sunday, SUNDAY. i mostly love this day of the week—i've only really ever had the whole "sunday scaries" thing once, when i had an absolutely terrible job last year. and then i was freelancing for 5-ish months and had a completely neutral attitude toward sundays, because it was the same as any other day of the week for me. and now, i have a new full-time office job that i really like, and i'm adjusting back to the whole sunday night routine once again. i feel like i've gotten a pretty good handle on how to keep the scaries and blues at bay, so here are some of my must-haves. share yours in the comments, por favor!
1. a good podcast
or a couple! i recently discovered the sunday scaries podcast, which is cute and fun. plus, the episodes typically fall under the 15-minute mark, so they're super easy to keep up with. now that i'm commuting by train, i've been trying to listen to more on my way to and from work, but i just tend to be able to pay better attention when i'm hanging around the house on a lazy sunday morning and making pancakes or making dinner at night; it's a nice little ritual. pop culture happy hour is another new favorite, but i know i'm probably late to the party on that.
2. something delicious
sure, it could be a cocktail, if you're in the mood. but i've found that having a little treat in the evening while i'm watching a movie or reading a book—whether it's a cup of my favorite tea, a piece (errr, 4) of dark chocolate, or a big oatmeal chocolate chip cookie is a very lovely, visceral, in-the-moment way to enjoy the last hours of my weekend. alternatively, if i'm feeling ambitious, sundays are typically my nights to make that awesome and super-involved dinner recipe i saved on pinterest like 6 months earlier.
3. time with friends or family
sometimes, the best way to distract yourself from the impending workweek is with some good old-fashioned socialization. not just talking about brunch, either. i love meeting a friend for the occasional sunday night dinner, or catching up over a late-afternoon coffee to shake up my routine a bit.
4. candles/soft lighting
y'all know i'm obsessed with candles, and little white lights, and my himalayan salt lamp. all of these things do the MOST to promote a chill and pleasant home environment with minimal little effort. of course, everyone has different candle preferences, but my personal favorites are the scentsational midnight woods and DW home warm tobacco pipe (both available at marshall's or tj maxx) and anthropologie's warm vanilla cinnamon. the rate i burn through all of these is genuinely frightening.
5. the right (preferably vinyl) soundtrack
to quote trent from daria, "it's the warmth of vinyl, man." my vinyl collection isn't very large thus far because i'm not made of damn money, but i treasure the 12 or so records i do have so far, and it's just so much cozier than spotify in terms of setting a definitive mood. i scored elvis costello's greatest hits last weekend for $10 at in your ear in harvard square, and it was the perfect thing to dance to this evening while prepping overnight oats for tomorrow.
here are some sunday evening standbys that will treat you right, with or without a record player:
kurt vile - wakin' on a pretty daze (and smoke ring for my halo...and...okay, pretty much anything by kurt vile)
the neighbourhood - wiped out!
the brian jonestown massacre - take it from the man!
the lemonheads - it's a shame about ray
pernice brothers - overcome by happiness
pinback - summer in abaddon
6. a plan for the week
i feel like it's all too tempting to close your eyes and forget that monday is coming, but i've found that making a mini to-do list for each day of the week ahead can go a long way to make you feel in control, and it only takes like, 10 minutes tops.
