Written by Jillian MarianiThe Sunday Blues, or Sunday Scaries, are feelings of anxiety or dread that creep up the day or evening before a workday, after a day or more off. For most of us, that is Sunday, before heading back to work on Monday, but for others it may be a different day. According to a LinkedIn survey, 80 percent of professionals say they experience the Sunday Scaries, with over 90 percent of Millennials and Gen Z reporting they feel it. It’s pretty pervasive and practically everyone can relate.Even being self-employed and working intermittently on the weekends as needed, I still find the Scaries kick in for me around midday on Sunday. Sometimes it’s an ominous feeling about something specific that is scheduled or that I need to do on the Monday, but usually it’s a slightly anxious feeling that my downtime is going too fast, and I didn’t get everything I wanted to do on the weekend in – especially just taking time to chill. For many years, I’ve tried to stick to a bath ritual on Sunday, which I find really helps. Some weekends it’s an afternoon bath soak, and other times it’s a bedtime soak. I try to spend a full hour in the tub, and either read a book, chat on the phone to a friend, or even watch something on Netflix or HBO. I literally use the tub like a couch, but a nice, hot, enveloping embrace. It’s 100% ME-time.The benefits of baths are well documented and include:• Soothing sore or tired muscles• Relieving stress, especially with the right essential oils in your bath salts• Improving sleep• Skin health - if using the right bath productsIt’s super important to hydrate while in the tub too, especially if you like a really hot bath like I do.
I’ve taken to mixing up one of the Niyama supplement powders into a very big glass of ice cold water (or in my Yeti with straw lid) and taking it in with me when I draw my bath. That way, I’m not only hydrating with water, I’m super-charging my water with health benefits – for a totally upgraded, and really efficient, self-care hour.These are my favourite combos, which I’m affectionately calling Sips & Soaks.And (hint, hint) these combinations make fantastic gifts over the holidays, or just to say “I love you and you deserve this!”:The Sunday Night Wind DownSleep Like Buddha Bedtime Bath Soak
+ Hey Relax Magnesium (Pineapple or Dragon Fruit – I love both!)
The Sunday Post WorkoutAchy Achy Sore Muscles Bath Soak
+ After Practice Replenish & Repair
The Sunday Afternoon EscapeMix equal parts Achy Achy Sore Muscles Bath Soak & Sleep Like Buddhe Bedtime Bath soak + Glow & Flow Vegan Collagen Booster
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Jillian Mariani is the founder and general manager of Niyama Wellness. Jillian spent her 20+ year corporate career in the Canadian Natural Health Supplements category, in sales, marketing and product development with some of Canada’s favourite brands of vitamins and supplements. Jillian holds a BA from UofT, a diploma in Nutritional Management from GBC, an MBA from Schulich School of Business, a YTT-200H from Downward Dog Yoga Centre and is a certified Sleep Coach.. She lives in Toronto with her husband and children, and teaches yoga part-time. In addition to yoga, she enjoys cooking, travel, Netflix/HBO binges, good books exceptional coffee, chocolate, and dog walks.
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Sources:1. https://www.headspace.com/articles/sunday-anxiety/2. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/reasons-to-take-a-bath/