing and a curse let me tell you.
But I digress. Now that I’ve taken my weekends for me I’ve had to learn to find ways to deal when the Sunday Scaries start to creep in. So I’m going to share my ways to beat the Sunday Scaries.
Write It Out
Having the Sunday Scaries means being anxious about the week ahead. If I’m beginning to feel anxious, I will grab my planner or even a notepad and just write it out. I write out the tasks I KNOW I need to complete this week. Such as things with hard deadlines, tasks I complete daily, and sometimes I just write out what I’m feeling. What I mean is I take a pad of paper and just write what I’m scared of. Writing out what’s making me anxious gets it out of my brain, and helps me obsess about it a little less. It helps me analyze and break down the problem. This is especially helpful with work because I can find solutions for the issue at hand and anything I can’t control just is up to the Universe.
Me Time
After a hectic week, “me time” is a necessity. I’m not really one to just sit around and do nothing, but lately, I’ve prioritized taking more time to just…be. Whether it’s enjoying a glass of wine, a face mask, or just watching a movie on the streaming service I keep paying for but never use, I just do something relaxing. This is helpful especially the later it gets in the day because bedtime is just around the corner. The more relaxed at bedtime you are, obviously, the better sleep is going to be. Plus doing face masks, chatting with a close friend, whatever the case may be does wonders for your mood and makes you feel good. A major plus going into Monday.
Cook Something
I mentioned this in a post about winding down after working from home all day, but on Sundays, it’s especially useful. On Sundays, I have way more time to invest in cooking something new or a comfort food classic now that it’s fall. Cooking or even baking means having to focus on something other than worrying about Monday. It’s also incredibly enjoyable and delicious not to mention it’s some extra “me time.” I’ve dedicated myself to trying new things or just having a meal I haven’t had in a while on Sundays. It’s made a big difference and food is comforting.
Get Some Peace of Mind
When all else fails, grab an app. Mediation is a practice that can benefit anyone. With the variety of apps available, it’s not hard to find one that suits an individual’s needs. I like my Balance app has a wind-down feature which is an activity where one must focus for a set period of time doing the activity and then are encouraged to put their phone down for the night. I also use the insight timer for soundscapes like singing bowls (if I feel unbalanced) or rain when I need something soothing. It works wonders on relaxation and lulls me to sleep more effectively then tossing and turning thinking about Monday.