How to Beat the Sunday Scaries: What Leaders Can Do About Work Dread | Culture Talks

Why does Sunday night feel like Monday has already started? Lorne Rubis and Dave McCauley unpack the Sunday Scaries, which a recent Wall Street Journal piece says are on the rise, and what leaders can actually do about them. They cover removing uncertainty (especially in the age of AI), boundaries that protect weekends, Monday rituals that build momentum instead of dread, and the courage to ask for help. 00:00 Idaho snow & visiting a 96-year-old mom 01:53 The Wall Street Journal on the Sunday Scaries 02:12 What are the Sunday Scaries, really? 05:05 What can a boss do? Start with your own Sunday 08:23 Dave's rules: no weekend messages, no early Monday meetings 11:55 What if Sunday felt like excitement instead of dread? 14:05 The Thanksgiving table question: "Will you have a job?" 20:36 Monday rituals: wins, honest check-ins and pet photos 24:31 What would a 96-year-old say to the Sunday Scaries? 26:55 Saturday scaries & being "present" with the phone in hand 29:59 Agency: how we choose the rabbit hole 31:30 Do founders and farmers get Sunday scaries? 33:02 What to do if you've got them: ask for help 37:23 Wrap-up