Conquering the Sunday Scaries as a School Principal

Are those Sunday evening jitters taking over your weekend? 

Here's what this episode reveals about the "Sunday Scaries":
  • The Sunday Scaries are a form of anxiety that often affects educators and other professionals, typically appearing as the weekend winds down and work thoughts creep in.
  • This anxiety isn't necessarily a sign of job dissatisfaction or burnout - it's often just your brain's protective mechanism dramatizing potential challenges ahead.
  • As school leaders, principals play a crucial role in setting the tone for their buildings. Instead of joining the "I hate Mondays" chorus, they should model optimism without falling into toxic positivity.
  • The podcast presents four concrete strategies to overcome these feelings, focusing on preparation, routines, and mindset shifts that can transform how leaders approach their work week.
  • The key takeaway: While uncertainty is inevitable in education, leaders can bring certainty through their approach and mindset choices, influencing not just their own experience but their entire school community.

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. 

These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation
Conquering the Sunday Scaries as a School Principal