Author Topic: Sunday blues/dread  (Read 15029 times)

dividendman

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Sunday blues/dread
« on: January 25, 2015, 10:26:44 PM »
Does anyone else get the Sunday blues and start dreading Monday? What do you do about it?

Every Sunday night I don't sleep well just because I'm dreading work. What I normally do is just look at my FI spreadsheets and convince myself a couple more years isn't so bad. Haha. Damn.

Frankies Girl

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2015, 10:38:04 PM »
Oh yes. I have always hated Sunday nights - insomnia, tossing and turning, and inability to turn off my thoughts enough to get more than an hour or two of sleep.

Nothing really helps for me. If I'm really needing to be super alert, I'll take a sleeping pill in early evening just to try to get some sleep.

I go to work like a zombie most Mondays.


Goldielocks

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2015, 10:42:28 PM »
Stop having such great weekends!   
Just kidding --

Maybe join a really fun club or gym program or take lunchtime Spanish lessons, or pack an extra awesome lunch treat??   something nice JUST FOR MONDAYS AT WORK to perk you up.    Bringing in donuts or cupcakes for the others certainly makes Mondays go better....

I started to work from home on Mondays occassionally, and that really helps - I get more done then usual, and a  load of laundry/ no commute / conference call in slouchy clothes too.

innerscorecard

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2015, 10:55:26 PM »
The best cure for me has been to thank God that I'm not in a job where I'm working on weekends as well. Many people work literally every day or every week, and take no vacations at all. Maybe one day off for Christmas.

Irishtache

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2015, 03:36:08 AM »
I try not to schedule anything stressful for Mondays, meetings, training etc. Not always possible, have a meeting for later this morning but it will be minimal stress anyway. I like to leave the tougher events to midweek or even Friday!

If every Monday causes this stress, maybe you need to change job? It can't be good for your overall health.

Louis the Cat

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2015, 09:03:40 AM »
I, too, dread Mondays but for kind of the opposite reason. I'm a musician and so a defacto stay at home parent to 4 year old twins because I work afternoons and evenings and don't work at all on Mondays and probably never will (although I am today...). I hate Mondays because my DH works a desk job that has great flexibility but we use that flexibility for him to leave insanely early so he can be home so I can go to work. It leaves the bulk of the weekday childcare to me and on Mondays, I lose my much-loved weekend backup. At the moment, my solution is to take the kids to gymnastics and then go to a local coffee shop and get a coffee, sometimes breakfast or lunch, and organize my todo list so I can be productive later in the week.

DeltaBond

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2015, 09:46:46 AM »
I used to feel this way, and it was because, for me, at that time, I did not like my life or myself.  I no longer feel that way, and I have learned to enjoy every moment of every day.  I changed my life quite a bit since then, but funny thing, I didn't have to change my job.

kiblebuka

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2015, 10:18:42 AM »
Definitely feel dread on Sunday (or whatever day is before my next work day) nights. Especially if I've been off work for a while and I've fallen into a groove of doing things at home. Also I seem to get most of my motivation for other projects while on the way to/at work.

Gray Matter

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #8 on: January 26, 2015, 03:50:01 PM »
Yes.  Not sure why.  I've had the Sunday blues even when I was going to jobs I really enjoyed, and even though I felt fine on Monday morning when I woke up.  I think it has something to do with transitions, and something to do with the fact that there just isn't enough leisure time built into my week, so I know they're going to be tiring.

I have also found the Sunday blues are worse when I didn't get everything in that I wanted to on the weekend.  So now I am (try to be) super realistic about what I can get done (both fun and chores), so I don't have to add regret to the dread--that's a bad combination.

It also helps to declare Sunday evening a cozy/hunker-down kind of time.  We put on our PJs early, cuddle up and watch TV or play family games. 

Zikoris

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #9 on: January 26, 2015, 04:17:07 PM »
I recently started taking ballet classes Monday nights. It gives me something to look forward to.

epipenguin

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #10 on: January 26, 2015, 04:35:42 PM »
Yes, and it doesn't help that my local airport uses the second runway on Sunday nights and the planes come right over my house. And then I can hear the trains too because I'm not getting off to sleep, so I'm lying there cursing all the noise. When really the noise is no worse than on some other nights, but because I'm awake anyway the annoyance level gets magnified.

