By: Jamie Thompson
Updated: Oct. 4, 2021
Originally Published: Oct. 1, 2021
From the moment Sunday dawns, a sense of unease washes over me, anticipating the next twenty-four hours. It’s not that I’m unhappy with my job; it’s simply that Monday looms large. Regardless of my weekend activities, there’s something about Sundays that cultivates a feeling of anxiety that often lasts throughout the day. Saturdays are filled with errands, celebrations, and sports, but Sundays feel like a frantic race to accomplish everything that was left undone during the week. And the looming reality of a new workweek just around the corner adds to the pressure.
Even with remote work becoming commonplace for some, the thought of logging in can still feel daunting. Rest assured, you’re not alone. Research from LinkedIn indicates that “80% of professionals experience the Sunday Scaries, a sentiment echoed by 90% of Millennials and Gen Z.” This makes sense, as these demographics represent a significant portion of today’s workforce.
So, do the Sunday Scaries truly deserve their reputation? While it may seem like a trivial feeling, it can range from mildly annoying to utterly overwhelming. What drives this anxiety, and how can we transition into the workweek with less stress?
The Spectrum of Sunday Anxiety
Like any form of anxiety, the dread of the upcoming workweek exists on a spectrum. How your previous Friday concluded or how hectic your weekend was can greatly influence your feelings about Monday. Sometimes, just the thought of facing another week can feel like too much, especially when life seems to be chaotic most of the time. Instead of hiding under the covers or taking a mental health day (which, let’s be honest, we’ve all considered), how can we tackle the Sunday Scaries more productively?
While self-care isn’t a cure-all, it should definitely be a part of your routine to help mitigate these feelings. Effective self-care requires self-awareness—understanding why you feel that heavy dread on Sunday nights. Is this a consistent feeling, or did something specific trigger it? Or, perhaps, does it point to a deeper issue?
Experiencing the Sunday Scaries could be a sign of a larger concern. Are you still finding joy in your work? Not every day will be perfect, but if your weekly dread is severe enough to disrupt your life, it might be time to assess your job or work environment.
At the end of the day, employees have limited control over their circumstances. Significant changes often need to come from employers. They may claim to have done all they can—offering remote work options or perks like a coffee bar—but no amount of free caffeine can compete with the benefits of a shorter workweek.
Easing into the Workweek
Countries around the globe have explored shorter workweeks, with the exception of the US. Unsurprisingly, productivity has increased, and employee satisfaction has surged. Happy employees are more productive and tend to stay longer.
If the unease goes beyond just the Sunday Scaries, merely adjusting work hours may not suffice. However, if the goal is to help ease employees into the week, offering flexible hours could be a game-changer. In Iceland, reducing work hours by just four to five per week led to remarkable improvements in efficiency and time management, according to NPR.com.
Distractions happen to everyone—sometimes due to external factors, other times simply to give the brain a breather. But imagine if knowing you’d gain an extra hour each day or enjoy a shorter Friday helped boost your productivity.
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Summary
The phenomenon of the Sunday Scaries is a common experience for many professionals, characterized by anxiety and dread as the weekend draws to a close. Understanding the reasons behind this anxiety can help individuals address the root causes, whether that involves reassessing their jobs or engaging in meaningful self-care practices. Employers, too, can play a vital role in alleviating these feelings by offering flexible work arrangements.
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