Sunday.

February 12, 2006 9:07 AM

I've stopped being able to work out what to do with Sundays. I know it's supposed to be a day of rest and that's ok, but I always feel like I've wasted the day no matter what. What does everyone else do?
posted by feelinglistless to Human Relations (47 answers total)

Read?

What sort of stuff have you tried? I'm pretty useless at filling Sundays with stuff to do as well.
posted by public at 9:15 AM on February 12, 2006

I spend my Sundays eading questions at this site.
posted by Postroad at 9:16 AM on February 12, 2006

Get up early and clean and/or go to the grocery store. Then when noon rolls around, I can sit on the couch and watch TV and not feel like I wasted the day.
posted by smackfu at 9:17 AM on February 12, 2006

Usually I'm doing crap for work on Sunday afternoons. But when I can't do that anymore, I fill my time grocery shopping, cleaning, calling friends I haven't talked to in a while (free minutes!), and generally decompressing before the week starts again. Sometimes I like to make really good meals on Sunday nights, and then I have leftovers to start the week with.
posted by jetskiaccidents at 9:27 AM on February 12, 2006

Who says it has to be a day of rest? If you don't want to rest, then don't. Do whatever the hell you like.
posted by Orange Goblin at 9:27 AM on February 12, 2006

lie in, play football, get home, watch football, read all sunday papers, make a nice dinner, then read all evening. I love sundays.
posted by kev23f at 9:27 AM on February 12, 2006

I spend the day working my ass off, hoping that I can make it to the middle of the week so I can have a nice relaxing day off.
posted by nadawi at 9:28 AM on February 12, 2006

I always get the blues, personally. Never figured out why, as I am exceedingly cheery the rest of the week. I find Bloody Marys to be the solution. Speaking of which, I'm off to get one or four.
posted by CunningLinguist at 9:39 AM on February 12, 2006

I get up very early and go to a two-hour swim practice. After that, everything is gravy: IRC, reading, freelance, whatever. This has immesurably increased the pleasure of my Sundays.
posted by dame at 9:41 AM on February 12, 2006

Brunch, naps, going out to parks or fun events with my dog when the weather is nice, Sunday night TV (West Wing, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy), cooking a big meal to eat during the week for lunch, doing the dishes.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:43 AM on February 12, 2006 [1 favorite]

Oh, and church, with all that entails (choir before, fellowship and handbell choir afterwards).
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:44 AM on February 12, 2006 [1 favorite]

I tend to smoke dope and play computer games most Sundays. And surf the internet.

Wasting time is a good thing, feelinglistless, stop worrying... By wasting it we revel in its abundance.
posted by Meatbomb at 10:04 AM on February 12, 2006

Me and my friends growing up used to have "Sunday feeling". It happens most often during the summer, but the winter has it too. It happens around sunset, this feeling of lethargy and melencholy would hover over us. It was like the ending of Stand By Me. We could have done something super important and accomplished so much in the morning, but by the end of the day...ugh.

I have never really been able to get rid of that feeling.
posted by Brainy at 10:04 AM on February 12, 2006

I usually end up grocery shopping and doing laundry on Sundays and reading a lot of newspapers. Sometimes I'll watch a movie. When the weather is nice, I'll end up doing something outside. I've never been able to pull this off, but my mother cooks 2-3 meals that they can eat throughout the week.

I get something similar to what Brainy mentions around 7pm on Sunday. I start feeling like the weekend's truly over and I start feeling work tension creep in. And I like my job, can't imagine how I'd feel if I hated it.
posted by jdl at 10:13 AM on February 12, 2006

I'm another one who tries to start the day with something like cleaning or a bit of work. Then I can sit on my ass (winter) or get out and play sports (summer) for the rest of the day. I spend the evening reading.
posted by gaspode at 10:19 AM on February 12, 2006

Lately - everything that my working-six-days-a-week schedule won't let me. Clean the apartment, just chill and watch DVD's, read, do food shopping, etc. I find if I cook a lot on the weekends, I don't have to worry so much during the weekday. I'll knit, or do beadwork, or other things to keep my hands busy. And, of course, buttloads of time online.

