Out of all the days in the week, Sundays are undoubtedly the worst. No matter how much joy Friday and Saturday bring, Sunday always brings in the bad news, marking the start of another week and another race to get to Friday. As a high school student, new weeks typically mean new class lectures, new piles of homework and new loads of stress. Over the years, I have experienced a range of Sundays: from overjoying peaceful ones to nerve-wracking stressful ones. Here are my best tips to rid yourself of any Sunday Scaries, or the nerves that spark up during this time, and enjoy the weekend wind-down.
Plan Effectively
Once Sunday rolls around, many people’s brains flash with mental checklists of tasks they must complete. It is at this moment when procrastination takes form. As a result, people tend to get anxious as they scatter to catch up on their work, while also anticipating the increase in workload that will ensue if they do not get everything done. To combat this, it is vital to plan effectively. Whether using a notebook, agenda or even a sticky note, get ahead on your work by prioritizing tasks that need to get done. This is especially vital for big projects, essays or presentations the next day. Taking the time to get your thoughts in order and make a list of what needs to get done will allow you to get ahead on your work. It is extremely beneficial to divide your tasks to get them done with ample time, while ensuring that they do not consume every second of your time. Another benefit of planning effectively is that you can get all your work done at the beginning of the weekend or even before it begins, and therefore have more free time come Sunday. This all depends on how much work and time you have, but even the slightest amount of proactiveness through planning can lessen the nerves you feel on a Sunday afternoon.
Journal
What if work is not the cause of these dreadful feelings? Sunday Scaries can result from a variety of factors, such as fearing the unknown. A good way to counteract these feelings is to identify what causes them. Through journaling, you can reflect on what challenges you are facing that may cause these anxieties. By writing about these topics in a journal, you can form a safe space for your feelings without outside judgment and work toward improving them. Find a calm environment, maybe even listen to some peaceful music and write down your thoughts. This can help build a better mindset because it allows you to focus on expressing yourself and overcoming the causes of your Sunday Scaries.
Take a break
Lastly, sometimes all we need is a moment to ourselves. If you ever find yourself stressing for no apparent reason on a Sunday — or any day — consider taking a break. Whether it is watching a movie, reading a book, taking a long bath or getting some extra sleep, allow yourself to unwind. By dedicating some time centered around self-care, you can relish in comforting, relaxing moments and forget all about your Sunday Scaries.
Next time you are stressing over the upcoming week, think about following some of these tips. Remember, Sundays do not have to be the worst day of the week.
