I had a weird feeling as I was doing my chores on Sunday, getting ready for the upcoming week. My husband has been on vacation with me for the past 3 weeks of my sabbatical and he has to head back to work tomorrow. It was that “Sunday blues” feeling…
But then when I remembered I am not going back to the corporate job I had before, I had a sudden burst of happiness and relief. This was quickly followed by the realization that I do not have an income right now, so will begin work in earnest to conjure up freelance consulting projects.
I will work from home and finish revising a piece for I was asked to write for my alumni magazine. I will narrow down my focus and the “offer” for my consulting practice, attend a session with my coach, and schedule networking appointments. I will go to a Zumba/dance class for fun in the evening. I will de-clutter and map out my plan for the next couple months. I look forward to these activities, so the Sunday blues is not necessary. That feeling is simply a habit, not actual dread for the week (as I used to experience so regularly, especially facing the hundreds of emails post-vacation).
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I know my former team will be meeting in Miami this week. I won’t be there, but I was initially involved in choosing the meeting date. I will miss them, but I am relieved not to attend the meeting. Is this feeling vicarious dread for the cross-functional meetings they will have to endure (that I found so painful and pointless)?
Perhaps. That is some weird pathological empathy, methinks. Maybe I will explore this with my coach.
My husband suggested my blues may be related to the uncertainty of not knowing what is next. I agree. I will need to make my own decisions about where to focus and what to prioritize. While I also did this before, it was often more a function of which department was most “on fire” rather than what was truly most important.
This week is mine. I get to define how I will spend it, as we all do. I will choose how to make the most of it. This new beginning is a time of joy, gratitude and opportunity. I will overcome those habitual responses, and embrace my freedom.
Do you ever sing the Sunday blues? Are there ways you can change your tune?
mexi minnesotana 
When I quit the corporate world (Microsoft in Seattle) and moved to small-town MN, I had a period of identity depression, if you can call it that. My ego was used to “feeling important” doing the sort of work I did, traveling, working on global campaigns, etc. I thought that was who I was and it took quite some time to realize it was just an egoic attachment. I did the freelance thing for several years and then realized my heart could not give that world any more of its time. Now, seven years later, I rarely even mention that it is my past. It’s nice to have moved on from that attachment.
Very nice post to which I’m sure many can relate!
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Thank you! I am glad that so many can relate to this. I appreciate your comment!
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It’s weird isn’t it? How we have residual feelings like this even when circumstances, or we ourselves have changed. After not being in work for almost 2 weeks due to illness, I am definitely dreading the emails I will have when I return! Then I remind myself that I am not that person anymore that gives my work the power to undermine my periods of self-care. I’m even looking forward to going back in and allowing myself to slowly get back into routine. It will take determination and courage though to not let that stressful feeling overtake me. I know that feeling of kind of not knowing what to do with yourself, when you realise you have more freedom of choice. Uncertainty is very tough, but you already know that this is a wonderfully uncertain time and you will work your way through by finding your own rhythm and routine. Good luck! xx
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Thank you so much. I think you know exactly what this feels like. It turned out to be a great day because I did exactly as I wanted to do. I appreciate your comment!
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I often get “The Sundays”. My first piece of “published” writing as an adult was on that very topic, in fact, in the newsletter of the insurance company I was working for at that time. When I first retired from teaching and started working at home, the elation of not having to prepare for work on Monday morning eventually gave way to old emotions of those Sunday blues. I try to fight this by forging ahead on something challenging. For example, last evening I made some revisions in chapters of my new children’s book based on recent input from my critique group.
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I love your idea of turning it around, Becky! Thanks for your comment.
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