Anxious on Sunday?

I have a number of clients who are struggling with Sunday afternoons. As the work week approaches, their anxiety about the week ahead rises. They report feeling distracted, unable to enjoy their full weekend and in some cases they struggle to sleep on a Sunday night.

What to do?

As with all of this work, different things work for different people. However there are things you can try:

Slow Sundays

Not overbooking yourself with appointments or scheduling too much may help you feel more in control. Slowing down on a Sunday to rest, recover and enjoy simplicity can be helpful. If you have commitments, for example a need to get to children’s sport or visit relatives, see if you can still find a window that is your ‘slow down’ time.

Schedule something you will look forward to

Some of my clients schedule in regular remedial massage. Others will book to go to the movies or something else they enjoy so they have something to look forward to. Having something fun to look forward to can help make Sundays more enjoyable.

Block out Monday mornings

If you have control over your own work schedule, block out early Monday morning so you are not starting the week in a rush. For some people, it is the thought of facing Monday morning traffic at the same time as getting kids to school then rushing to get to work for a meeting that triggers a feeling of being ‘on the back foot’ as the work week commences. If you can reserve Monday mornings for time to prepare, prioritise and schedule what is most important, it can help you feel more in control.

Finally, Sunday afternoon is a perfect time for restorative yoga, which is deeply relaxing and often supports quality sleep. Finding a studio with a Sunday afternoon class can help ensure you finish the weekend feeling rested and more relaxed leading into the week ahead.