A girl at work has a unique solution to this - she was bored in the evenings, so she got a part-time job at Dunkin' Donuts. I don't know if it appeals to you, but she's really happy with it - easy work, and she has fun co-workers, and it's something for her to do. Maybe volunteer, if you don't need the extra money?
posted by kalimac at 10:30 AM on February 12, 2006

I also tend to tidy, clean, do laundry, that sorta stuff on Sundays. I don't do it on weekdays because I just wanna wind down after work. If I do it at the weekend I still have time left to do other stuff.

And that other stuff is usually hanging out online, reading, going shopping maybe... sometimes visiting friends, going for a walk if the weather allows. Or doing something creative if I'm in the mood.
posted by ClarissaWAM at 10:35 AM on February 12, 2006

Go for a walk. That's what I'm going to do today.
posted by autojack at 10:45 AM on February 12, 2006

sleep in, coffee, water
I read MeFi, delete inbox spam, he watches pundit shows
laundry, music, reading
lunch, errands, finish laundry
[in the summer, this is more go for walks, get outside, go swimming in the river, go take pictures, read on the porch but in the winter it's much much more limited]
he does homework, I clean up/organize/blog
swim, eat, Simpsons, tv/video/coding/computer zombie time
snacks, brush teeth/smoke
bed

when I was a kid, Sundays were lousy because it was the day that most of my friends went to church, my parents were both home and tired of each other and yelling all day, and me and my sister were stressed out about homework, and trapped in a house with angry parents. I make a serious effort to not make Sundays suck, even if it means they're sometimes not super "productive"
posted by jessamyn at 10:45 AM on February 12, 2006

Sunday is the day I get ready for the rest of the week. Clothes cleaned, a batch of whatever ready for breakfasts, groceries laid in; basically anything that will make my life easier during the week--especially those groggy mornings.

Also, reading, surfing, maybe a matinee. Sundays are a great day to just stay in and have quiet time.
posted by frykitty at 10:49 AM on February 12, 2006

Sundays for me bum me out - I use the time productively (laundry, any random errands, and quality family time with the husband and dog) but there's always this aura of "I have to go back to work tomorrow," you know, the Sunday blues. I think I'd enjoy my weekend much more if I had an extra day.

At any rate, in the summer time, I would get up early and run outside along Lake Shore Drive. There's something invigorating about having already run, eaten breakfast, and having showered all by 8 or 9AM. Now, I've got other plans (I am out of the house at 5AM now, but for other, non-running reasons) and Sunday feels like I have a whole bunch of time left. I've got nap time planned for when my laundry dries later on. Maybe a crossword puzzle or two. Still have the Sunday blues, but now that I cram more into my Sunday, the more I feel like I haven't wasted my time.
posted by cajo at 10:51 AM on February 12, 2006

Jazz and reading, usually nonfiction, although I just spent the last two hours with Richard Price's Freedomland and plan on taking it to the coffeeshop for another few hours after lunch. It's great.

I never feel that time spent reading good books is wasted.
posted by mediareport at 10:51 AM on February 12, 2006

As a Latter-Day Saint, I'm quite strict about keeping the Sabbath day holy. I leave certain activities exclusively for Sunday (so I'm not bored) and you might consider the same. For example, I write letters to relatives, study scripture and science-related stuff, nap, go to church, update my calendar and contact lists, go on walks - you know - old people stuff.

It's not all that bad actually. You need disconnect from the rest of the week and regular activities.
posted by rinkjustice at 11:01 AM on February 12, 2006

I brew beer.
posted by trey at 11:08 AM on February 12, 2006

I sleep in (because of church, I never had the chance as a kid). The main features of my day are laundry and cleaning and probably a run to the grocery store. I finish up whatever papers or readings I have left -- usually a good amount, since it's hard to make myself work on Saturdays -- and spend a little extra time making a nicer-than-usual dinner. Tonight, because of the Olympics, I'll probably watch a little TV. Then I go to bed earlier than usual to try to get a head start on this week's sleep.
posted by booksandlibretti at 11:10 AM on February 12, 2006

