By ÁINE CAIN/BUSINESS INSIDER
The Sunday night blues are a real thing.
A 2015 Monster survey found that 76% of people get bummed out on Sunday night.
However, Sunday can still be a fun day (not to mention a productive one). You’ve just got to have the right mindset and commit to something, whether it be getting tasks done, relaxing, or spending time with your loved ones.
Here are 14 things successful people do to capitalize on their Sunday evenings:
They spend quality time with their families, friends, and significant others
Successful people know their weeks will be jammed and that they are likely to be unavailable, says Roy Cohen, a career coach and author of “The Wall Street Professional’s Survival Guide.” So they make the most of their Sunday nights by spending time with their loved ones.
They plan something fun
“This idea may be the most important tip,” Laura Vanderkam writes in her book “What The Most Successful People Do On The Weekend.” “This extends the weekend and keeps you focused on the fun to come, rather than on Monday morning.” Vanderkam quotes Caitlin Andrews, a librarian, who says her extended family gets together for dinner almost every Sunday, alternating houses. “It takes my mind off any Sunday night blues that might be coming on,” Andrews says. You might also make Sunday a movie or spa night, or you could join a Sunday-night bowling league.
They organize and plan for the week ahead
Some successful people like to look at their calendars on Sunday night and set goals and deadlines for the coming week, career coach Marsha Egan says. The trick is to do this without stressing yourself out.
They exercise
Take a walk, play a game of tennis, or go to a class at the gym, Egan suggests.
Vanderkam writes in her book that reality-TV producer Aliza Rosen does hot yoga at 6 p.m. on Sundays. “It’s a great way for me to sweat out the toxins of the week and center myself for Monday,” Rosen told Vanderkam.
They eat something healthy
It might be tempting to wind down with a couple of glasses of your favorite Cabernet, but as licensed counselor and Urban Balance CEO Joyce Marter points out in an article for PsychCentral, alcohol is a depressant that will leave you feeling less energized in the morning.
“Instead, make a healthy meal and enjoy with some herbal tea or some seltzer water with lemon,” she write
They read
Most successful people read every night before bed, so Sunday-night reading is part of their routines. They also use this time to catch up on reading that has been neglected.
They unplug
After you finish responding to emails and texts, or returning calls, unplug for a few hours.Truly successful people do anything but work right before bed, especially on Sunday night, career expert Michael Kerr said. They don’t obsessively check their email, and they try not to dwell on work-related issues.
They relax
Take some time Sunday evening to sit back and relax. You need time to recharge your mind and body. Cohen said when you know that the week ahead will be full, a good night’s sleep and a healthy meal are essential. “Fuel for the body and mind.”
They volunteer
“[Another] great way to end the weekend is to volunteer,” Vanderkam wrote in her book. Nothing will take your mind off any stresses in your life like serving people who are less fortunate, she said. “It’s a way to connect with humanity before everyone goes their separate ways for the week.
