1 .) Check on your mental health . Ask yourself , is this just feeling bummed that the weekend is over , or is this something that feels deeper or like it stretches into more areas of your life ? If it is a feeling that is intense , or causes you to feel anxious , highly stressed , or even depressed , you should reach out to a mental health professional to discuss your feelings . Therapists are available in person on online ; telehealth models like Talkspace ( which accepts insurance ) and Betterhelp can be great solutions for more introverted people or for those who prefer not to or cannot leave the house . Most insurances now cover mental health services . If reaching out to a therapist feels to intimidating , then reach out to a friend or loved one , or speak to your doctor about how you ’ re feeling . Connecting with others can help you feel less alone , and get you used to talking about uncomfortable feelings .
2 .) Assess your career / job . Are you getting the Sunday Scaries because your work is not aligned with what you want to do in life ? Or do you love your career but your workplace is not the best fit ? Our discomfort can be a powerful teacher and call us to take stock of where we are in life . If you ’ re not clear that you love your job and career , take some time to journal and write out what you ’ re feeling . See what arises for you . Do you need to have a talk with your supervisor about a situation or job duty that you ’ d like to see shift ? Is it apparent that you need to start applying for jobs elsewhere ? Have you been holding back from doing what you truly love because you ’ ve been scared you ’ ll be judged for it ? The longer you stay misaligned with what you love to do , the longer you ’ re missing out on living the life you want . Not every day is going to be a dream when you ’ re doing what you love , but you ’ ll know you ’ re working towards your mission and passion . If something needs to change , take active steps towards making that happen , and your mindset will begin to improve .
3 .) Shift your thoughts . Yes , ok it might be fun to live in a world where you only work when you want to , and you can play more and do whatever you want , but unless you win the lottery or were born into massive wealth , you have to work regularly to earn money to pay your bills , go on vacations , and do other things that are important to you . So because you have to work , you will inevitably find yourself at that timepoint where you realize that your time off is over . When the thoughts start , as soon as you can , catch yourself and stop them by telling yourself a new thought .
Here are some examples :
• Instead of : Ugh , I hate this job and I wish I didn ’ t have to go back to work tomorrow .
Try : This job is not the best fit for me right now , but I ’ m actively applying for new jobs and I know I ’ ll find the right one soon .
• Instead of : I hate working with that client and my boss is so annoying !
Try : My client is very challenging to work with , and I wish my boss were more supportive , so I ’ ll talk to her to see if she can assist me .
• Instead of : This commute is killing me !
Try : While the commute is long , I ’ ll pick out a book I ’ ve been wanting to read recently and download the audiobook version so I can listen while I drive .
It takes some practice , but over time you ’ ll catch your negative thoughts sooner and be able to retrain your brain .
4 .) Practice self-care . I may sound like a broken record in many of my articles , but tending yourself is critical . Acupuncture treatment , massage therapy , yoga , tai chi , qi gong , sound therapy , and meditation are all excellent for reducing stress , anxiety , and tension held in the body . They also help the nervous system to return to a more normalized state so you are not always on high alert . But you don ’ t have to go to a practitioner or a class to experience healing of the nervous system ; spending time in nature is deeply healing . Forest bathing ( spending time in the forest and enjoying the experience in fullsounds , smells , sights ), sitting on the beach , or even walking barefoot in the grass helps you to slow down , breathe deeply , and to connect to the energy of the earth .
Sunday evenings may still be a bummer when we realize the feelings of freedom are loosening their grip on you , but they don ’ t have to be scary . Using these practices , you can take positive steps to begin to shift your mindset and your career so it is aligned with what truly serves you .
______________________________ LakeTalk October 2023 17