I try to focus on what I have done in the last week to escape from my current work situation and to make things better. That or meditation usually helps.

RFAAOATB

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #11 on: January 26, 2015, 06:19:54 PM »
I try to have my gym bag and lunch packed and ready to go.  I look forward to Monday morning PT before work.  Hitting the gym should get you through another work day.

dividendman

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #12 on: January 26, 2015, 06:23:16 PM »
Thanks for the suggestions. I made it through the day. Only.... hundreds of workdays to go :P Maybe I should make a FI timer.

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #13 on: January 26, 2015, 06:29:34 PM »
Not so much for me.  I read an article somewhere, or maybe it was in Four Hour Workweek... can't remember.  Anyway, it spoke about the 6pm Sunday night gut check.  If you start getting those not so fun butterflies... time to cut the cord at that job.

I sleep like a baby on Sunday nights without a thought really to what's coming at work on Monday.  Work as a bank Branch Manager.

h2ogal

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #14 on: January 26, 2015, 07:07:04 PM »
Guys and Gals were are not imagining it! 

This article points out that Heart Attacks happen most often on Mondays.    Even years after retiring your mind/body remembers the stresses of Monday AM.  More reason to retire ASAP!!!  (if you needed it)

http://www.drsinatra.com/heart-attack-risk-factors-rise-on-mondays

toodleoo

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #15 on: January 26, 2015, 07:10:27 PM »
Yup. I try to remember that several of the jobs I had before this one were MUCH, MUCH worse.

I also do obsessively check my spreadsheets though :( And I have a long way to go, sigh.

dividendman

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #16 on: January 26, 2015, 07:27:45 PM »
Work as a bank Branch Manager.

Totally hijacking my own thread but.... how much do bank employees make? I know there are a wide variety of jobs. I was thinking when I have enough to be FI (which isn't too far away) I could work part time at a bank.

Right now I work as a software engineering manager of about 20 people.

little_owl

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #17 on: January 27, 2015, 05:42:13 AM »
My spouse and I get the Sunday Night Blues, big time.  I haven't found a cure!

For me, it Is less about the actual job I do on Mondays, but the fact that I have no choice but to report to work Monday morning.

(OK, yes, I could go part time or quit, but since I am not FIRE that doesn't do me much good.). I have tried (so far, NOT successfully) to just change my attitude.  Overall, my job is pretty interesting, people are overall good / smart... but lets face it, none of that is as great as hiking, reading, biking..... sigh!

I hate feeling like a whiner and Sunday Grump, I would love to shake the blues :(

Gerard

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #18 on: January 27, 2015, 07:22:30 PM »
I used to have the sunday blues something bad. It's improved a lot since I got a job I like better, but another strategy that helped was making sure I maintained my sleep pattern on the weekend. Maybe it could help some other sufferers.

Breaker

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #19 on: January 27, 2015, 07:34:22 PM »
This probably won't help but the real answer is to change your own attitude.  Instead of dreading your job, you should think of it as a means to an end.  That job is what is getting you to FIRE.  You should be happy to have a job that will allow you to get there and look forward to scratching another week off of your pre FIRE time.

Another thought.  A friend of mine's first job was cleaning toilets.  As he says, every job is up from there.  He now makes a 6 figure salary.
« Last Edit: January 27, 2015, 07:49:05 PM by Breaker »

Noodle

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #20 on: January 27, 2015, 08:40:19 PM »
I like my job but I get a little blue on Sunday nights too...just the end of fun/me time, I guess. I like routine in my personal life, so it helped to have a Sunday night ritual. It's nothing complicated, but after I clean up from dinner (I tend to cook on the weekends and eat the leftovers all week), I put on my pajamas and spend the rest of the evening in bed watching a movie or reading with a hot, non-caffeinated drink. Don't know why that is any more comforting than sitting in my living room doing the same thing, but it seems to be.

Daisy

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #21 on: January 27, 2015, 09:43:37 PM »
This probably won't help but the real answer is to change your own attitude.  Instead of dreading your job, you should think of it as a means to an end.  That job is what is getting you to FIRE.  You should be happy to have a job that will allow you to get there and look forward to scratching another week off of your pre FIRE time.

