Not Another Manic Monday
For some, Sunday night is like walking the plank to the choppy
seas we call Monday. We're thinking of the overflowing inbox on our
desk at work while we have dinner with the family, and start to
dread that morning meeting as we brush our teeth. Why do we do that
to ourselves? "It's a phenomenon called precipitory anxiety," says
Simon A. Rego, Psy.D., director of clinical training at the
American Institute for Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology. If we
know something will cause us anxiety, we start to anticipate it
ahead of time and anxiety will build.
Next time, cut those negative thoughts off at the pass. Look for
distortions. You may think, "I'll never get everything done I need
to do," but this is just a thought, not a fact. Talk yourself out
of it. Picture yourself ending Monday instead of starting it, and
give yourself something to look forward to at the end of the day,
like making your favorite dinner, renting a funny movie or
scheduling a massage. The thought of an end-of-the-day
stress-relieving session can make Monday feel like a walk in the
park, instead of walking the plank.