Sunday Habits For a Better Week Ahead + How to Beat Sunday Night Blues

Sometimes, even when you’re having the best weekend ever, those Sunday night blues hit you out of nowhere.

Growing up, I hated Sunday nights with passion. I mean, it probably had a lot to do with having to go to school the next day. I can easily say that for most of my life, Sunday night was my least favorite time of the week. Also, I wasn’t a huge fan of Monday mornings, either.

I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this (based on a number of memes out there describing general hatred for Mondays).

Things changed quite a bit for me though, and I’ve come to love both Sunday evenings AND Monday mornings.

Crazy. I know.

But you can learn to love them both, too. Promise. All it takes are a few changes, adopting a few new habits and adjusting them to your own schedule and routines.

SUNDAY HABITS FOR A BETTER WEEK AHEAD + HOW TO BEAT SUNDAY NIGHT BLUES

ORGANIZE + PREP AS MUCH AS YOU CAN

Take the time to clean out your bag; get rid of those old receipts and bits of paper. Clean out your car- the water bottles and coffee cups or granola bar wraps that you’ve collected over the week. Mess and disorganization breed frustration so if you take some time to organize and prep yourself for a week ahead, you’ll be less likely to feel stressed.

Even if you really, really don’t feel like it, do your dishes, clean up your kitchen or your room. Seriously, waking up to a sink full of dishes, empty pizza boxes or stove top loaded with half-empty pots, will not make your Monday mornings any brighter. Don’t put things off until the last-minute. I also always plan out our dinners for the week, so that I know exactly what I need to buy when grocery shopping.  Do your grocery shopping for the week done on Saturday or Sunday morning- that way you can have those Sunday evenings all to yourself and your partner or family.

Doing a little review of your week ahead is a great idea too. What are your plans? What are some things you want to get done? Write them all down, make a plan and prep as much as you can. If there is one thing that is truly essential to having a great week, it’s prepping.

DON’T OVERINDULGE

Weekend or Sunday overindulging is something that I used to struggle with for a very long time- especially during the first couple of years after moving out of my mom’s house. I mean, hello, I could buy a tub of my favorite ice cream and not have to worry if it’s still in my freezer when those weekend cravings hit. For years, I’d use the excuse “but it’s the weekend!” to overindulge in things like food or that extra glass of wine. Going to bed on Sunday night I always felt heavy, I’d have trouble falling as sleep and then, I’d wake up Monday morning, feeling sluggish, bloated, tired and gross.

This is why if I do indulge, I do it during breakfast or lunch time, so I don’t go to bed feeling sluggish. I also make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Going plant-based definitely helped me out a lot, too, because even if I do indulge a little, it doesn’t leave me feeling heavy or too full. And hey, I still have ice cream almost every Sunday evening (dairy-free of course) but I just keep it to one scoop. Mindful eating and drinking (this also includes caffeinated drinks as those can leave you struggling with falling asleep) can help you overcome Sunday bingeing. This, in turn, will help you have more energy the next day.

SCHEDULE IN SOME FUN

And I mean some old-school fun, like playing board games, maybe try a little DIY project. Sundays, for most of us, are for relaxing and recharging our batteries, but that doesn’t mean that you have to spend an entire day sitting on a couch in front of the TV- do something fun, spend some time outdoors, turn off your phone, always make sure to have at least one small thing to look forward to on your Sundays. It’s a great time to unplug even if just for an hour or so.

UNWIND FOR A QUALITY SLEEP

Getting to bed a little earlier on Sundays, can make a big difference in the way you feel, come Monday morning. Okay, so this usually is the case for me but will change in a few weeks once TWD comes back to the TV (which is pretty much the only thing I actually sit down to watch in front of the TV these days). Still, I always take time to unwind, to let my body know that it’s time for bed.

Sunday nights, in particular, are least favorite time of the week to many of us. The workweek is about to start, our minds often start to wander, sometimes thinking about the week ahead we also feel anxious. This is one of the reasons why having a little routine where you unwind before bed, is important. Take the time to do something relaxing like meditating, reading a book, gentle stretching, have a cup of herbal tea, diffuse some essential oils or indulge in an extra-long skincare routine. At the same time though, don’t force yourself to go to bed if you’re not tired- staring at the ceiling for hours while trying to fall asleep will only leave you feeling frustrated.

Related reading:

– Morning Rituals for Busy People

– How to Love Mondays

– What to do When Your Anxious Mind Won’t Let You Sleep

– 25 Quotes to Keep You Going When Times Get Tough

STAY INSPIRED

Not every one of us is lucky enough to do something we really love for a living. Some of us dread going to work sometimes. There are times when you have these thoughts that you’re not in a place you’d like to be just yet, but that’s okay. Staying happy, positive or inspired isn’t always easy, so we kind of have to work at it. Create some positive affirmations and stick them to your mirror so it’s the first thing you see when you wake up in the morning and last thing you see when you brush your teeth at night. Read a chapter or two of a fun self-help/self-growth book. Write out a few goals for the week ahead, find some inspirational quotes. Words are very powerful and many times we use them to our disadvantage. We tell ourselves “I’m tired“, “I don’t feel like doing this“, “I can’t do this“, “I don’t feel like going to work tomorrow, I’m exhausted” and the list could go on and on. Why not tell yourself “I’ve got this!” instead?

I can honestly say some of these changes can make a huge difference in your life. There is no reason to dread those Sunday night blues- just like there’s no reason to hate Mondays. All it takes is a bit of planning ahead, staying organized and making sure to take care of yourself and have a little fun, too.

Do you have any fun Sunday routines that you look forward to?

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