Two out of three Brits suffer ‘Sunday night fear’

-

Two out of three brits suffer sunday night fear

British workers start worrying about the week ahead on Sunday afternoon – as new research reveals two in three suffer from anxiety dubbed the “Sunday night fear”*.

Unfinished tasks from the previous week, a nightmare commute and unbearable colleagues are the top three reasons for dreading Monday morning. And, one in five UK workers confessed they would ‘remove’ a particular colleague when quizzed on the one thing they would change in their job.

The results, from a survey of 2,000 UK workers, show most lose almost an entire day thinking about the week ahead rather than switching off and enjoying the whole weekend. This means if the average person wakes at 9am on Sunday, they only enjoy four hours of time not spent worrying about their job.

HRreview Logo

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keep up with the latest in HR...
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

That’s how it feels to Love Mondays

Of those surveyed, 97 per cent cited job satisfaction as an important factor to loving Mondays. The research reveals estate agents were the most satisfied with their jobs, along with those who work in creative industries.

Public sector workers came out as the least satisfied with their roles.

Flexible working was identified by 28 per cent of workers as the most important factor towards helping them enjoy Mondays again, followed by working from home (23 per cent) and having great colleagues (21 per cent).

Mark Rhodes, Marketing Director at reed.co.uk, comments,

For some, planning for the working week ahead can go a long way to improving the feeling of preparedness for Monday morning. But this shouldn’t come at the expense of enjoying the time off you are entitled to. Whether it’s colleagues, commutes or unfinished tasks dragging you down, no-one should feel recurring anxiety over returning to work. If you find yourself really dreading returning to work on Monday, it may be time to consider a new role.

Loving your job means something different to everyone, so really focus on what matters to you: whether it’s flexible working, achieving that long-awaited promotion, stepping up a pay grade, or simply working with colleagues who are pleasant and co-operative. If you can’t see it happening in your current role it might be time to make a change and banish the Sunday night fear once and for all.

*By Reed

Aphrodite is a creative writer and editor specialising in publishing and communications. She is passionate about undertaking projects in diverse sectors. She has written and edited copy for media as varied as social enterprise, art, fashion and education. She is at her most happy owning a project from its very conception, focusing on the client and project research in the first instance, and working closely with CEOs and Directors throughout the consultation process. Much of her work has focused on rebranding; messaging and tone of voice is one of her expertise, as is a distinctively unique writing style in my most of her creative projects. Her work is always driven by the versatility of language to galvanise image and to change perception, as it is by inspiring and being inspired by the wondrous diversity of people with whom paths she crosses cross!

Aphrodite has had a variety of high profile industry clients as a freelancer, and previously worked for a number of years as an Editor and Journalist for Prospects.ac.uk.

Aphrodite is also a professional painter.

Latest news

‘Job centre in your pocket’ plan raises questions over role of AI in employment support

The government's AI-powered employment assistant has sparked debate about how technology should support jobseekers while maintaining trust.

Employers urged to spot gambling harms during World Cup

Employers are being urged to watch for gambling-related harm at work as the 2026 World Cup brings weeks of daytime matches and betting activity.

Habits for health: small changes that lead to bigger gains

From walking meetings to better sleep routines, simple habits can improve health, wellbeing and performance across the workplace.

Jeanette Wheeler: The business case for purpose-led leadership

Public scrutiny on businesses and societal expectations are putting pressure on leaders to demonstrate that purpose runs deeper than profit.
- Advertisement -

Britain’s biggest retailers cut 18,000 jobs as employment costs rise

Rising wage bills and tax costs are prompting retailers to rethink hiring as they seek savings across their operations.

Georges Elhedery on AI and job losses

“We all know generative AI will destroy certain jobs and will create new jobs.”

Must read

Dr Clara Kalu: Personal Energy Mapping – an inner strategy for professional growth

I define personal development as the internal transformation that occurs when someone pays attention to their emotions, beliefs, and responses, then chooses aligned action.

Jane Horan: Meaningful careers matter more than flexible work for women leaders

In 2012, Forbes magazine announced, ‘’Entrepreneurship is the new...
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you