Picture the following scene:
It's Sunday evening, the weekend is winding down and you're beginning to think about the work week ahead. What are your feelings?
Do you find yourself excited and challenged, looking forward to another week of doing something you love? The most fortunate among us get to feel that way on a regular basis.
Or are you instead feeling something else, perhaps anxiety or even dread? That's a special kind of anxiety and stress I call "Sunday Night Syndrome."
All of us experience some form of SNS from time to time. What's important is how often and how severe it is.
Mild Sunday Night Syndrome
In most people, the anxiety usually begins Sunday evening, but it passes quickly and is gone by the time you arrive at work. This feeling is probably the result of working continuously for five days a week and having only two days off during which to recover.
What to do:
Relax and remember: The feeling will pass.
Rent a movie, play a game, enjoy being with family and friends.
Moderate Sunday Night Syndrome
The next stage of SNS is characterized by increasing anxiety as the work week approaches. The anxiety begins earlier in the day and doesn't pass as easily as mild SNS.
You begin to stay up later and later on Sunday night, in the hope of keeping Monday morning from arriving. As a result, you feel tired and sluggish on Monday, which leaves you ill-equipped to deal with your feelings and your work.
Other symptoms include increased irritability and inattentiveness around family and friends, as well as deteriorating work performance. Colleagues and supervisors may begin to notice changes at this point.
What to do:
In addition to the above suggestions, make sure you get to bed early enough to be rested the next day.
Identify things about your job that you can feel good about, or even look forward to.
As crazy as it sounds, some people have found that going into the office or doing some work at home seems to help.
If going into the office is not possible, being as prepared as possible can help.
Severe Sunday Night Syndrome
The third level of SNS doesn't wait until Sunday to arrive. It begins Saturday or even Friday after work.
By the time Sunday evening rolls around, folks with severe SNS are experiencing strong anxiety and dread.
Some people become physically ill at the prospect of another work week. Depression is common at this point, as well as drinking too much alcohol.
What to do:
What underlies your emotions and reactions? If you don't examine this issue, the feelings might just grow stronger.
It could be time to consider a change, either in the details of your job or perhaps an entire change of job or career.
Consult a career counselor to look at your options.
Make sure you are doing something, from talking about it to physical exercise, in order to relieve the stress.
You might want to seek counseling to help you manage the stress, emotions and decisions involved.
Remember: If it's hurting you, it's not likely to be helping anyone else.
What's more, there are three books I've recommended before that you might find useful:
"Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work" by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
"Heart at Work" by Jack Canfield and Jacqueline Miller
"Care Packages for the Workplace" by Barbara Glanz
All of us experience some form of Sunday Night Syndrome from time to time. It's how we respond that makes the difference.
Visit secretsofgreatrelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.
Twin Lakes rental limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareWhen was the last time you took a day just... Read More
As Montaigne said, "he who fears he will suffer, already... Read More
One of the hardest forms of stress to avoid is... Read More
Stress ReliefStress is a big business in Western society. We... Read More
Looking for all of the answers in how to manage... Read More
Most humans experience unexpected setbacks which can cause huge stress... Read More
Success in recovery, or rather, staying in recovery, is dependent... Read More
More than two-thirds of visits to doctors' surgeries are for... Read More
Stress, America's #1 health problem, is a leading cause of... Read More
Don't let stress wear you down. Next time you are... Read More
A little stress is good for us until it becomes... Read More
Defending your point of view can use up a lot... Read More
Are you feeling stressed out? Too many things to do,... Read More
It is an inescapable fact, we live in a stressful... Read More
In the body, the stress response is mediated by the... Read More
Workplace stress is on the rise and it's costing corporate... Read More
Everyone worries. As bothersome as it is, worry isn't all... Read More
Stress is often seen as being unhealthy, but for some... Read More
Did you ever feel like your "get-up-and-go" got up and... Read More
Are You Too Stressed?Is your stomach all tied up in... Read More
STRESS & TIME MANAGEMENT: Stress is either the source or... Read More
Did you know that taking a short trip, such as... Read More
Today we have more stress in our lives than ever... Read More
Are you a "worry wart?" Is that term familiar to... Read More
Stress can affect virtually any part of the body and... Read More
West Dundee Lincoln Stretch limo rentals ..I was a psychotherapist for... Read More
Do you have stress in your life?......I know you answered... Read More
Several studies, including one of medical students around exam time,... Read More
No this is not related to praying, this is how... Read More
Top Ten Ways to Reduce Your Stress at Home1. Create... Read More
Have you ever considered sewing a handbag as an act... Read More
Why Stress Management programmes don't work?It seems that every week... Read More
Amazing thing, overwhelm!You don't usually see it coming. It just... Read More
For those of you who have been living in a... Read More
When I pay attention, I clearly see the arresting ways... Read More
IntroductionTime magazine called stress the "The Epidemic of the Eighties".... Read More
Modern stress is habitual, and is something that the vast... Read More
Everyone experiences stress at some point in their life. In... Read More
In a hectic world, it's all too easy to reach... Read More
What is the greatest fear of man? Is it death?... Read More
If there was a way of relaxing quickly and easily... Read More
For those who are suffering from stress, just about the... Read More
Q: We recently had someone come to our company to... Read More
Fear, and its accompanying seriousness, causes our suffering. Fear restricts... Read More
Do you get out of your car with a queasy... Read More
Q: What is Stress?A: Very basically it is the physical,... Read More
The brain uses feel-good transmitters called endorphins when managing daily... Read More
I hope by reading this article you will see the... Read More
The pace of life seems to quicken every year. More... Read More
Living in our world today can be very stressful. While... Read More
Stress Management |