It’s 3 p.m. on a Sunday. You look at your planner and three exams and a paper are due next week; the “Sunday scaries” are approaching.

For a while, this feeling of impending doom engulfed me, but I’m not letting it anymore. In the same boat? I feel you. Here is a quick how-to for squeezing in self-care on Sundays.  

Get clean with a skincare routine and a long, but well deserved, shower.

If you’re like me, your week is jam-packed with work, extracurriculars, and never-ending assignments. One Sunday benefit I take advantage of is extra time. I’ll usually take a long shower and use my favorite products like hair masks and exfoliators. After, doing my entire skincare routine is a must. I’ll do my whole skincare routine, and it always makes me refreshed and ready for the upcoming week. 

Get prepped through week-day meal preparations.

Is there anything worse than struggling to make a decent dinner at 8 p.m. after a full day of classes? To save me from this awful encounter, I’ve started to meal prep at the end of the week. Meal preparation looks different for everyone, but I enjoy cooking a variety of ingredients and switching up my meals throughout the week. If you find yourself really busy on weeknights, it can also be helpful to meal prep entire meals that you can just heat up and enjoy. 

Make sure to get moving for 30 minutes!

There’s something about the extra energy and endorphins that make me excited and ready for the week. It’s also a great way to feel accomplished before the week even starts. Movement can look different for everyone, and even a walk outside is beneficial and stress relieving. Sundays are also great for working out with friends before the hectic weekly schedules start. 

Get off your phone, and get to bed early!

As simple as this one sounds, sleep is extra important on Sundays. During the week, I often find myself getting less and less sleep. Making an effort to get into bed a bit earlier on Sundays will help you start the week well-rested. 

To make the most of this extra sleep, keep your electronics off and out of reach. One thing that helped me stay off my phone was buying a charging pad. For me, this is much better than having a 10ft charger that reaches across my whole room. Trust me, once that phone is placed on the charging pad, there’s no way I’m picking it back up. 

It’s no secret that Mondays creep up on us pretty quickly. Hopefully, these self-care tips (and any of your own), will get you ready to take on the new week. Remember that self-care looks different for everyone. Find out what makes you feel your best every Sunday and wave goodbye to the scaries. 

Be well, Auburn.

Photography: Jordan K.