Once upon a time when I was in the US Air Force, I used to start feeling Sunday night dread around 5pm. I anxiously felt like there were so many things I still had to do to be prepared for Monday morning, and the military assignment I loved.
When you’re in the military, you don’t get away with calling in; especially when you’re the only one being depended upon to run a busy Social Actions office. Besides, I didn’t feel sick exactly, just overwhelmed.
I should have been thrilled to get most all weekends off. But they weren’t all that free for me because I was too busy living under the dread of what I recently read people refer to as “SMONDAy!”
I wanted my house totally clean. I also insisted on cooking ahead for the week, so I didn’t have to worry about coming home late from work, and still having to prepare a full meal.
In addition, I had to have mine and my husband’s uniforms washed and pressed, my shoes shined, and on top of that, I had to make sure the grass was cut, the bushes pruned, and flowers planted..or get fined.
Oh, by the way, the military expects their enlisted to arrive at the office on Monday morning on time, fully rested, and refreshed. But you have to go to bed at a timely hour first, don’t you?
Instead, I was holding on to every last second of Sunday that I could. Then darnnit, came Monday, spoiling it for me.
There were a few times when I wanted to cry my eyes out because of SMONDAy. I didn’t have a prayer if I wasn’t properly prepared. Right?!
From 5pm on, the hours ticked by faster than a moving locomotive. Before I knew it midnight or later had arrived, and I wasn’t even ready to hit the sack. Oh no! My goose felt cooked.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by “SMONDAy?”
If I have known this word existed back then, I probably would have felt better, and not tagged Sunday & Monday as the culprits.
Thankfully, this situation shook me up so much that I got sense. I started realizing that Monday was going to come no matter how I was feeling. I had to stop sabotaging my Sunday and Monday.
ABOUT FACE SMONDAy!
What did I want my week to look like? How could I get that? Once I knew this, I was able to better focus on getting through SMONDAy!
The question became: How could I start the week with fewer things hanging over my head?
I calmly decided to end my weekend on a high note.
By sucking it up and identifying my stress triggers, I was then better able to evaluate what specifically was causing my dread almost every Sunday night.
That’s when it hit me. I was way too determined to get “everything” done by Monday morning, sometimes staying up well into the night to accomplish this.
First, I had to stop and define: “Everything!”
Second, I needed to re-access how I could make the word “accomplishment“ feel less heavy. Once I started massaging words and phrases like…
“wanted” “insisted on,” “had to do,” “I have to,” I was quickly able to * identify * address * and reduce.
And third, I had to learn to ask for help. At the time, I had a husband. He wanted to help, I just didn’t ask. I could also get support from the older neighborhood kids. They liked pocket money, and I had some I could spare.
Now a civilian, I’m still a proactive planner. I never want to dread “SMONDAy“ again.
By what o’clock on Sunday do you start dreading Monday???
*Thanks Google Images***Featured Image is me*
I start dreading Monday as soon as Sunday comes…
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Ouch!
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love this and can completely identify. i have the same expectations that by sun evening-it better get done! one day house, next day yard-i start dreading mon by 3 sun pm. i try to keep it all up daily and that helps though i start slacking on thurs! well done post!
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I know the feeling when you’re having a great weekend and know Monday is around the corner. Just one more day…please. Haha. Nice!
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I don’t worry that much, do get some things done on Sunday after 5 pm, but resting and relaxing after 7 pm is priority to start Monday fresh 🙂 I am definitely team Mary not Martha’s 🙂
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Sounds like an excellent way to be all you can be, and most likely why you experience more and more success in your endeavors. At least you can be clear on what matters most to you and yours. Love it!
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i dread Mondays Tuesdays Wednesdays Thursdays but i like wednesdays because i can post to you guys and today is thursday i know but i posted 2 posts on my website check it out plz
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Ugh! Wish you dreaded less. Glad you posted to your blog. Will check out directly.
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thanks jen
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What a great post. I must have worked a fair bit on this like you and at 61 years young I am less of a perfectionist but still need reminding to be kinder to myself sometimes!
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Yes! Being kinder to ourselves works for both of us. Highest and best.
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Whoops I’m so stupid if my head wasn’t attached I would forget that I have forgotten to post the photos
Sorry
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No worries. You can do a new post, but this time make it a Photo Essay. Post them, describe them, and thrill your readers with your prose. Looking forward!
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i put a new post
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Sparky Jen – the results of my June blog experiment are up on my blog; you’re there, check it out!
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I very much relate to your posts – so glad I found you!
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I used to suffer from this, too. More than anything it was just this dreadful feeling of the weight of the upcoming week. I’ve learned to let go of that, for the most part, and just enjoy Sunday. And on Monday, I deal with Monday.
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Bravo!
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OMG this is so me. I’m guilty of this a lot, completely robs me of happiness. Thanks for this post….really enjoyed this thought.
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It’s a blast from the past Ash. I had a hunch that today was a good day to repost it! 💥
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Serendipitous indeed!
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I totally relate to this and I have a friend that is also suffering from it. We have cried on a Sunday night often. Yard takes day, housework takes a day, groceries and like you I plan everything ahead of time. Then I do not want to go to bed on Sunday, because it will be Monday. An awful cycle and I am trying to get out of it! There is another way to live and some ways just do not work anymore.
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Oops there it is. Such suffering can be done away with!😜
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I am working on it!
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Highest and Best!💥
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