I’m writing this on a Sunday evening, and something feels off. It’s like I’m missing something, but I can’t quite remember what I misplaced.
And then it hits me: I no longer have the creeping feeling of dread I used to get every Sunday evening.
You know what I’m talking about — it’s that pit in your stomach and the countdown in the back of your mind, ticking away your last few hours of freedom until the workweek starts again. I got so used to feeling a growing sense of dread on Sundays that it actually feels strange for it to be gone.
I used to try to combat it by doing things I loved on Sunday afternoons, whether it was going to a winery with friends or reading a novel by the pool. But that only made the upcoming week even more miserable in comparison. I could never shake the Sunday Evening Dread (at least while I was working in an office job), and so it became a standard part of my week.
I mentioned the Sunday Evening Dread at a presentation I gave a few months ago, and one woman spoke up and said, “I used to dread the upcoming workweek so much that one Sunday night in the shower, I tried to calculate how much time I could get off work if I slipped in the water and broke my leg.”
Seriously, people, we are NOT supposed to live like this!
If you feel a pang of dread on Sundays in anticipation of the week ahead, that’s a major red flag that something needs to change. And that’s okay — most of us have been there at some point or another, and discovering what you DON’T want can be just as important to your journey as figuring out what you’re passionate about. But you don’t have to get stuck there.
The first step toward getting unstuck is figuring out what your definition of freedom is, because it’s different for every person.
I was at an event recently, and when I asked this guy what his job was, he gave me the absolute best answer I’ve ever heard:
“I don’t believe in careers.”
(You better believe I’m stealing that phrase from now on.)
When he said that, I instantly knew: that’s my definition of freedom.
My career is not a separate category of my life. I believe in living my life, being myself, and building financial stability doing things I love that make a difference in the world. And that’s it. There’s no set job title that encompasses who I show up as on a daily basis, and I love it that way.
Everyone has their own definition of freedom, and as a coach, my whole job is to help people redefine what kind of life they want to lead … in essence, what it would mean for them to live free. For some people, that means starting up a side hustle and working toward self-employment. For others, freedom means having a flexible work schedule and working with an awesome team. Some people want location independence or a deep sense of fulfillment or just a salary that lets them happily pursue their hobbies outside of the office.
If your current job feels more like a prison than a path to freedom … well, just trust that you’re not alone. It may be time for you to redefine what it means for you to live free.
Have you ever felt that creeping Sunday evening dread? Tell us about it in the comments below.
Much Love,
Kristen (& Rachel)
Oh My Gosh. You took the words right out of my head. Mid Sunday afternoon, I start to feel it – it’s awful!! Great news is – May 1st I’m out of the corporate world and into full-time personal training and coaching. I’m SO excited about it. Thank you for your insights! I enjoy reading your blog!
Wow, congrats Lauren!! We always do a little happy dance when people tell us they’re quitting their miserable corporate job 🙂 Wishing you TONS of success with your personal training/coaching business!
Thank God someone else understands! I use to feel this way, but ever since opening my store, and now starting to do web design in addition, this weight is gone. I said to my boyfriend the other day, I will only do work doing what I love. I don’t have time to do anything else. And it’s the truth.
There is no better feeling than knowing you are making money and supporting yourself (and a family if you have one) doing what you love. It all falls into place when it’s supposed to. Something that my boyfriend is realizing as my store gets busier and my web design jobs come rolling in!
It’s amazing how the Sunday Evening Dread just disappears when you’re doing what you love, isn’t it? It’s awesome that you’re building a business around what you’re passionate about!
Love this: “I will only do work doing what I love. I don’t have time to do anything else.” Couldn’t have said it better ourselves!
I was introduced to an amazing opportunity several years ago, that at the time, didn’t truly realize that it would be the opportunity that could provide me and my family with time and financial freedom. I liked my job but wasn’t in love with it and at times had the Sunday night blues. When I had my first baby and had to return to work full time, the Sunday night blues hit me hard and every morning during the week when I had to get ready for work and leave my baby was just terrible. So blessed to have found an opportunity that I was able to fit in along side my full time job until I reached a point where I could resign. I love being home with my kids but still be able to contribute significantly doing something I love while helping others at the same time.
So glad you found an opportunity that you love, lets you stay home with your kids, AND gives you financial freedom! Sounds like a perfect combo 🙂
Ah, that is how I have felt at every job. I know I want to own a profitable business, I’m just not sure which one of my interests I should pursue and HOW to make money at it. I pulled myself out of poverty, and since then, I am absolutely terrified to take risks with money, for fear that I’ll go back to where I was. I don’t have much money, but I now have a roof over my head, and can pay ALL my bills fully each month – those are both things I didn’t have before. Sunday night is the absolute worst, knowing that my financial situation prevents me from doing what I want to do for a living.