I’ll be honest, I used to think Sunday Scaries were a myth. It was an odd thought to me. Our family spends a lot of time making the most of the weekend from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening, and it’s great time, but I never dreaded Monday. My husband was the same. He wasn’t dreading Monday, or the workweek as a whole. We don’t wish we could extend the weekend just a little longer. So I didn’t really have a frame of reference for it. To be honest, it kind of felt like a waste of time. I mean really, do people actually spend a portion of their Sunday dreading the Monday to follow? Yes. As it turns out, lots of people do! Some right under my own nose.
Even kids get the Sunday Scaries
My two older boys enjoy school, have lots of friends, like their teachers, and all of the amazing things they get to do there. (I’m a pretty big fan of the school. So much so that I wrote a whole blog post on it. Click here to check that one out.) So they are happy to go there, but, they still like to make sure they are abundantly clear on when Monday is coming. They will count out the days at the dinner table on Friday night. ‘So today is Friday. We have all of Saturday, then Sunday, and then we have to back to school, right?’
It hits them a little harder on Monday morning when they have to get up. (A delayed Sunday Scary if you will.) They moan and roll around in their beds trying to negotiate missing school, not riding the bus, whether or not they have all the right clothes. It’s a whole thing. As I said though, they keep that for Monday morning so it feels a little different. They are mourning the loss of the weekend when it is actually over.
The Little gets big time Sunday Scaries
Then there is little man. He counts out the days on Thursday morning. His little eyes still squeezed tight with sleep he puts out one tiny little hand and says, ‘Today is Thursday. I have school tomorrow. Then stay home day and then Church day. Then I have school, right?’ You would think that all the prep would have him feeling better about Monday because at least he has it all mapped out. Nope, by Sunday morning he’s waking up moaning that he doesn’t want to go to school. When he wakes up distraught about spending part of his precious stay home days in church and Sunday School, followed by full school the next day, I usually walk him through it.
Little guy’s early morning pep talk
Many a morning I’ve spent snuggled into that little twin sized bed talking. I explain that he’s doing big important work at school. He needs to learn from his teacher to stay on track with his classmates, take care of those chickens, tell me about what he learned. We talk about how he’s doing big work on the playground and his buddies can’t build the fort themselves, they’re counting on him. I usually end with something a little higher level. Like telling him this is the start of everything he wants to do and learn. When he grows up to be a great farmer (the chosen career path of this little dude) he’ll need all the things he’s learning now. Not to mention, he’ll need the perseverance of doing hard things. Perseverance is a character trait of the school and one that we take pretty seriously in our family so this part usually gets to him. I will admit though, there have been days where I have to carry him out to the truck because he just doesn’t want to.
This can translate to a Sunday Pep Talk for you
Well, I won’t be there to carry you to the truck. I can give you a similar pep talk to the small man. So settle in and pretend I’m right there cheering you on.
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You are learning every single day from your boss, coworkers, and mentors. Every interaction you’re in is an opportunity to learn and grow. You won’t get them without being there and being present. Your work bestie, and all those other co-workers you care about, are counting on you. What you bring to the table is important and they need you in order to the best work and make the most progress. All of those pain points you’re feeling are helping you grow into the person you are meant to be and the next role you’re meant to excel in. You need all of these lessons and this perseverance to get there.
The Next Step
I sincerely hope that pep talk crushed your Sunday scaries and reinvigorated your drive to get to work on Monday and be your best. Honestly though, I get it. You may have gotten to the end and just said, yeah, but I just don’t care anymore. I can understand that too. So, whether you’re ready to take on the week or struggling to find the motivation, I want to encourage you to take the next step.
Remember how I said you needed to learn and grow with intentionality? You have to be confident in where you’re starting from and how to move forward. This structure can help you get there. If you’re feeling like this job just isn’t for you anymore, you might need a reminder on just how valuable you are and how to take a step in a new direction. Either way, I can help. Click here to get the totally free guide to gaining clarity and confidence to take your next step.