What does Sunday Scaries mean?
Sunday Scaries describes the anxiety or sadness felt on a Sunday afternoon or evening in anticipation of the upcoming work or school week.
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Slang. Also written the Sunday scaries, Sunday Blues, Sunday Night Dread, Sunday Syndrome.
Where it comes from
Urban Dictionary first recorded the phrase in 2009 with a focus on post-drinking hangover anxiety. Print media references followed in 2013, including a Chicago Tribune article. The term spread widely in 2014 through The Sunday Scaries Podcast and articles from NBC and BuzzFeed, eventually evolving into a general term for workplace anxiety.
How it is actually used
Used in an empathetic, self-deprecating tone, the phrase is popular among working professionals, students, Gen Z, and Millennials. Over time, it transitioned from hangover chat to workplace stress and self-care discourse. Brands often use it to sell tea, candles, loungewear, and Sunday dining specials. It is misused when applied to general Halloween themes or mid-week stress.
Examples
- "the sunday scaries are hitting particularly hard tonight"
- "current cure for the sunday scaries: tea and a movie"
- "preparing myself for the workweek to beat the sunday scaries"
Can a brand use it? Safe for brands
Safe and effective for comforting, self-care, or unwinding themes. Avoid trivialising severe anxiety or using it to tell followers to work harder.
Related terms
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sunday Scaries mean?
It is the feeling of anxiety or dread experienced on Sunday as the work or school week approaches.
Did Sunday Scaries always mean work anxiety?
No, the earliest 2009 definition specifically referred to anxiety caused by an end-of-weekend hangover before broadening to general workplace dread.
How do people use Sunday Scaries in marketing?
Brands frequently reference it on Sunday evenings to promote relaxing products like CBD, self-care routines, loungewear, or comfort food.
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