I don’t really know why I decided to title this the Sunday night Tango. Perhaps because it’s a bit of a production — a bit of a dance to get everyone and everything ready for the work and school week ahead. I am pleased to say that at the moment, I’m not feeling the typical Sunday blues. You know the ones I’m referring to, don’t you? The weekend is just about over and a whole new week full of challenges is ahead. All the things have to be done over again. That can feel so overwhelming!
I’m trying to suss out why I’m not feeling the typical Sunday blues this evening. I think in part it has to do with the fact that the weather was so beautiful this weekend — and I got outside time both days. Fun family outside time feels so good. We went to a local farm to walk through a corn maze, admire the sunflowers, enjoy some kettle corn. All the fun stuff that comes with the harvest season. So, likely the fact that we had a good weekend helped. It wasn’t just that though. There have been plenty of great weekends that find me in the same state at the end of them: On the verge of near-panic.
Yes, it’s definitely more than the quality of my weekend. As the afternoon turned to evening, I made a decision to get into “get stuff done” mode. I’ve been very intentional about getting things picked up, making sure everyone was fed a good dinner, taking care of laundry, getting lunch boxes set out for the morning rush. I was doing all of this while being intentional about checking in on the kids and my hubby. I was intentionally touching base with them to ensure they had what they needed and were feeling cared for.
Most importantly though, I’ve been checking in with myself as I move through my “get stuff done” mode. I’ve been taking regular sips of water, stretching, and making sure I’m not overdoing it. I made a deal with myself to take care of things until a certain time, and then it was time to put my feet up and take a breather before kicking off the bedtime routine.
Putting intention behind my Sunday evening, and making sure to take care of myself does seem to take the edge off of those oh-so-common feelings of dread. Because I’m always looking for ways to improve, I’d say next Sunday I’ll add something more to the mix. Perhaps do some journaling about my intentions for the coming week.
Cherish yourself: Ward off the Sunday blues by approaching your evening with intention. Also, periodically check in with yourself to ensure you’re taking care of your basic needs.