Every weekend, millions of people experience a sensation that is increasing as Sunday is coming and the first day of the work week is approaching. According to A study Prepared by LinkedIn, this phenomenon, known as “Sunday anxiety“or” Sunday syndrome “, affects up to 80% of the workers surveyed, being more intense in the employees of generation Z with 94% incidence.
In fact, this phenomenon is so studied that they have even managed to start time: the first symptoms tend to appear From 15:58 on Sunday, According to a survey which was carried out in 2020.
The usual thing is to attribute this anguish Sunday to laziness or to the desire to stretch leisure time to the maximum at the expense of neglecting labor obligations. However, its origin is a bit deeper and is related to the abrupt step of leisure to duty.
Factors behind Sunday anxiety
According to published by The countryanticipated anxiety by the arrival of Monday is manifested with varied symptoms: from stomach discomfort and difficulty sleeping to melancholy and fear, depending on each person.
According to psychologist Marisol Delgado, a specialist in psychotherapy by the European Federation of Psychologists Associations (EFPA), “Sunday afternoon is one of the few moments in which many professionals can stop reflecting on their life and wander after five or six frantic days.”
Sunday’s anguish not only depends on personal emotions, but it is influenced by multiple factors structural and cultural. One of the most prominent is Labor exhaustionthe overload of tasks and the poor management of them throughout the week.
In short, the job anxiety It does not have its origin in the laziness of returning to work instead of continuing to enjoy leisure time, but of the anxiety produced by the Labor overload and the lack of free time until next weekend. In other words, of a Bad balance between personal and work life.
As Delgado explained, “people who suffer from this disorder are usually those who focus on the negative of things, those who do not know how to manage their free time, those with a clear avoidance strategy In complicated situations or those that have little tolerance to frustration and do not accept that things end, that the weekend ends. “
The feeling of guilt for not having fulfilled all the weekend plans, or for Not having enjoyed free time As expected, it helps to increase the feeling of discomfort and frustration before the work week starts again. The tendency to compare with others Through social networks It adds to anguish, especially when it is perceived that the weekend itself It has been less satisfactory than that of othersincreasing that feeling of discomfort.
Strategies for a bad Sunday
Although Sunday anxiety may seem difficult to handle, there are effective resources to reduce its impact both at the moment and in the long term. Among the most recommended is the create a relaxing routine For Sunday night and avoid leaving tedious or home tasks for that day. Try to advance them to Friday or Saturday morning to release your agenda for the rest of the weekend.
Similarly, minimize Monday’s negative connotations planning an activity that is fun for Monday: a film session or is with a friend. In short, schedule an activity that makes you wishing that Monday arrives To do it.
Another strategy consists of Organize and plan the weeksince having clarity about the objectives and tasks facilitates stress management and helps to reduce intrusive thoughts.
When the discomfort persists, it is recommended Search for professional supportcommunicate the needs to the work environment to prevent Those first symptoms of lack of balance between working life and leisure time can derive in mental health problems.
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