I play far too much FIFA 2006 on my PS2 lately. And Madden. Then I read. And go to the gym. Goof around on the computer. Clean the house up a bit. Chase the cats around. Anything to combat that Sunday Dread.
posted by xmutex at 11:40 AM on February 12, 2006

i smoke dope, clean my house, buy groceries, play a few games, and if i'm lucky folks come over and we grill out and watch the simpsons and family guy. what a perfect sunday!
posted by yeahyeahyeahwhoo at 11:45 AM on February 12, 2006

Amongst other things, I read the new PostSecrets.
posted by Lotto at 12:09 PM on February 12, 2006

If I don't get out of the house at all I feel like the day never happened. This is very rarely a good thing. But getting out of the house can make the day stick a bit better; the difference between reading for a couple hours at home and reading for a couple hours in a cafe is a big one.
posted by mendel at 12:21 PM on February 12, 2006

Italian Serie A in winter, Formula One in summer. And schoolwork. Schoolwork.
posted by philfromhavelock at 12:39 PM on February 12, 2006

Ride 50 miles.
posted by fixedgear at 12:40 PM on February 12, 2006

I like to spend Sunday morning sleeping, fornicating (or masturbating, depending on whether or not there's anybody else in my bed), smoking grass, and surfing the web. Sunday afternoon is good for brunch or for playing video games. Evenings are the perfect time to go to the local brewpub, have a fantastic supper with tasty beer, and perhaps play Quizzo. Or, you can just spend them in bed with somebody warm and fun.

Homework might need to be done in there somewhere.

In the summer, you have all sorts of great options like strolling around the city, hanging out in the park, going for a drive (if you have a vehicle), urban exploring/tunnel hacking, and drinking in all manner of pleasant little bars. If you can round up a group, you can easily do all sorts of stupid, but entertaining, shit like protesting foie gras, starting fights, or putting on impromptu street performances.

Honestly, for Sunday to be perfect, I need have only one orgasm and one beer at some point throughout the day. The rest of it is just icing on the cake.
posted by Netzapper at 12:57 PM on February 12, 2006

Get up at six, at church by 7: 15, go thru three services (I am on the worship team, wait till my daughter is done with the nursery so she can come home with us and have Sunday lunch) ..Church is over by 1:30 or so, we wind up at home between 2:30 and 3. Then we eat, read the paper, play on the computer, nap, whatever. Mostly chill. It's the one day my hubby is usually off (for the whole day) but he's at the office right this minute.

Sunday poops me out.
posted by konolia at 12:59 PM on February 12, 2006

Response by poster: Wow, thanks everyone. I'm actually very pleased because many of the things you do, I do. I think I can relax because that sounds like what you're supposed to do.
posted by feelinglistless at 1:28 PM on February 12, 2006

Watch movies. Bake dessert breads to snack on throughout the week (it makes Sunday something to look forward to). Make a soup or a chili, depending on the weather. Read something fun.
posted by Tuwa at 1:36 PM on February 12, 2006

Oh, y'know, if it's a lazy day, maybe hit up Magnolia for some cupcakes, go to the deli and buy some Mr. Pibb and Red Vines, then sneak them in to the movie theatre and see Chronicles of Narnia.
posted by incessant at 2:59 PM on February 12, 2006

Get outside, work out, swim, etc. When you come back in, it still sucks, but at least you were out for a while.

Sundays... meh.
posted by devilsbrigade at 4:25 PM on February 12, 2006

I try to get up at a decent hour - I hate feeling like I have wasted the day - and I hate not being able to sleep sunday night because then I have a groggy monday. Ack.

My love always sleeps late - so morning times let me catch up on kitchen work - I make an ton of green tea and bottle it for the week. Grocery shop, make food for the weeks lunches/dinners, catch up on my intraweb.

I also usually go to the gym and take my time - instead of feeling rushed like I do most of the week. I like to try something new or make a "spa" day out of it and spend a lot of time in the sauna, pool, hot tub, steam room.

Towards the end of the day we often have a few friends over to watch a movie or a show and have dinner.

