Turn the Sunday Scaries into the Sunday Happies with these Self Care Sunday ideas. Have a happy Self Care Sunday with exercise, organizing, and more.
Have you ever heard of the “Sunday Scaries”? They’re the feelings of dread or anxiety that pop up when the weekend’s about to end and a new workweek is on the horizon. A 2021 report by LinkedIn found around 66% of professionals experience them.
Self Care Sunday to the rescue! While not an official date on the calendar, creating a happy Self Care Sunday tradition can help calm your mind and put you in a receptive state for the week ahead. According to Southern New Hampshire University, self-care practices can:
Self-care can even help you reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Think about incorporating the following ideas into your new Self Care Sunday checklist, so you can turn the Sunday Scaries into the Sunday Smiles.
Doing physical activity is a great way to show your body you love it. Aerobic exercise provides benefits like:
Any type of body movement can help you release feel-good endorphins. Go outside for a nature walk, or do some squats or jog in place while you watch TV.
When you organize your space, that can help you feel more in control and capable of handling whatever comes your way in life. Freshen up your home in some way to reap mental health benefits like reduced stress and improved focus. A “Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin” study found decluttering can improve mood and lead to better health outcomes.
Choose a part of your home you spend lots of time in, like your bedroom or your kitchen. Create a quick cleaning routine that involves:
Try setting a timer to clean for just 10 minutes. You’ll be surprised at how much progress you can make in a short amount of time, and you can always tidy up longer if you’re feeling in the groove.
Put yourself in a positive state of mind with a mental health check-in. Sometimes feelings of stress or of being overwhelmed can cause people to avoid responsibilities altogether, which can result in a bigger headache down the line. Checking in with yourself mentally can help you face what you’re feeling head-on.
Try one of the following to get more in touch with your mental state.
Once you’ve identified what you’re facing mentally, come up with an action you can take to address it. For example, if you’re nervous about a conversation you’ll have with your boss, commit to writing out your thoughts beforehand and bringing notes of points to cover with you to your meeting.
Part of taking care of yourself is doing hobbies you enjoy. Block out at least a half-hour of your Sunday to focus on an enjoyable activity. No judgment! You might plan to:
If you live with others, let them know you’re focusing on your hobby during a specific time. If you’re interrupted during your fun, get back to it once you’ve taken care of the responsibility that took you away.
If you work it right, Sunday could become your favorite part of your weekend. Taking care of yourself can provide you with immense value, from an improved mood throughout the week, to more energy and better health. Look at Self Care Sunday as a way to invest in your awesomeness, so you can be a better employee, parent, friend, or however you view yourself.
Bonus idea: add a healthy meal to your Self Care Sunday checklist. Whip up a new nutritious recipe and enjoy the flavors. Check your Save mailer for coupons on groceries and more.
