With the start of the school year comes the return of the Sunday Scaries – that feeling in the pit of your stomach caused by the stress of a looming Monday morning and busy work week. Most teachers are too familiar with this feeling. These anxious feelings are only made worse by the fact that I frequently struggle to turn off the “teaching” part of my brain, so letting go enough to actually relax on the weekend is really difficult for me. Over the last few years, I’ve managed to tame my Sunday Scaries – well, for the most part. Here are my tips for how you can do it, too!
Tame the To-Do List
Part of my Sunday Scaries is brought on by the number of small tasks that I have to get done and am worried I will forget about. Teaching tasks, home chores, and small business ideas float around my head like a group of two-year-olds playing bumper cars and cause so much anxiety that I feel like I have to get started right away. Compiling all of these ideas on a to-do list helps me to prioritize and breathe easily. After all, if all of these tasks are written down and somewhat organized, I won’t forget about them. Well, probably.
There are a lot of different ways to create a to-do list, so experiment and pick what works best for you! Some tech-savvy humans love using different apps, Google Keep, or even just the notes app on their phones. I am more of a pen and paper kind of gal. I’ve created a sectioned To-Do list printable to help group like tasks together, allowing me to focus on one topic at a time. Sound like your thing? Click here for a free download and give it a try!
Set a Routine
Most human beings thrive with a routine in place, and this can help you feel more prepared and at ease as you head into a new week of school. For example, I like to complete a lot of my home chores on Saturdays and then save anything school-related for Sunday. Doing dishes, laundry, and grocery shopping on Saturday morning gives me a break from thinking about school but still helps me cross some things off my to-do list. It also gives me an extra day in case I forget to move my laundry to the dryer… 🙂
Prep the Little Things
I’m going to be honest; on any given Sunday, I probably don’t know exactly what I’m teaching on Friday…or maybe even Tuesday! But I do know what I’m wearing to school and what I’m eating for lunch. Taking some time to handle the small decisions that you face each day can actually have a big impact on your headspace heading into the workweek. The two little things that make the biggest impact on my week are my outfits and my lunches.
Outfits: As I’m putting my laundry away, I have a special place in my closet for my work week outfits. I check the weather on my phone and plan accordingly, hanging up outfit pieces together so I barely have to think in the morning. Knocking out all of my outfit decisions takes barely any time at all, but saves me so much time each morning and helps me feel like I have my life together…Pro tip: pick out your favorite outfit for your least favorite day of the week!
In the spirit of full transparency, my routine isn’t perfect, and I definitely still get some anxiety on Sunday nights! These are just the habits that really make a difference in my life. What’s something you do to tame the Sunday Scaries? Let me know in the comments!