Contrast that with my wife - she sleeps late and usually spends the rest of the day playing games, watching games and doing a bit of housework. She ends the day by playing games. :)

Sunday is your day - do what makes you happy.
posted by jopreacher at 5:13 PM on February 12, 2006

I always practice what I call Stoner Sundays. I get up superearly and before noon I go to yoga, do some shopping at the Whole Foods, get coffee, and eat breakfast. On the way home I get a newspaper, go home, burn, read the paper, watch bad tv, and just relax. Usually in the early evening my best friend calls me and after that I watch Grey's Anatomy.

I work really hard throughout the week and Saturdays are so crazy with errands and family obligations that I don't feel guilty about spending Sundays the way I do. I find the me-time and relaxation to be very therapeutic.
posted by superkim at 5:45 PM on February 12, 2006

Wake-and-bake and everything will feel worthwhile.

Also, it's an odd feeling, Sunday. I find myself having a deficit of social activities as of late, and yet sometimes, on Sundays, I just turn them down because I feel like having 'one of those days.'

One thing I recommend doing which has worked out fabulously for me, is Torrent some TV shows. I've gotten into about 4 different series simply because I started downloading episodes--it's a great way to kill time. I'm very much into the 'longer' TV shows, like Battlestar Galactica, Lost, Stargate Atlantis, Desperate Housewives, and the like. Hell, I even did that with some anime, like Full Metal Alchemist. Shows like Stargate Atlantis...I refuse to watch from, 'in the middle.' I just downloaded the first two seasons (a few gigs each) and I'm up to season 2, episode 3 right now.

I knew nothing about Stargate or Stargate Atlantis before downloading it; I did 2 minutes of research, and when it was eventually done downloading, I watched it. It's rewarding--corny, a little..."b," but rewarding. It's hard for me not to like things unless theyre absolutely terrible, so at least for me, this method has a high success rate.
posted by Lockeownzj00 at 7:12 PM on February 12, 2006

I call my folks. And every Sunday night I wonder why the fuck my apartment is still a mess when I've been doing chores/running errands all weekend.

Then I realize I've been on the internet for a couple hours. Is it really 10:30 already?
posted by A dead Quaker at 7:28 PM on February 12, 2006

I like to go out to a movie Sunday evening, since that's the crummiest part of a Sunday.
posted by redfoxtail at 7:46 PM on February 12, 2006

I work out five days a week, and my workout schedule starts on Sunday. I've found that having the entire day to get around to it works a lot better than when I was starting on Mondays. Also, it means that I don't have to cram a workout into Friday evening before dinner or whatever.
posted by Ian A.T. at 9:11 PM on February 12, 2006

I make myself run two errands, so I feel productive, and then I don't force myself to do anything else the rest of the day. Then, if I happen to do more errands, they're a bonus. If I don't, it's OK because I've already done something with the day.

Hope your Sundays get better!
posted by halonine at 10:29 PM on February 12, 2006

I think the key to non-gloomy Sundays is to make sure to see someone and do something.

I usually have a shift at the social centre I volunteer for on Sunday morning. So 10am - 2pm is cooking brunch in the cafe. Then go home, maybe have band practice, maybe play guitar or go to the cinema, maybe a spot of tidying up in my flat, talk to my Dad on the phone, maybe go out for a meal in the evening.

If one really wants to be lazy, it can often be done guilt-free by dossing around at *someone else's house*.
posted by pollystark at 3:18 AM on February 13, 2006

Best answer: In the end, it was the Sunday afternoons he couldn't cope with, and that terrible listlessness that starts to set in at about 2:55, when you know you've taken all the baths you can usefully take that day, that however hard you stare at any given paragraph in the newspaper you will never actually read it, or use the revolutionary new pruning technique it describes, and that as you stare at the clock the hands will move relentlessly on to four o'clock, and you will enter the long dark teatime of the soul.

Life, the Universe and Everything by Douglas Adams, page 9
posted by mbrubeck at 9:24 AM on February 13, 2006 [1 favorite]

I often get this feeling Sundays too. What really makes it bad is I look forward to the weekend all week so I can have free time :0)
posted by xammerboy at 9:46 AM on February 13, 2006