It’s Sunday night. You’ve done everything right — laundry folded, lunch packed, plans made — but a familiar unease starts to creep in. Your body feels tense, your thoughts restless. You might joke about having the “Sunday Scaries,” but sometimes that feeling is trying to tell you something deeper.
In my career stress therapy work here in Charleston, I often meet clients who blame themselves for work dread. They assume they’re too sensitive or unmotivated. But in reality, our emotions are often early messengers of misalignment — signs that something about our work environment, values, or purpose isn’t fitting anymore.
1. Check What’s Draining You — and What’s Feeding You
Not all stress is bad. Sometimes it comes from stretching into new challenges; other times, it’s the fatigue of doing something that no longer feels meaningful.
Try this brief exercise:
List three tasks that leave you exhausted afterward.
List three that leave you feeling engaged or accomplished.
Notice which list is longer. If the “draining” side wins week after week, it might be time to explore whether your career still reflects your values.
2. Watch for Physical Clues
Our bodies often signal what our minds try to ignore.
Frequent headaches, tension, irritability, or disrupted sleep can be quiet alarms that your nervous system is overstretched.
In therapy, I sometimes describe this as “the body filing a complaint.” It’s not weakness — it’s wisdom. Your body is simply asking for a better match between effort and meaning.
3. Differentiate Stress From Burnout
Stress says: “I have too much to do.”
Burnout says: “None of this matters anymore.”
If you notice increasing detachment, cynicism, or apathy, that’s not laziness — it’s emotional depletion. Burnout recovery often starts by reconnecting to your sense of purpose, not by pushing harder.
4. Realign, Don’t Just Escape
Many people assume career unhappiness means a drastic change — but often it begins with micro-adjustments.
Maybe you need clearer boundaries with your boss, more creativity in your role, or even a 15-minute walk during lunch to reset your nervous system.
If your job truly no longer fits who you are, therapy can help you navigate that transition thoughtfully — without burning bridges or ignoring your wellbeing.
If you’re feeling trapped in a cycle of stress and Sunday dread, you’re not alone.
Career alignment isn’t just about success — it’s about health.
Therapy can help you clarify what’s missing and design a next chapter that fits both your values and your nervous system.
Quercus Counseling — Serving the greater Charleston, SC area in person and virtually.
Learn more at www.QuercusCounseling.com
