You know that feeling when Sunday stops feeling like the weekend and starts feeling like Monday also known as “Smonday” or the “Sunday Scaries”? Yeah, me too!
I want to share with you some way in which I have been able to overcome this awful feeling, thoroughly enjoy my weekends and look forward to my week with feelings of expectancy.
PLANNING
To combat the “Sunday Scaries”, you must take a step back to your Friday evenings. I know you are itching to get off the clock, but before you clock out hold on! Review your calendar to see what plans you have for the weekend. Think about what you want to meal prep for the following week. If you need to; download and print your recipes and shopping lists! Plan for how you would like to accomplish your weekend tasks (chores, socializing, grocery shopping etc.) but also plan time for doing things that make your soul come alive.
For me, a weekend is a failure if I do not get a nap. Period! For some; that could be bingeing their favorite show, a hot bath, reading their favorite genre, polishing off a bottle of wine, QUIET TIME. Whatever it is PLAN for it, so that it does not get overlooked with all the obligations you may have on the weekend.
PREPARATION
A key factor in beating the “Sunday Scaries” is planning for the week ahead. Confront your schedule! I look at any appointments I have scheduled, I meal prep (I will go into detail in another blog post about the importance of meal prepping), I layout my clothes for the next day, I make sure everything is clean, my alarms are set, my bags are packed. What is the thing that gets away from you each week? Plan to confront that so that you can ensure your success.
FUN
Tricks are not just for KIDS! Adults need fun too, whatever that looks like for you. For you to feel fulfilled and like your weekend was well spent you need to add some fun in there. Things that are fun “TO YOU” I am past my “turning up” stage. Fun to me is a mani/pedi while drinking mimosas and watching HGTV, followed by a leisurely stroll down the aisle of Ross Stores looking for one of kind finds for $3, but hey that is me! Just like we schedule activities and play dates for our kids, you need to do the same for you. Our brains need stimuli, keep it FUN!
What have you always wanted to do as a kid and never got the chance? Well, here is your chance! Learn how to swim, Love Dancing with the Stars? Take a ballroom dancing class, Have pent up anger/anxiety? Try kickboxing or self-defense, go to the gun range, go ride a horse. Seriously Groupon has tons of local activities that you probably never thought of to do for cheap. Join your local Facebook group, there’s always events happening around you. Join meetups and find your tribe of people who like the things you like so you can stop feeling like an outsider.
INDULGENCE
I spoil myself rotten on the weekends and I do not feel guilty about it because I plan for it. I also work hard, long hours during the week as I am sure that you do as well. So, if you know you give it your all each weekday you deserve to recharge just as hard on the weekends.
For me, indulgence starts on Saturday mornings where I sleep in. Do not even ask me to rise before 10 AM, it is not my portion! I have been known to take snacks and a book to bed so that way even if I wake up before 10AM I stay in bed and enjoy reading and snacking before getting the day started.
Indulgence also includes a Sunday evening nap on the couch with the sun shining in the windows Hello Vitamin D.
I also spoil myself by eating a really yummy brunch that is different from what I typically eat during the week, so all week I know I have this to look forward to on the weekends.
I also workout hard during the weekday with strength training so indulging my body on the weekends looks like me doing a Restorative Yoga class, where I still close my rings, but it is not as physically demanding as the work week hustle.
SOUL-CARE
Now I know self-care is everywhere right now but before you get visions of candles and rose petal baths (which is lovely) I am here to talk about SOUL Care. The things that make your soul come alive.
Use your weekends to fill up your cup of the things that make you FEEL GOOD. The things that maybe you do not have the time to indulge in during the week. You must spend time getting to know yourself and the things that truly bring you JOY. “Joy n. a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” Dictionary.com This can look like going dancing, going to church, volunteering, getting outdoors for long walks in nature.
Most importantly, soul care can also be doing the work to build a life that you do not have the “Sunday Scaries” about. In my experience and that of many others I have surveyed most of these feelings come from dreading the thing you have to do on Monday and Tuesday and Wed…you catch my drift. Your job, your work environment, your supervisor, your commute whatever that is for you. I want you to use your weekends to do the work that will eventually get you to a place where you can remove yourself from what no longer serves you. That is the self-care that no one talks about. Doing the hard things!
I challenge you to implement these into your weekly routine and I guarantee you that you will start to feel less anxious about the work week ahead.
Leave a comment and share with us some ways in which you have sent the “Sunday Scaries”” packing for good.
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