Why is Sunday the hardest day of the week?

[9oreos]

Does anyone have this issue? Sunday is the hardest day of the week for me. Mostly, I have a really hard time not being short-tempered, and I have no idea why. No matter what I've tried the last few years, it seems like I just wake up angry and stay grumpy through the whole day, whether I get to all three hours or church or not (which is super hard with two needy little kids who usually nap during sacrament meeting - 11am). Fast Sunday is even worse because I'm hungry. I'm okay during church, but outside of those three hours, it's bad. 

 

For reference, I'm a male in mid-20s, married for 3.5 years, 2.5 year old and 6 month old boys, attending graduate school at BYU. 

Edited August 27, 2017 by 9oreos

[Sunday21]

Do you love your weekday routine? Is there something about your weekday routine that works for you psychologically? Eg weekdays, you have a lot of control over your schedule? Or you love the analysis or project that you are working on? Or Sunday, you are stuck with the kids? Or you stay up late sat night working so Sunday, you are tired?

Do you suffer from migraines? Some migraine sufferers have a hard time on their day off because: they relax so migraine hits or they sleep in which encourages migraines.

Does your feeding routine alter on Sundays? Take a snack.

Edited August 27, 2017 by Sunday21

[Guest MormonGator]

You got a lot on your plate bud. Grad school, kids, marriage-it's okay to be a little grumpy sometimes. I'm sorry it's happening to you on Sunday. 

From one guy to another-what I'll do when I'm having an off day is take half an hour to myself and just play Game Boy, check baseball scores, read a book, or listen to music. I ignore everyone, including my wife, my dog, my work. After that half hour it really helps me. Have you tried taking a bit of "me time"? Maybe a walk? Maybe your favorite video game....?

 

Good luck bro. Praying for you 

Edited August 27, 2017 by MormonGator

[Still_Small_Voice]

Start praying that you will find joy on Sundays.  You might need revelation on what to do.  Sunday is likely my favorite day of the week with all the spiritual power I usually feel.  But I pray for joy a lot, for spiritual nourishment and that burdens placed upon my back to bear will feel light.  Our LORD is a God of joy.  He wants us to find happiness in this life.

[zil]

Pray also for a change or heart, then do your best to choose other feelings.  When you get angry or frustrated, as soon as you recognize the feeling, just tell it "nope, not today; today I'm going to be happy" and either decide that the "trigger" isn't worth it, or that it can wait for another time.  I know that might sound all new-agey, but it worked for me - I prayed regularly for a long time for the Lord to teach me how to be happy, how to not let little things frustrate me so much.  It took a long time, but it worked.

That said, @MormonGator is right, you've got a lot on your plate!  Try to find some "me" time to just relax and not have to answer to anyone else.

[Guest MormonGator]

10 minutes ago, zil said:

Pray also for a change or heart, then do your best to choose other feelings.  When you get angry or frustrated, as soon as you recognize the feeling, just tell it "nope, not today; today I'm going to be happy" and either decide that the "trigger" isn't worth it, or that it can wait for another time.  I know that might sound all new-agey, but it worked for me - I prayed regularly for a long time for the Lord to teach me how to be happy, how to not let little things frustrate me so much.  It took a long time, but it worked.

That said, @MormonGator is right, you've got a lot on your plate!  Try to find some "me" time to just relax and not have to answer to anyone else.

Thanks @zil! 

LDS are so selfless and such wonderful people that sometimes it's hard for them to take only a half hour or so for themselves. I guarantee you that even the apostles and prophets have engaged in hobbies before. It's okay to take some time to yourself. 

Well, all LDS but @mirkwood. Dude is pure evil. 

Edited August 27, 2017 by MormonGator

[seashmore]

I went through a patch where the only day I felt lonely was on Sunday. I realized that was because I was working or otherwise out in the community the other six days of the week. Could be that these feelings you're having are just below the surface the other days, but Sunday is a day you feel free to take your hat off, so to speak. I'm guessing you try to keep it holy by turning down the worldly volume, and this may be why it seems to be happening on Sunday. During that half hour "me time" that Gator mentioned, try to thoughtfully explore things in your life that do or have brought you joy. Journaling may be a good way to understand the differences between your attitude on Sunday versus other days.

[Ironhold]

No matter how hard I try to get out the door, *something* always happens to ensure that I'm late for church. 

 

..Up to and including a neighbor setting their lawnmower on fire. 

[zil]

2 minutes ago, Ironhold said:

..Up to and including a neighbor setting their lawnmower on fire. 

So you have yet to convince him that mowing the lawn on Sunday causes God to curse your lawn?

[Ironhold]

1 minute ago, zil said:

So you have yet to convince him that mowing the lawn on Sunday causes God to curse your lawn?

