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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
"The magic of the electronic village is transforming health information. The mouse and keyboard have extended the stethoscope to the 500 million people now online." - Dr. Edward Creagan
The power of the medium inspires Dr. Edward Creagan as he searches for ways to share Mayo Clinic's vast resources with the general public.
Dr. Creagan, a Newark, N.J., native, is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice medicine and palliative care. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1973 and in 1999 was president of the staff of Mayo Clinic. Dr. Creagan, a professor of medical oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, was honored in 1995 with the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine Award and in 1992 with the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award, Mayo's highest recognition. He has been recognized with the American Cancer Society Professorship of Clinical Oncology.
He describes his areas of special interest as "wellness as a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-financial model" and fitness, mind-body connection, aging and burnout.
Dr. Creagan has been an associate medical editor with Mayo Clinic's Web sites and has edited publications and CD-ROMs and reviewed articles.
"We the team of (the Web site) provide reliable, easy-to-understand health and wellness information so that each of us can have productive, meaningful lives," he says.
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Stress blog
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Sept. 2, 2009
Blog: A prescription for the Sunday night blues
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
At a recent family gathering, a number of us were discussing our professional lives and the stresses and demands of the marketplace. One of my relatives, a gentleman in his 50s and a CPA for a major accounting firm, commented that Sunday afternoon was one of his worst times each week. He would nose-dive into a funk — a psychological black hole of irritability, fatigue and apathy. Interestingly, three other gentlemen chimed in that they had the same experience.
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I did some research on the web and discovered that this phenomenon has been dubbed "Sunday night syndrome" or "Sunday night blues."
Recently I had the opportunity to ask an audience of about 1,000 professionals how many among them had similar experiences on Sundays. To my amazement, about 80 percent put up their hands. These individuals were not miserable in their work, but they didn't look forward to jumping back on the corporate treadmill after a weekend spent tackling the mundane errands and routine chores that we all have to do to keep afloat.
To me this just reinforces the importance of budgeting time for activities that are enjoyable and relaxing. We must recharge our batteries if we want to feel refreshed and ready to face the workweek when Monday rolls around.
Do you get the Sunday night blues? If so, how do you fight the funk?
16 comments posted
January 11, 2010 9:32 a.m.
I have suffered from this since I was a child--when I used to procrastinate on doing my homework. Now as a 38-yr old mother of three who has a full-time job outside the house, a long commute, and needy parents, it hits me harder than ever before. Every Sunday I find myself overwhelmed with a messy house that I started to clean Saturday morning, and laundry still not done. I have one-year-old twins and a 4 yr old, and they need me and my husband throughout the day. When I'm sitting on the couch feeding one baby, I cry as I look at the disorganized house that I attempted to clean that very morning. Sunday, we go to church, but when we come home to a messy house, I am just reminded of all the 100 other things I need to do, plus I still want to enjoy my family. I'm overwhelmed every Sunday night--I cry, argue with everyone, and can't eat. I actually hate the weekend!!! I hate being invited to b-day parties because that just means more time away from the household chores. Hate Sundays!!!
- SCM
December 30, 2009 1:09 p.m.
Sundays can be a day of reflection, not only on spiritual matters, but on the progress of our lives. It can be a time to ask: Did I fulfill my purpose this week? will I ever meet Mr. right? Where is my life going? If the answers are negative, this can also be a searching period. How can I fulfill my life purpose? Where can I go to meet Mr. Right? What methods can I use to determine where my life is going? I use Sundays to ponder these questions and map a strategy. Barbara A. "Cry Depression, Celebrate Recovery."
- Barbara A
October 7, 2009 5:14 a.m.
Call in the Sunday Night Blues or the Monday Morning Blues - of course I get it! I think it has to do with the feeling that at the start of each week you lose control of your time. I devote time at weekends for family and for my own activities - reading, listening to music, tidying around, eating out or a drive somewhere. Never focus on the work week however important the taks at hand or the deadlines. Simply worrying about them is not going to get the job done so why worry and stress yourself. Even while at work I've started apportioning my time into slots - one hour of work and a 10-minute break. Just walk around, get a cup of tea, snack on a biscuit or just browse the headlnes - whatever the break, your body and mind get freed from the monotony and you feel more energetic. Likewise, do not attend to phones, email, mobile calls at lunch time. Just focus on your meal and take a 10-minute nap to refresh yourself. I try to finish a puzzle or word game before putting my mind back to work. Or make a brief call home to find out how the family is. These little things ensure the day doesn't seem endless. It works for me and I hope it will for others.
- Priyadarshini
September 17, 2009 6:52 p.m.
Get with friends and family. That will take your mind off Monday morning and the boss at work.
- Doug
September 10, 2009 1:55 p.m.
I used to suffer from that. I don't anymore because I consider how many people is out of work. I'm grateful to have a job.
- Renee
September 9, 2009 8:15 p.m.
I go to a 12-step group meeting on Sunday nights. Even on occasions when I don't feel like going, it gives me a tremendous lift. In some ways, it's better than church!
- Dean
September 9, 2009 4:30 p.m.
I go to church every sunday..It helps a lot...
- Sandy
September 9, 2009 8:38 a.m.
I plan something enjoyable for MONDAY evening. That way, I seem to look past Monday itself. I plan to do a little shopping, a special supper that we particularly enjoy (usually something in the crock pot) or something like that.
- Luvmycat
September 8, 2009 5:47 p.m.
I found a place that has a Sunday night jam session. It starts early and ends at 10:00 p.m. so it's doable on a work night. I love to dance. What a stress reliever and a good cardio exercise.
- Ingrid
September 8, 2009 12:31 p.m.
Exercising late afternoon and following it up with a shower and a healthy dinner helps to temper the Sunday blues for me!
- Jen
September 4, 2009 5:28 p.m.
Solved the problem...I retired. Now I'm off 5 days, just work week-ends, and suffer from The Friday night Blues :)
- Fliptrx
September 4, 2009 11:38 a.m.
Sorry, I must have screwed up first attempt. I think your blogs are great! My favorite contained your up-dated definition of "Mindfullness," which included "...not being distracted by phone calls, emails..." etc. Good, timely expansion on Kabat-Zinn's definition.
- Carl
September 3, 2009 9:28 a.m.
I think Sundays used to be a time of family and friends. A time to relax. We are too busy now and too tired. We beat the Sunday blues recently by taking another couple on an afternoon cruise to a scenic little town an hour or two away. Inexpensive, not stressful, but fun. Grab a friend and go somewhere! Go visit a relative in the nursing home. Get together for a picnic. Go for a walk. Take time for yourself.
- Jeanne
September 2, 2009 11:17 a.m.
My guess is the Sunday blues is connected with a sort of free-floating anxiety about the upcoming week's activities. Anticipated problems and challenges loom in our imagination larger than they really are. In reality, of course, life is lived moment by moment. Sunday may be a day of inactivity and rumination. If we fix the inactivity aspect by engaging in physical activity, the rumination won't carry us away so much. In a ruminating frame of mind, it's easy to see things out of proportion. Here's what helps for me: Walking and lap swimming on Sunday afternoon. Worship service can also be also good; avoiding the news is another idea.
- Alan
September 2, 2009 9:01 a.m.
I think that Sundayitis stems from when in school and you leave your homework till Sunday night.
- Paula
September 2, 2009 5:24 a.m.
I try to turn it into a celebration. Suday I cook a roast and rent a good movie. At around 3pm I take a bubble bath and wash my hair, give myself a facial and manicure/pedicure. I am settled into bed around 6 pm with a glass of wine and a netflix movie. I drift off to sleep.
- Me
16 comments posted