Sunday anxiety may point to workplace problems, says expert

Persistent 'Sunday dread' should not be dismissed as a normal part of working life and may indicate underlying workplace problems, according to occupational health and safety specialist Brenig Moore, at Astutis.

Moore said recurring anxiety before the start of the working week can signal a mismatch between an employee and their working environment.

His comments follow the latest Health and Safety Executive figures showing more than 17 million working days were lost to work-related stress, depression or anxiety over the past year.

'Sunday dread isn't just a character flaw, and it's not just the cost that comes with having a Monday to Friday job,' said Moore. 'It's a signal that you don't feel comfortable about your current working situation.'

He said the feeling differs from general anxiety because it is linked to a specific trigger: returning to work.

According to Moore, the cause may be workload, workplace culture, management practices or a role that no longer fits an employee's expectations or capacity.

He said employees experiencing recurring anxiety at the end of the weekend should consider when it started, what aspects of work are causing concern and whether the feeling is becoming more intense.

'Sometimes, pre-week nerves can be normal, especially if there's a big challenge ahead of you, but if it's persistent dread that can contribute towards sleepless nights, then something in your working life needs to change,' he said.

Moore also recommends limiting exposure to work communications during weekends and creating a clear plan for Monday before finishing work on Friday.

'If Monday is creeping into your Sunday, then your Sunday isn't really a rest,' he said.

He suggests identifying three priority tasks before the weekend begins, giving employees a defined starting point when they return to work.

Moore said both employees and employers should pay attention to recurring patterns of anxiety linked to work.

'Sunday dread is not something to push through and normalise,' he said. 'It is something to listen to.'