He was smoking while using an aerosol brake cleaner to service the engine. 

Even he later admitted that doing so was not a good idea. 

He's since moved away, but still...

[zil]

Seems like an inspired mistake to me.

[Sunday21]

Scorched earth reprisal

[Vort]

On 8/27/2017 at 11:43 AM, 9oreos said:

Does anyone have this issue? Sunday is the hardest day of the week for me. Mostly, I have a really hard time not being short-tempered, and I have no idea why. No matter what I've tried the last few years, it seems like I just wake up angry and stay grumpy through the whole day, whether I get to all three hours or church or not (which is super hard with two needy little kids who usually nap during sacrament meeting - 11am). Fast Sunday is even worse because I'm hungry. I'm okay during church, but outside of those three hours, it's bad. 

 

For reference, I'm a male in mid-20s, married for 3.5 years, 2.5 year old and 6 month old boys, attending graduate school at BYU. 

Male, mid-50s, married for 29⅓ years, lots of kids from 11 on up, in my middle-age working phase.

Sunday is my favorite day of the week, hands-down. Not sure what I can offer you, but here's a try for How to Make Your Sabbath Day More Enjoyable:

• Clear your plate on Sunday as much as possible. No work, no homework, no TV, no internet surfing, no newspaper. Just family, friends, service, and the requisite Church meetings. (If you're in a leadership position, the meetings can sometimes eat up quite a few Sunday hours, but that's life.)
• Make some enjoyable Sunday-only traditions for yourself and your family. Examples: Sunday brunch after Church. Family video time, watching lds.org videos or vids of family events. Sunday "fun" service, e.g. 30 minutes of genealogy with the kids. Family game of some sort.
• When you go to sacrament meeting, you WILL end up spending at least half the time in the foyer. Don't fight this, and don't resent it. It's the period of life you're at. Embrace it. It will pass, and all too soon.
• In conjunction with the above bullet point: When you take your children out to the foyer, if they are infants, just hold them, cuddle them, and help them to calm down. There is nothing else to be done, and that is your privilege and duty as a parent. If they are toddlers, you must start training them. Always with kindness, of course, but you can't just let them run around the foyer.
• To repeat: DO NOT LET YOUR TODDLERS RUN AROUND THE FOYER WHEN YOU'RE OUT WITH THEM. You must always be kind and gentle with them, but when you have to take them to the foyer, they must sit on your lap (or on the floor) facing the wall, with their arms folded. They are not allowed to get up, or talk, or anything else. Any time you go to the foyer with them, they have to sit on your lap or on the floor and quietly face the wall. This is not a punishment; it's simply what you do when you go to the foyer during sacrament meeting. They will get tired of it, and really fast. So after they have successfully spent maybe a minute (or 30 seconds for very young children), ask them if they would rather go back into the chapel. They will probably say yes, so explain that when they're in the chapel, they have to keep very quiet and only read their book or play with their soft puppy toy or whatever other quiet activity you have for them.
• When you implement the above, don't think it will work the first time. It won't. It will take three or four times (for some children, lots more) before they understand that it's much better to be in the chapel then outside of it. And then the meeting is over, and you get to do it again next week. Again, this is your privilege and duty as a parent. Embrace it.
• For heaven's sake, DON'T LET YOUR CHILDREN RUN AROUND THE CHAPEL DURING SACRAMENT MEETING! I mean, seriously, why would this even have to be said? What is wrong with people?
• Napping children: I don't know of any better solution than to hold the napping child. But again, this lasts only as long as the child needs to nap during that hour, maybe a year or two at most. It will pass and never come back, so get through this period of your life and try to take satisfaction in the service you render to your children. Often, you and the child can sit through meetings with the child asleep and you participating (quietly) or at least listening.
• Fasting: If fasting makes you feel bad, you're in good company. President Wilford Woodruff talked about this very thing. The good news is that, for the overwhelming majority of us, this sick feeling goes away as our body gets accustomed to fasting. So if you feel bad when you fast, the cure is to fast more. Seriously. It's well worth your time to get used to a simple 24-hour fast.

[Midwest LDS]

Sorry you're having a rough time. I remember I had rough days like that when I was in the branch presidency and frequently felt overwhelmed (as any of you who have done the same can testify, Sunday was 7 hours of work minimum). What helps me is reminding myself of the primary reason why I'm at church. I'm not there to lead, preach, or teach first. I'm there to worship Jesus Christ and partake of the Sacrament for my own salvation. Once I started focusing on that, the rest came easier. (Of course I got released as soon as I learned that but it's been helpful in all my callings☺).

My prayers are with you brother.

