Whether you work from home, in a hipsterish office, or in a tiny and dull cubicle, there are many frustrating things about corporate life that can make you feel anxious to start a new week. But fear not, you’re definitely not alone. A 2018 survey commissioned by LinkedIn found that a whopping 80 percent of Americans worry about the upcoming work week on Sundays. When the researchers broke down this alarming number by generation, it revealed that over 90% of Millennials and Generation Z reported feeling the "Sunday Scaries."
The survey also showed the main reasons for this phenomenon. "Professionals say worrying about your workload (60%), balancing your professional and personal to-do’s (44%), and thinking about the tasks you didn't finish last week (39%) are the top causes."
Another study conducted by OnePoll and commissioned by luxury home brand Charisma revealed that the "Sunday Scaries" usually start at 3:58 PM. But the good news is that there are ways to fight it. Slightly less than half of the respondents revealed that they deal with this dread by taking time for themselves. They sneak away for about four hours of 'me time' throughout the weekend to binge their favorite shows (50%), read a book (40%), pamper themselves with a bath (37%), or take a snooze (27%). "Taking time for yourself over the weekend is an important way to prepare for the week ahead," Lauren Steinke, senior vice president of one parent company of Charisma, said. "Whether that be watching TV or taking a bath to relax and take your mind off all the other tasks to be done."
One more way that participants mitigate the "Sunday scaries" is by getting a full night’s rest on Friday and Saturday. Unfortunately, not everyone has a perfect sleep schedule, with 71% reporting they usually mess it up by the end of the weekend. "Getting quality sleep during the weekend can help you be more productive with your to-do list and reenergize you for the upcoming week," Steinke added.
Sadly, some employees feel this existential dread throughout the week. Whether their job leaves them with zero energy or motivation to enjoy life or their giant workloads and horrible bosses take all joy away from them, some workers are in great need of a midweek pick-me-up to maintain their level of sanity.
Joshua Klapow, Ph.D., psychologist and creator of MentalDrive, told Bored Panda in a previous interview that every single one of us needs comic relief. "Laughter is the polar opposite of the stress, distress, frustration, and fatigue we can often feel as we work our jobs day in and day out. An intermittent dose of humor that results in a mood shift, even temporarily, can reset us emotionally and give us more emotional strength to carry on in our work," he explained.
If our work makes us feel exhausted and constantly swamped, it can quickly lead to higher levels of stress, anxiety, and even burnout. Sadly, many people fail to notice they’re overwhelmed and emotionally drained, and they glide through life without even realizing they experience it.
Klapow explained that burnout is a condition that is officially recognized by the World Health Organization as an occupational hazard. He listed some of the most important symptoms of burnout people should be aware of:
- Fatigue related to work
- Emotional disengagement and/or apathy for the job
- Dissatisfaction with the work environment despite any changes or positive modifications
- Difficulty concentrating at work, diminished productivity and efficiency, greater frequency of mistakes
- A general dislike for the present work with no optimistic view of changes in the future
Moreover, some companies create toxic work environments for their workers. The psychologist mentioned that once people recognize their workplace could be labeled as one, they need to do what they can to resolve these harmful situations. "That being said, if it is a larger toxic culture, or a work structure that is inappropriate or unhealthy for you psychologically, then it is crucial that you begin to look, if possible, at other work options. Working in a psychologically toxic environment doesn’t get better, it will make you psychologically worse," Klapow said.
If you find yourself experiencing these signs of burnout (general dissatisfaction, fatigue, apathy, no positive outlook about change or the future), Klapow suggested it’s time to take action. First, you could consider a job or career change. “The change may be within the same organization — it may be a different job position or different job duties." Also, you can “spend some time thinking and writing down what would make a job feel more engaging and healthier. You can’t move to your ideal job if you don’t know what it is." Lastly, Klapow stressed it’s important to pace yourself, step back if possible, and take some PTO.
"Ultimately, this is about earning money and living emotionally healthy. If you are earning money but burning yourself out psychologically then the money earned is having negative consequences on you and those around you."
