It’s Sunday evening and you find a familiar feeling creeping up – it’s the realisation that the weekend is over and you’re on a one-way ticket right into Monday morning. While it’s normal to feel slightly less ecstatic than you might on a Friday, experiencing extreme levels of dread and anxiety could mean you suffer from Sunday night insomnia, or ‘Sundaysomnia’.
So how can you tell if you’re one of the many workers who deal with this condition at the end of every week? One of the tell-tale signs is finding it very difficult to get to sleep. With many of us already getting far less than the recommended eight hours, you could find this drops even more significantly on a Sunday.
Another sign is experiencing an impending sense of doom or an intense anxiety. For many people, even the thought of commuting produces a serious knot in their stomach. According to a recent study by Tune Hotels Group, ten per cent of Britons worry about their impending journey to work on a Sunday night.
Or it could be your job stressing you out. Maybe Sunday evening is when it hits you that you’ve got an awkward meeting with your boss coming up or you’re reminded about that presentation you have to give during the week.
So how can you kick this feeling and start the new week refreshed and with a feeling of calm? It might not seem appealing, but it really is better to get as much as possible ticked off your to-do list on a Friday. You’ll be in higher spirits if you leave the office knowing you’ve set a good precedent for Monday morning. Plan a reward for motivation, such as dinner out with friends or a glass of wine when you get home.
It’s also important to maximise your Sunday evenings. Rather than stressing out, find acceptance and realise that there is nothing you can do about the new week starting. Then concentrate on the things you do have control over, such as planning how to tackle one of the tasks ahead of you on Monday. Do this a good few hours before bed and during an allotted time slot, after which you’ll vow to put it out of your mind until the following day.
It also helps to be as relaxed as possible when you do go to bed. Eat a light meal no later than 7pm, then take a couple of hours to do a low-key activity you love, such as watching a film, painting, reading or meditating. Afterwards, take a leisurely shower or bath and practise some breathing techniques before bed.
All being well, you’ll finally be able to start the new week on a high! — Cover Media
