So, just like that I went from Netflix and chillin' to feeling the pressure of Q2 in the blink of an eye.

I've got a lot going on over the next several months, and I feel like I'm staring at a mountain of prep work. I mentioned this to a client and asked if she ever felt like this.

She laughed and said, "Lauren, that's just a typical Sunday for me."

"OK," I said, "Then, let's both work on that!"

Interestingly, I recently came across a 2021 study that found over 80% of people experience what the research team termed "Sunday scaries."

I remember very distinctly experiencing that Sunday evening dread when I worked for other people.

Working for myself, I absolutely don't want to feel that way. And, I don't want my clients to feel that way either.

So, here's what I'm doing to nip my stress and pressure in the bud and not dread Mondays:

1. Listing out all the things I need to accomplish this quarter.
2. Creating a timeline of key dates for all my events and deliverables.
3. Breaking down each item in my list above into bite-size tasks (these are my daily little frogs).
4. Drafting up a work schedule based upon the above.
5. Blocking out time on my calendar to get it all done.

I'll be honest, I'm much more of a 'let's just wing it' kind of person when it comes to schedules and deadlines, but I've learned that this approach causes more stress in the end for me, so I've had to change my ways.

My client, on the other hand, is an absolute planner. For her, the stress is actually having a crazy busy calendar, which means there's no breathing room and also no time to get long-standing items on her to-do list done.

So, we're testing out a new approach to her schedule—blocking off specific days and/or times of day for different types of activities, such as sales meetings, client work, admin tasks, and so forth.

We're also adding some "free time" breaks and blocks, which she can use however she wishes.

We'll circle back in a few weeks to see how things are working for her in terms of productivity, business, and her mental health and happiness and tweak accordingly.

Another way I've hacked my Mondays is by loading these days with things I like to do and/or that are easy to do. It's a great way to avoid those Sunday "scaries" and also start the week off with one or two wins.

You may find that one of these approaches works for you...or not, which is fine.

The important thing is to evaluate how well your approach to work and productivity and scheduling supports your mental (and physical) health in addition to your business success.

Do you think you could be doing a better job on any or all fronts?

Then, maybe it's time to try something new.

P.S. If you'd like some help managing your stress, schedule, and/or workload, let's talk.​

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