A song to combat the Monday blues and Sunday night blues

Do you usually get the Monday blues? I do. I don't remember the last time I felt chipper on a Monday morning. Almost always, I feel weary and down. However, the Monday blues aren't a big deal. Whether I like it or not, I have to do work during the day, and once I get moving, time normally flies. When I finally get time to check in on my feelings, Monday has come to an end, and I feel relieved. The Monday blues are rather short.

But for me, the Sunday night blues are much worse. When the sun goes down, I tend to feel anxious and think, "Oh my gosh, my weekend is over." Then, I often begin scrambling to finish my tasks and chores for the upcoming week, or regretting the way I spent my weekend. I usually wish I had gotten more done. Sometimes, I don't do anything but dread the pressures of the next five days, thinking about all the unpleasant parts of the workweek to come. For example, one time I laid down on the sofa and watched TV to unwind, but I couldn't focus. I just spaced out while barely staring at the TV because I was still paralyzed by overwhelming dread.

More often than not, I can't live in the moment and waste Sunday evening, which should be a time for relaxing and recharging. The Sunday night blues are totally a buzzkill.

How can I beat the Sunday night blues when they've always beaten me instead? Last Sunday evening, I was just staring at the TV as usual. Then a song with upbeat music perked me up.

In every job that must be done

There is an element of fun

You find the fun and snap!

The job's a game

And every task you undertake

Becomes a piece of cake

A lark! A spree! It's very clear to see that

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

A Spoonful of Sugar - Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins (1964)

It was a song from the musical motion picture, Mary Poppins. Perhaps I wasn't the exact target audience of that film, but the lyrics still resonated with me. The singer, Julie Andrews, reminded me that I don't have to save all the fun times for the weekend. The reason I've fallen victim to the Sunday night blues is that I've kept thinking that all the fun is coming to an end as the weekend is receding. I can set up things to look forward to throughout the upcoming week, and even the following weekend, so that the enjoyable activities can redirect my attention. It will help to soothe my Sunday-evening dread. Just little things will do, like spending time with friends, exercising, and devoting time to hobbies.

Otherwise, I can turn back to what I used to do to combat the Sunday blues. When I was a trainee doctor, the training was often overwhelming, as I was working and learning at the same time. However, learning was basically fun. Besides, it eventually made me who I am now, a specialist. I'm still learning more while working, but I almost forgot what I can get from work: an element of fun and a sense of fulfillment.

From now on, "A Spoonful of Sugar" is my theme song. Hopefully, a spoonful of sugar will help me beat the Sunday night blues and Monday blues altogether.

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기억해둘 만한 어휘 정리
the Monday blues, the Sunday night blues
월요병 그리고 일요병?은 정관사를 써야하고 복수로 취급함

chipper 기쁜
ex.) You seem mighty chipper this morning - what's up?
너 오늘 무지 기분 좋아 보인다. 무슨 일이야?

feel weary 지친, 피곤한
workweek 주중에 일하는 시간
space out 멍해 있다

paralyzed by overwhelming feelings 압도적인 생각에 정신이 마비되다

buzzkill 흥을 깨뜨리는 것
ex.) Hearing how fattening this delicious food is would be a total buzzkill.
이 맛있는 음식이 얼마나 살찌는 음식인지 들으면 기분을 망칠 것이다.

perk up 활기차게 만들다, 기분 좋게 만들다.
ex.) We perked up when we heard the good news.
ex.) The good news perked everyone up.

fall victim to -의 희생이 되다, -에 나쁜 영향을 받다
soothe + 사람/감정/통증 -을 누그러뜨리다, 달래다

theme song 원래는 텔레비전 쇼나 영화의 주제가, 특정 인물과 관련지어 그 사람이 나타날 때 나오는 음악 등으로 해석할 수 있는데, personal theme song이라고 하면 내가 영감을 받는 음악, 나를 나타내는 음악 정도로 말할 수 있는 듯.