The Sunday Scaries are often misunderstood. People assume they are just about dreading Monday or that they only happen if you hate your job. But the truth is, the Sunday Scaries run deeper than most people realize.

Here are three common myths about the Sunday Scaries and what is actually true.

Many people assume that if you get the Sunday Scaries, it must mean you are in the wrong job. While that can be true, it is not the full picture. Even people who love what they do can experience Sunday anxiety.

The truth:
The Sunday Scaries are not just about job dissatisfaction.

They can be a sign of:

• An imbalanced work schedule that does not allow enough time to recharge.
• A heavy workload that makes Mondays feel overwhelming.
• A high-pressure environment where work feels like it never really stops.
• A lack of transition time between work and personal life, making it hard to shift gears.

Loving your job does not mean you are immune to stress. If your work takes up too much space in your mind, the Sunday Scaries can still creep in.

A lot of people joke about the Sunday Scaries as if they are just part of life. They assume that feeling anxious, restless, or on edge before Monday is something everyone has to deal with.

The truth:

Just because the Sunday Scaries are common does not mean they are normal or unavoidable. They are a signal that something is off in your routine, your work-life balance, or your mindset around work.

Instead of accepting them as a fact of life, ask yourself:

• Do I have enough downtime during the week, or do I cram all my rest into the weekend?
• Is my workload sustainable, or am I constantly feeling behind?
• Am I doing work that aligns with what I value, or just going through the motions?

The Sunday Scaries are not something you have to “just deal with.” They are something you can change.

Most people think the Sunday Scaries are only about a few hours of anxiety before bed. But for many, they start earlier and last much longer.

The truth:

The Sunday Scaries often start creeping in by Sunday afternoon or even earlier. And they do not always go away once Monday arrives. If left unchecked, they can affect your entire week.

This can look like:

• Feeling exhausted on Monday morning because you barely slept the night before.
• Carrying low-level stress into Tuesday, Wednesday, and beyond.
• Living for the weekend but never feeling fully recharged when it arrives.
• Getting stuck in a cycle where each Sunday feels worse than the last.

If the Sunday Scaries are shaping more than just your Sunday night, it is a sign that something in your workweek needs to shift.

The Sunday Scaries are not just about dreading Monday. They are about how work fits into your life and whether that balance feels sustainable.

By challenging these myths and paying attention to what your Sunday anxiety is telling you, you can start to shift the way you experience your workweek. Instead of just surviving each week, you can build a schedule, a mindset, and a routine that actually work for you.