Another thought.  A friend of mine's first job was cleaning toilets.  As he says, every job is up from there.  He now makes a 6 figure salary.

Great attitude.

I guess another angle to this is to have such awesome weekends, that sitting 8 hours in your cube on Monday would be a welcome rest. At least that was what this past weekend was for me, so I guess Monday wasn't too bad in the big scheme of things. I am counting down to FIRE (hopefully this year) so seeing the finish line up close is a motivator.

Or maybe your weekend is soooo exciting...well let's just let the demotivational poster say it best:

kiblebuka

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #22 on: January 28, 2015, 07:43:06 AM »
This probably won't help but the real answer is to change your own attitude.  Instead of dreading your job, you should think of it as a means to an end.  That job is what is getting you to FIRE.  You should be happy to have a job that will allow you to get there and look forward to scratching another week off of your pre FIRE time.

Another thought.  A friend of mine's first job was cleaning toilets.  As he says, every job is up from there.  He now makes a 6 figure salary.

Something my coworker says often. You do the things you don't like so you can make money to do the things you like. Similar advice I give to my Sig Other about getting a job.

Of course I'm bad at taking my own advice.

Bob W

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #23 on: January 28, 2015, 01:37:29 PM »
People like to anticipate.   For working folks Saturday is the favorite day followed by Friday (even though they are working)  Sunday ranks 3rd.  I assume Monday ranks last.

Try doing a little less anticipating by being active in your walking and biking/exercising program.  Exercise is a great cure for the "blues."   That and be sure to watch plenty of great TV shows on Sunday night!

divsnowball

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #24 on: January 28, 2015, 01:40:07 PM »
Use that dread as ammo to fuel your FI fire.  Make you want to save more and avoid living a life as a wage slave

AK

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #25 on: January 29, 2015, 05:30:21 AM »
Up until recently, I enjoyed going into work most days. Lately, not so much because of feeling underappreciated and underpaid. See the software engineer seeks feedback asking for raise for details, if curious.

As a software engineer, creating software to help other people be better at x, y, and z is a large factor in my work enjoyment. Also, collaborating with co-workers, clients, and partners. For me, I sometimes have sleepless nights because I keep thinking about work, how much work there is to do, and how it'll be tackled.

To me, how much do you dread work and why are key questions. At another job, I was so stressed and unhappy that I had many sleepless nights and it had a very negative impact on my quality of life. My relationship with my wife, family, and friends became strained and my performance at work declined. This led to more stress and a seemingly perpetual downward spiral. After months of this and trying different options to resolve the stressors, I had enough and was done without another job. It took me about a month of just relaxing to unwind enough before I felt comfortable looking for another job which only took a month to find. Having savings to live on was awesome during that time because I didn't worry about finances and could have gone for more months without worry. I actually considered delaying the job search longer but decided not to because I thought that would make me look more undesirable.

Reasons why I've dreaded work in the past are bad bosses, unenjoyable technology being used, and company culture. Switching teams to work for other bosses and other projects has worked successfully. For me, sometimes getting another job was the best option.

dividendman

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #26 on: February 01, 2015, 10:58:01 PM »
Thanks all for the comments. Some are pretty good ideas - especially using the dread as fuel to save/get FI faster.

I did find one thing that's working today so far. Besides keeping myself busy with walking to the market to get fruit/veggies and cooking some meals for the week (which helps with the FI), I started commuting to work via bicycle last week! Now I'm actually looking forward to riding my bike into work!

I'm pretty excited about biking even though I'm not in shape at all - but it's so fun, and it'll get me in shape!

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #27 on: May 24, 2015, 07:09:22 PM »
It's Sunday night, hence me finding and resurrecting this thread!

A lot of good suggestions on here. I like the idea of focusing on your end goal, being excited to scratch off one more day that needed to be worked, doing something special just for Monday, remembering past (worse) jobs, and doing the Sunday 6pm gut check (though I have already drawn my own conclusions about the cord needing to be cut.)