[Just_A_Guy]

On 8/27/2017 at 0:43 PM, 9oreos said:

Does anyone have this issue? Sunday is the hardest day of the week for me. Mostly, I have a really hard time not being short-tempered, and I have no idea why. No matter what I've tried the last few years, it seems like I just wake up angry and stay grumpy through the whole day, whether I get to all three hours or church or not (which is super hard with two needy little kids who usually nap during sacrament meeting - 11am). Fast Sunday is even worse because I'm hungry. I'm okay during church, but outside of those three hours, it's bad. 

For reference, I'm a male in mid-20s, married for 3.5 years, 2.5 year old and 6 month old boys, attending graduate school at BYU. 

The three things I can think of that traditional make Sundays hard for me are a) I typically work long hours in a quiet office; so I'm just not used to being with little kids for extended periods of time; b) I just keep thinking of all the things I could be getting done but "can't" because it's Sunday; and c) I often end my Sundays feeling like I didn't do anything productive; but didn't do anything particularly enjoyable either.

A few things that have helped:

--I've started planning out my Saturdays more carefully to ensure that the big stuff that needs to be done, does get done by Saturday night.

--I've also mellowed a little bit about what constitutes "work" and is therefore verboten for myself and my family on Sundays (I don't mind, and in fact rather enjoy, doing little things like watering the flowers, or fixing a towel rack, or hanging a picture, or doing a little laundry or light cleaning; so long as it doesn't dominate the daily routine).

--I try to plan enjoyable stuff for Sundays--picnics, family get-togethers, etc.  I view Sunday not just as a day for monastic study (though that can be nice on occasion); but for re-engaging with loved ones.  (The following video is kind of cool:). 

--On building patience with my kids:  I wish I had better advice; but I've found that I'm at the point where it's easier for me to just roll with whatever antics they come up with.  I can't think of anything I've consciously done to facilitate this, and I wonder if that's just something that comes with age.

Edited August 28, 2017 by Just_A_Guy

[Guest MormonGator]

1 hour ago, Vort said:

Male, mid-50s,

:: ahem :: 

Mid 80's is more like it. I'm being generous here.

[Vort]

1 minute ago, MormonGator said:

:: ahem :: 

Mid 80's is more like it. I'm being generous here.

For most of this last weekend, I felt like I was in my mid-80s. No joke.

[Guest MormonGator]

Just now, Vort said:

For most of this last weekend, I felt like I was in my mid-80s. No joke.

I understand. When we get to your age we need a lot more rest. 

(Playing everyone!) 

[Guest]

On 8/27/2017 at 1:43 PM, 9oreos said:

Does anyone have this issue? Sunday is the hardest day of the week for me. Mostly, I have a really hard time not being short-tempered, and I have no idea why. No matter what I've tried the last few years, it seems like I just wake up angry and stay grumpy through the whole day, whether I get to all three hours or church or not (which is super hard with two needy little kids who usually nap during sacrament meeting - 11am). Fast Sunday is even worse because I'm hungry. I'm okay during church, but outside of those three hours, it's bad. 

 

For reference, I'm a male in mid-20s, married for 3.5 years, 2.5 year old and 6 month old boys, attending graduate school at BYU. 

Most of the week, you're not with your family.  It's a myth that one will automatically find joy in spending time with family.  You're used to not dealing with them most of the day each day of the week.  But on Sunday, you're around them all day.  Am I right?

You need to ... wait for it... LEARN how to be with your family.  You need to LEARN how to shift your mindset from being around others to being around your family.

ALSO, I'm guessing you're a bit of a workaholic.  You are used to going, going, going.  Then you're asked to sit down and "be at peace".  Uhmmm... not working.  Right?

LEARN to be at peace.  It will pay dividends in the long run.

[Guest]

On 8/27/2017 at 4:30 PM, MormonGator said:

Well, all LDS but @mirkwood. Dude is pure evil. 

Only in the month of October.

[Jojo Bags]

On 8/27/2017 at 0:43 PM, 9oreos said:

Does anyone have this issue? Sunday is the hardest day of the week for me. Mostly, I have a really hard time not being short-tempered, and I have no idea why. No matter what I've tried the last few years, it seems like I just wake up angry and stay grumpy through the whole day, whether I get to all three hours or church or not (which is super hard with two needy little kids who usually nap during sacrament meeting - 11am). Fast Sunday is even worse because I'm hungry. I'm okay during church, but outside of those three hours, it's bad. 

 

For reference, I'm a male in mid-20s, married for 3.5 years, 2.5 year old and 6 month old boys, attending graduate school at BYU. 

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[Sunday21]

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[clbent04]

14 hours ago, Sunday21 said:

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Yeah I have. Thanks. @Jojo Bags shared it with me the other week. Definitely a great resource