How To Beat The Sunday Scaries
It's a familiar sensation for many of us— 8 o’clock hits on a Sunday evening, marking the end of a weekend full of leisure time and the impending onset of a new workweek. It’s a gut wrenching feeling as you think about your inbox full of unread emails, back to back meetings, deadlines, and everything in between.
Self-care, in its most basic form, is about taking the time to care for ourselves in a purposeful way, ensuring we are mentally, physically, and emotionally fit to tackle the challenges of everyday life.
The significance of self-care is backed by a growing body of research. Studies found that self-care activities are significantly associated with a decrease in stress levels, an improvement in productivity, and an overall enhancement in the quality of life. Despite its proven benefits, a common misconception persists that self-care is selfish or indulgent. The reality, however, is that taking care of oneself enables us to be the best version of ourselves for the people around us. Many people struggle to incorporate self-care into their lives, citing lack of time or feeling guilty for taking time for themselves. However, self-care doesn't have to be time-consuming or expensive. It's about finding those small moments in our day to pause and refocus on our health and happiness. Self-care can be formed as habit stacking to take away the guilt of self indulgence, while you work through your weekend to-do list.
Habit stacking involves pairing a new habit with an existing routine to make the new behavior part of your life more seamlessly. You can apply this technique to combine house chores with self-care rituals, making the tasks feel less like a burden and more like an act of self-love.
"Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement." - James Clear, Atomic Habits
How to Self-Indulge and Habit Stack
Unplug From Social Media
How many times have you thought to yourself “I’m going to deep clean the kitchen” then before you know it, you’ve spent an hour doom scrolling TikTok? Throw on a podcast, audiobook, or that new album you’ve been wanting to really get into, but never have the time to sit with it, to make cleaning more enjoyable.
Take A Bath
This ritual is entirely self indulgent, and deserving. There’s nothing better to rid the Sunday Scaries than taking a relaxing bath with a cup of tea to calm the nerves. Use TO112 Palo Santo candle to make your bath extra cozy as well as emotionally healing. Palo santo enhances creativity, relieves emotional pain, anxiety and stress and brings good fortune to those who are open to its magic. Sounds like the perfect way to prep for a busy week.
Take An Everything Shower
If you’re not a bath person that’s ok! Indulging in an intentional everything shower is just as relaxing, and soul nurturing as a bath. To get the full benefits of an everything shower, start with your hair. After washing with your shampoo (take the quiz to find your right shampoo), apply a hydrating mask and clip your hair back while you finish the rest of your shower routine. Hand & Body wash + lotion is a twofold practice intended to elate and enrich the surface and soul, leaving skin clean, and soft to the touch. The key to an everything shower is to take your time, this is an opportunity to fully indulge in self-care.
Connect With Nature
Nothing clears your head, rejuvenates you, and gives birth to creativity more than connecting with nature, and some light movement. A walk in the park, or waterfront, even a quiet neighbourhood is both of these things. Not only are you getting your steps in, but by being exposed to natural light, you boost your endorphins. You can use this time to do a walking meditation to relieve nervous energy.
Get An Early Night Sleep
We all know by now that sleep is important for our physical and mental health, and nothing beats a good night’s rest on crisp, fresh sheets. Get your beauty rest with the Silk pillowcase, infused with lavender, a known aroma to ease tension and encourage tranquillity. While the delicate surface hinders breakage, frizz & tangles in hair, as well as creasing & wrinkles in the skin.
Journaling Your Thoughts
Some say that gratitude journaling in the mornings or evenings help clears the mind and heart of any unnecessary noise. If your new to the world of journaling, it can be a daunting task. Start with journaling your work thoughts to hit the ground running come Monday morning, this also allows you to prioritize your tasks and realize what deserves your attention, and what can be delegated to your team. This way you control the narrative of your week, and take away the anxiety of what’s to come. Miller’s Law, explains that the average person can only hold 7 (give or take) items in their short-term memory at any one time. Thought dumping is actually super beneficial to help give you peace of mind. With practice, journaling can help you unlock greater self-awareness, cultivate more positivity, and focus on high priority goals rather than getting lost in the chaos of the day.
In the relentless pace of today’s world, where productivity and hustle culture are often glorified, taking the time for self-care is not only important—it's essential. It serves as a vital reminder that our well-being is the foundation upon which our lives are built. In acknowledging and attending to our own needs, we not only enhance our quality of life but also augment our capacity to contribute positively to the world around us.
