About Us

We're the creators of BetterSleep, a leading wellness app helping over 60 million people around the globe sleep better.

We’re on a mission to help people around the world live a happier, healthier life, through expert-led meditations, sleep stories, brainwaves and more.

Share article
How to Cope With the Sunday Scaries
wellness / mental health

How to Cope With the Sunday Scaries

by BetterSleep
3 min read
Share article

Since the invention of weekends, we have had the Sunday blues. Anyone who works knows what this feels like. You’re enjoying a relaxing Sunday when it hits you: tomorrow is Monday, which means back to work. The realization triggers anxiety or dread, an experience recently coined “the Sunday scaries.”

Is Sunday Anxiety Normal?

Some degree of stress, anxiety, and depression is normal. A survey of working Americans found that 76% of people experience a bad case of the blues on Sunday nights. Worldwide, the number is a little lower at 62%, which means Americans struggle more than workers in other countries.

Not only is it difficult to experience a gloomy Sunday, but it could impact your sleep and leave you feeling physically drained and apathetic as you begin your new week. Try these strategies to ease worry and stress so you can fully enjoy your whole weekend.

Post imagePost image

Find the Cause

If you stop to reflect on your Sunday dread, you can probably pin down a more specific cause. It’s often not a general sense of doom about Monday, but instead something more specific that you can target. For instance, maybe you have a project finishing up this week, or you have a difficult co-worker to face on Monday.

Find the root cause of your anxiety and worry, and then strategize ways to make it better. It may ease your mind to spend a few minutes on that project, just to be sure it’s going well. Think of ways you can manage your relationship with that co-worker. Taking action can help you feel less anxious.

Make Sunday a Fun Day

Get chores out of the way on Saturday so you can entirely devote Sunday to fun, whatever that means for you. Make a plan for an enjoyable day and put work thoughts on the back burner. Make plans with friends, get in a relaxing workout like yoga, or plan a treat, like a massage or special dinner.

Schedule Fun for Monday, Too

Take the dread out of Monday by giving yourself something to look forward to. Sure, you may dread the workday, but plan something you want to do as well. Plan to stream that movie you’ve been waiting to see or order takeout from your favorite restaurant.

Practice Mindfulness

What underlies Sunday anxiety is a preoccupation with the immediate future. Mindfulness is all about focusing on the present moment. Taking the time to focus on what you can see, hear, smell, and feel around you right now keeps worry about Monday at bay.

BetterSleep includes several guided meditations that emphasize mindfulness. Try to do this daily as a regular practice for the best results, although you may want to spend more time doing it on Sundays. Research shows that mindfulness meditation significantly reduces anxiety and stress.

Sunday scaries may be normal, but you don’t have to live with them. Take these steps to manage that anxiety that comes with reflecting on a new work week. With a targeted effort, you can take back your Sundays and enjoy the entire weekend.

Share article

Related posts

The Importance of Sleep
sleep / wellness

The Importance of Sleep

by BetterSleep
8 min read
Benefits of Meditating in the Morning
wellness

Benefits of Meditating in the Morning

by BetterSleep
10 min read
Best Teas for Sleep
sleep / wellness

Best Teas for Sleep

by BetterSleep
10 min read
Why We Like Background Noise
wellness

Why We Like Background Noise

by BetterSleep
11 min read
What is Box Breathing?
wellness / mental health

What is Box Breathing?

by BetterSleep
6 min read
What Are Soundscapes?
wellness / mental health

What Are Soundscapes?

by BetterSleep
5 min read
Walking Meditation: How to Meditate While Walking
wellness

Walking Meditation: How to Meditate While Walking

by BetterSleep
8 min read
Coffee Naps: What Are They and Do They Work?
sleep / wellness

Coffee Naps: What Are They and Do They Work?

by BetterSleep
5 min read
Relaxing Nature Music
wellness

Relaxing Nature Music

by BetterSleep
4 min read
Music Is Good for the Brain
wellness / mental health

Music Is Good for the Brain

by BetterSleep
8 min read

Top 10 posts

From Stress to Success: How to Manage Back-to-School Anxiety
wellness / mental health

From Stress to Success: How to Manage Back-to-School Anxiety

by BetterSleep
5 min read
Behind the Scenes: Pride 2024 at BetterSleep with Collin Martin
lifestyle / news

Behind the Scenes: Pride 2024 at BetterSleep with Collin Martin

by Scott Yim
4 min read
Waking Up to Injustice: The Intersection of Racism, Sleep Deprivation, and Black History
news / mental health

Waking Up to Injustice: The Intersection of Racism, Sleep Deprivation, and Black History

by BetterSleep
8 min read
Sleep Paralysis Explained
sleep

Sleep Paralysis Explained

by BetterSleep
10 min read
How to Cope with Holiday Depression and Stress
mental health / wellness

How to Cope with Holiday Depression and Stress

by BetterSleep
5 min read
Have a Healthy Holiday Season
news / wellness

Have a Healthy Holiday Season

by BetterSleep
5 min read
Mindful Listening
lifestyle / mental health

Mindful Listening

by BetterSleep
6 min read
Sleep Hypnosis Apps: A Guide to Self-Hypnosis
sleep

Sleep Hypnosis Apps: A Guide to Self-Hypnosis

by BetterSleep
7 min read
Calming Foods for Anxiety
wellness / mental health

Calming Foods for Anxiety

by BetterSleep
8 min read
Brown Noise
sleep / wellness

Brown Noise

by BetterSleep
4 min read