Many people have a day of the week they dread most. For some, it's Monday, when they have to return to work or school. For me, the worst day is Sunday.
I find it hard to enjoy Saturday night because I lie in bed dreading the next morning. Part of this is because Sunday marks the end of the weekend. Another part is something known as the "Sunday scaries."
The term describes the anxiety that comes from thinking about everything you have to do in the coming week, or everything you forgot to do over the weekend. In middle school and early high school, I worried about homework, games, and a busy schedule.
In college, the dread feels different. I have tried to join clubs and attend campus events, but fitting everything into my routine can quickly become overwhelming. I love being part of the dance team, yet it also contributes to my worries.
Sunday should be my reset day, but dance practice takes six hours and begins at four o'clock. Because it sits in the middle of the day, I struggle to make plans beforehand. I also want to sleep late to recover from the weekend and the week's academic stress. But if I wake up around 12:30 or 1, I feel as though the whole day has disappeared.
As the semester ends, assignments become more demanding and time-consuming. Just when my assignment tracker has no upcoming deadlines, I remember that I have to fill it again for the new week. Every time I mark something "not started," the uneasiness returns.
A messy room and overflowing laundry bins only add to the feeling that I am behind. I have tried calendars and assignment trackers, but none of them has defeated the Sunday scaries I have felt since my early teenage years.