Written by Karen D. Swim
How was your vacation? “Oh man it was great,” she offered with obvious joy in her voice. She then hesitated and her voice dropped, “but it was a mistake to take off two weeks because now I don’t want to go back to work.”
Every Friday night, Eva leaves the office with a bounce on her step. By Saturday afternoon, she is counting the dreaded hours to Monday morning. By Sunday night she is so miserable that she is unable to enjoy the remaining hours of her weekend as she thinks about returning to work on Monday morning. Eva has Sunday Syndrome.
Understanding the Illness
Sunday Syndrome is one of the many glaring signs that it is time to evaluate your job. Over the years I have seen the syndrome so often that I can spot the signs even in absence of the words being spoken. You may be surprised how many people have traded “job security” for happiness. They convince themselves that it is easier to remain with the devil you know than to jump headfirst into the unknown. They are wrong.
Staying in a job that makes you miserable is an injustice to both you and your employer. You’re showing up and doing the work but believe it or not you and your employer deserve better. Your employer wants people who identify, improve, reduce, grow and generally contribute value to the organization. You want to be stimulated, challenged and engaged. When you and your employer are aligned, you both win.
Digging Deeper for a Diagnosis
Assess what really bothers you about your job. Is it the work or the environment? Are the deadlines and demands overwhelming or are you so bored that counting paint chips would be more exciting? Is it the company culture or just your department?
What do you like about your job? What tasks would you gladly perform even if they were not part of your job?
Choose the Right Cure
The obvious cure is to change your job, and if the company, culture and work are what’s ailing you then this is the path you should choose. However, many people fail to explore a less obvious but often viable option – change your job but keep the company.
Job roles and descriptions are not written in stone.Β Do you have ideas that will improve efficiency? Are there unfulfilled needs that you can manage in addition to your current duties? Can you volunteer for a special project? Are there unmet needs that would result in a newly created position? Prepare a written plan and present it to your supervisor. You should treat this as you would a formal interview for a brand new job. Identify the pros and cons and be prepared with answers. Assess the costs and the return on investment. If your supervisor is not immediately sold on the idea, propose a trial period in which you can measure the results and meet at the end of the period to discuss.
Whether you propose a brand new job, or modifications to your current one, you will never know what is possible until you ask.
Karen Swim says
Evelyn, you are so right! We should all strive to bring our best to every environment, it makes it pleasant for us and we may even influence others in a positive way.
Evelyn Lim says
I totally agree that it is not always about changing the organization. It is also about changing your attitude and make your workplace a more pleasant one to be in.
Evelyn LimΒ΄s last blog post..Past Life Memories In Hokkaido
Karen Swim says
Hi Andrew, I have not read that book but it sounds excellent. I’ll have to pick it up. Another that I’ve recommended often is What Should I Do With My Life by Po Bronson. I came from a generation where practical often trumped bliss but we really are in charge of designing our lifestyle and that of course includes our work life. It’s not always easy and it’s not always perfect but we don’t have to settle for Sunday Syndrome. I’ll have to get the book quickly so we can talk about it.
Karen Swim says
@Steve, lol. The funny thing is even though this is a huge part of my business I never talk about it here so when I wrote this I thought, “nah, no one will care about this on my blog.” Geez, two days into a new year work week and I was already wrong. π
Karen Swim says
Ah Friar honey, I hate your job too. I think all those who know and love you hate it… BUT I also love your attitude toward life and the way you keep it all in perspective. I agree with you, it is better to find out what you really want before making a move and when you’re ready for that step, I’m here to help. π
Karen Swim says
@Alex, coming from you that has me tingling with joy! I’ll have to talk to your wonderful sister. I am always looking for real life examples that I can share with my clients. Stay tuned for more Alex inspired posts.:-)
Karen Swim says
@Jamie, it must have been you, the voice on my shoulder that said “trust me, write it.” π If it helped validate or clarify something for you, I am truly happy I did not follow my first mind and not publish it. π
Jamie Grove - How Not To Write says
Did you write this post for me, Karen? π
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome says
Yay Karen for tackling this subject and for doing it so well!
So many people are in this state and I love your solution – changing the job within the company (it’s actually something that my sister, the Urban Panther, is working on doing).
Friar says
I am a prime example of Sunday Syndrome. But I’m torn.
I really like the location where I live (great outdoors, fishing, skiing, affordable housing, no traffic, no crime). My out-of-the-office lifestyle is great! On some days, I feel truly fortunate to be where I am.
But on other days, I hate my job and my company. At times, I want to scream. Or cry. Or get drunk. Or all three.
So I’m on the fence. The positives and negatives of where I am are almost (but not quite) balancing each other out. It changes by the week.
Sure, I can change. But I’ve changed jobs five times since 2000. And I know from experience it wont’ necessarily make you happier. It could be the same old B.S., just in another city and another company.
Argh. Don’t know what to do at this point. Might as well stay where I am, until I find out what it is I REALLY want to do.
Steve says
Karen,
I had to laugh. You could have put my name in there. I so suffer from Sunday Syndrome. Have been for some time. I’m with a great company that treats me really well but the actual job drives me nuts.
I am working on the diagnosis and cure but am not quite at a decision point, yet.
As usual, great post!
Andrew says
Karen,
Very well said.
I’ve always thought that the feeling and emotions which one experiences on a Sunday night/Monday morning is a fair indicator job satisfaction levels.
Have you ever read a book called “Success Built to Last” by Jerry Porras (Coauthors Stewart Emery and Mark Thompson). It is a book which I have only just started, and essentially, it seems to be agreeing very substantially with your viewpoint, with which I also agree. The appears to be talking extensively about the need to identify and follow passions in life, and the importance of avoiding the trading of passionate dreams and goals for a feeling of security.
I have only just started reading, but already, I am being inspired to think a great deal more about the identification of my true passions as well as the dreams and goals which are most important to me in life.