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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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We've all felt the "Sunday scaries"—that creeping sense of anxiety and dread about the upcoming week. But Gen Z is being hit harder than any other generation, according to a recent survey.
The survey, which asked 2,000 Americans about their Sunday habits and anxieties, revealed that 74 percent of Gen Z respondents (those born between 1997 and 2012) experience Sunday scaries at least once a month—a higher rate than any other age group.
According to the survey conducted by Talker Research in partnership with Pacific Foods, the Sunday scaries typically set in around 3:54 p.m., but for Gen Z, the feelings can begin even earlier, with 10 percent reporting anxiety starting as early as 6 a.m. on Sundays. This marks a stark difference from baby boomers (born 1946 to 1964), 75 percent of whom said they rarely, if ever, experienced these end-of-weekend worries.
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What's Behind Gen Z's Sunday Scaries?
Gen Z's anxieties about the upcoming week stem from several factors. According to the survey, 33 percent of Gen Z respondents feel stressed about the tasks they need to complete during the week, while 28 percent experience uncertainty about how the week will unfold. Interestingly, 42 percent of Gen Z cited the stress of completing tasks before the week even starts as a key cause of anxiety.
One in five Gen Z respondents also admitted to feeling burnout or a lack of rest, with 18 percent saying they simply don't feel ready for the week ahead—again, the highest percentage of any generation surveyed.
Psychotherapist and founder of My LA Therapy Brooke Sprowl explained that the "Sunday scaries" are often linked to the abrupt transition from the freedom of the weekend to the demands of the working week.
"The 'Sunday scaries' often stem from the sense of impending pressure and the shift from the freedom of the weekend to the structured demands of the workweek," Sprowl told Newsweek. Thankfully, she had some ideas about how to fend off the Sunday evening anxiety.
"One of the most effective ways to combat this feeling is to reframe Sunday as a time for grounding rather than stress. Instead of seeing it as the end of something, use the afternoon to prepare intentionally for the week ahead—whether through a calming ritual, setting gentle goals or simply creating space for reflection," Sprowl said.
"By embracing Sunday as an opportunity for renewal rather than a time of dread, we shift the focus from anxiety about what's coming to a sense of empowerment and readiness."
When it comes to coping with the anxiety that Sunday brings, Gen Z has developed various coping mechanisms, including listening to music, watching movies and playing video games to wind down.
Although the "Sunday scaries" don't seem to be completely ruining the day for everyone, as 55 percent of Gen Z said that they still enjoy Sundays. However, this was still lower than in older generations, with millennials, Gen X, and boomers all reporting that they enjoy Sundays more than the younger generation.
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans; the survey was commissioned by Pacific Foods and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between April 30 and May 6, 2024.
Correction 10/1/24, 2:21 a.m. ET: This article was updated to correct the spelling of Brooke Sprowl.
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