Why does that sinking feeling show up before the work week starts and what can you actually do about it? In this honest solo episode, Jennifer McCanna discusses the experience of “Sunday night dread,” exploring why uncertainty and unknown challenges trigger our nerves, and sharing eight practical strategies to move from catastrophising to calm.

You’ll hear why power dynamics, psychological safety, and habitual worry can make stress worse, and how you can gently reclaim control over your emotions and your week. Whether your dreaded day is Sunday, Monday, or any other, this episode is full of real-life strategies to help you.

Here are the Highlights:

• Naming your emotions and reframing anxiety as a temporary feeling
• Catching spiralling thoughts and interrupting catastrophising with calmer scripts
• Is your worry based on habit or current reality?
• Creating a “soft landing” for your week, think treats, routines, or simple plans
• The role of check-ins and social support
• A straightforward language swap to reduce guilt and reclaim choice
• Tips for calming your nervous system and tapping with EFT (see the video below)
• Logging your emotions to help you notice patterns and give you evidence you need to challenge habitual thinking.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Tap to Support You

This simple tap is designed simply to help give you space to notice where you’re feeling the dread and reduce those stress hormones. https://vimeo.com/1177343482

Depending on whether your dread is linked to a difficult meeting or relationship, you may want to also check out the EFT taps on other episodes including season 1: episode 3 – The Difficult Boss Survival Guide, season 1: episode 5 – Tension in the office? Managing a difficult team member or season 2: episode 7 – difficult meetings – do them your way.

A note from Jen: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self help tool with ever growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies and now used by the NHS in trauma therapy. Self help is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would like to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch.

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world.

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader.

She works with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designs and delivers insightful and engaging leadership development and away days.

Download free resources at Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna

Explore more about Jen and her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna

Follow her on LinkedIn here Jennifer McCanna PCC | LinkedIn

And on Instagram here Jen McCanna ⚡️Leadership Coach ⚡️EFT (@jen_the_leadership_coach) • Instagram photos and videos

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Produced by Winter Audio