I keep reminding myself of our stash, which gives me options if I feel the need to exercise them.  I'm going into work by choice, I am not a debt slave. Repeat x infinity!

Tenlha

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #28 on: May 25, 2015, 08:51:44 AM »
Here's one idea: maybe you need some better rewards at work.  I'm reading a book about Essentialism now, and the author points out that people are more motivated by many small accomplishments than by one giant one they have to wait a long time for. Can you set small goals for completing assignments, or steps in a project, or something similar, and then congratulate yourself when you achieve them? Maybe some mini-celebrations during the day or week will make your job more satisfying.

stlbrah

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #29 on: May 25, 2015, 10:01:45 PM »
monday is heavy squat night in the gym, so I can't wait for mondays.

the work sucks though

The Money Monk

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #30 on: May 25, 2015, 10:06:04 PM »
monday is heavy squat night in the gym, so I can't wait for mondays.

the work sucks though

GET SOME


My current lifting program isn't set to a particular day like that, so it changes.

alsoknownasDean

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #31 on: May 26, 2015, 12:18:25 AM »
If you have this feeling regularly, and have some FU money (don't even need to be FIRE), why not leave?

There seems to be a prevailing opinion here that all work is horrible. There's good jobs out there.

I don't know about you, but I'd rather work in a job where I was happy, even if FIRE is delayed by a couple of years.

Shit, having a huge stash gives one the freedom to change jobs easier if they want.

Dicey

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #32 on: May 26, 2015, 12:55:54 AM »
I used to dread Mondays. Now I'm FIRE and never even think about it. My point in commenting is not to gloat (though I do like to be reminded of how much I don't hate Mondays any more), but to offer encouragement. Make a plan, save your ass off, make smart decisions, manage your wants/needs and FIRE is entirely possible. Baby, if I can do it, anyone with equal determination is sure to succeed.
« Last Edit: June 03, 2015, 02:17:54 AM by Diane C »

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #33 on: May 26, 2015, 04:29:09 AM »
Im glad to find a self-help group here. I didnt sleep at all last night. I dont know how often I count the days on my calendar each day to the next paycheck so I can pay another chunk on our student loans. Fire is the long-term goal but the short-term goal for the next two years are the student loans.

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #34 on: May 26, 2015, 09:10:12 AM »
Sundays are awful. I have to work my second job on Sundays. It's time and a half but I hate it because it's so busy and the supervisors are douchebags. Then Monday comes and I usually half to work two jobs, equating to a 14-15 hour day. Means to an end....

ShoulderThingThatGoesUp

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #35 on: May 26, 2015, 09:15:22 AM »
I was pretty jazzed for today (had Monday off). I'd run out of steam on a problem Friday afternoon and this morning I'm crushing it.

Kiwi Mustache

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #36 on: May 27, 2015, 05:49:40 PM »
Does anyone else get the Sunday blues and start dreading Monday? What do you do about it?

Every Sunday night I don't sleep well just because I'm dreading work. What I normally do is just look at my FI spreadsheets and convince myself a couple more years isn't so bad. Haha. Damn.

Get a new job.

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #37 on: May 28, 2015, 09:50:30 AM »
Does anyone else get the Sunday blues and start dreading Monday? What do you do about it?

Every Sunday night I don't sleep well just because I'm dreading work. What I normally do is just look at my FI spreadsheets and convince myself a couple more years isn't so bad. Haha. Damn.

Get a new job.

+1.

Unless your job is ridiculously high paying so you only have to put up with it for a very short period of time, it's time to go find something you don't dread doing.  :)
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mozar

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #38 on: May 28, 2015, 06:28:14 PM »
I dread my job, but I'm pretty sure I would dread anything that involves having to think about things I didn't come up with, i.e. a job

Daisy

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Re: Sunday blues/dread
« Reply #39 on: May 29, 2015, 08:14:41 PM »
I'm taking a lot of Mondays off over the summer. I have a lot of PTO days I have to use-or-lose so why not?

Now I will have the Monday night blues/dread instead.

However, it will be kind of sweet because my boss planned some weekly Monday morning status meetings after I had told him I was taking two Mondays off a month. It was on my calendar and everything when he planned his meetings. It's a large group invited, so maybe they won't notice I'm not there.