Do you get Sunday Scaries after the weekend? While we all look forward to the weekend and those killer floor seats we scored, sometimes, overwhelming dread and anxiety about the coming week sets in and ruins half of our respite time. Particularly after we’ve just enjoyed one of the best concerts of our lives. But Monday doesn’t have to be tough.
What Are “Sunday Scaries?”
The term describes a sense of dread that starts to creep into your mind on Sunday when you realize you’re about ready to go back to school or work. The feeling can become overwhelming. Symptoms include:
- A growing sense of anxiety about negative things that may or may not happen in the coming week.
- An upset stomach, irritability, and general unease.
- An inability to enjoy the time off you have with your friends and family.
What Underlies This Condition?
While some people are naturally prone to anxiety, some forms of the Sunday blues can arise from a general dissatisfaction with your weekday life. This might include:
- A stressful or unfulfilling job or a difficult boss or co-workers.
- A heavy course load at school, struggles with a difficult subject, or test anxiety.
- An undiagnosed form of depression.
What Can Be Done?
Acknowledging the role the Sunday Scaries play in disrupting your life is step one. Finding effective ways to change the narrative is step two:
- When the worry creeps in, give yourself 10 minutes to sit with the anxiety and identify what’s real and what’s hypothetical.
- Be proactive in making a plan to address real issues – like completing an assignment or jotting down notes for an important meeting.
- Identify what’s really making you anxious, and pinpoint any opportunities that could actually encourage growth.
- Tidy your space and eliminate negative energy – a good decluttering can make you feel more organized and less stressed.
Long-Term Solutions
It’s not healthy or sustainable to live in a constant state of dis-ease about your weekday life.
- Talk with your primary care provider about your anxiety. Therapy, medication, or natural supplements can help reduce your symptoms.
- Assess if there are changes you can make at work or school to make you less apprehensive. Maybe you need to make a career move or select a new path of study.
- Take steps toward regular self-care, including eating and sleeping well, writing a gratitude journal, and practicing mindfulness. Of course, buying your next set of concert tickets won’t hurt, and you’ll have something to look forward to.
It’s no fun to spend half the weekend dreading the week to come. Take hold of your fears and redirect them into a more positive sphere of living.
If you’re looking for other tips on how to combat post concert depression, find them here.
(Disclaimer: The following advice isn’t from a medical professional. If you feel overly anxious or want to make significant changes to your lifestyle, be sure to get in touch with your doctor or therapist to discuss the issue(s) beforehand.)
Get to know the Author: Julia Mitchell knew from a young age she wanted to have a career that made her excited to wake up every day. Now in a financial services firm, she’s got her dream job alongside multiple side-income entrepreneurial ventures, including Outspiration. Incredibly passionate about the activities that fill her days, she wants to share her adoration for her favorite lifestyle topics with the world and encourage others to turn their INspiration into OUTspiration.
