The Sunday scaries…Why did I do that?
It’s Sunday afternoon, at the time, maybe it felt like a good idea…Maybe you over-served yourself on beer, wine or ice cream the night before, OR maybe you grazed your way through the pantry, or you skipped everything you said you were going to do.
Now Monday is lurking, and you’re already plotting a week full of rules and restrictions: no sugar, no alcohol, no carbs, no fun.
By Wednesday? You’re TOTALLY over it. The rules collapse, the cycle repeats, and the guilt settles in.
Sound familiar? You are not alone!
Welcome to being human. 👏🏻👏🏻
This isn’t a personal flaw—it’s human wiring. Our brains love big goals and quick fixes, but they also crave comfort. That’s why sugar, alcohol, or endless scrolling feel so good in the moment. They give us a quick dopamine hit—a tiny rush of pleasure—followed by the crash.
And here’s the kicker: midlife makes this loop even trickier. Hormonal shifts, sleep struggles, and stress mean our nervous systems are already working overtime. High cortisol leaves us craving “quick rewards” even more. Pair that with industries spending billions to market alcohol, junk food, and wellness fads at us, and it’s no wonder we’re stuck asking, “Why did I do that?”
The Sunday-to-Monday trap
Most women I coach know this cycle well:
Sunday: regret + self-criticism.
Monday: mission mode → strict rules, detox mentality.
Wednesday: rebellion → “forget it” moment.
Repeat.
The real problem isn’t the glass of wine or the cupcake. It’s the shame spiral that follows. Beating yourself up doesn’t spark behavior change—it actually lights up the same stress response that keeps you reaching for quick comfort in the first place. 😮💨
What works instead?
The science of behavior change is clear: small, steady shifts beat punishment every time. And it all starts with regulating your nervous system.
Track, don’t judge. Know what you’re actually consuming or skipping.
Build neutrality. Sugar, alcohol, late nights—these aren’t moral failures, but they aren’t allies for midlife vitality either.
Detach slip-ups from identity. Having dessert doesn’t mean you are “bad or wrong” It just means you had dessert.
Regulate first. Calming your nervous system makes following through on your choices possible. Breathwork, movement, and rest change the game more than any Monday rule list ever will.
Why letting go matters in midlife
The truth? I’ve yet to see a single study claiming alcohol benefits women in midlife (trust me! I have looked!😉) But I can point you to plenty showing how cutting back on alcohol, sugar, or other quick “pick-me-ups” improves energy, mood, sleep, and hormone health as well as HOW we age.
You don’t have to vilify these things to move forward. But you also don’t have to keep pretending they’re harmless. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s resilience—building the capacity to bounce back without spiraling.
Where you are is exactly where you need to be
If you’re feeling stuck in the “why did I do that?” loop, take a breath. You’re not broken. You’re simply human, living in a culture designed to keep you hooked.
Every moment is a chance to reset—not with punishment, but with compassion and curiosity. The more you calm your nervous system, the easier it is to make choices that actually support the life you want.
Ready to step off the Sunday-to-Wednesday roller coaster?
Schedule your free discovery call today. Let’s create calm, energy, and momentum that actually last—without another crash diet or shame spiral. Comment below and share with a friend if this was helpful for you to hear! Let’s lift each other up while we are all growing!
Much Love,
Val😘
