Welcome to the last Sunday Scaries of 2025! π
The Limbo Between Holidays
This isn't Christmas week anymore, but we're not quite at the New Year.
Where does that leave us? In that weird, floaty Sunday in between β the one that feels a little like the Upside Down: familiar, unsettling, and hopefully sans Vecna.
If the Sunday Scaries feel a little different (maybe even a little stranger π) tonight, you're not imagining it. We're all here, hanging out in the limbo of cookies and candy and the turn of a calendar that will reveal new possibilities.
While we wait for that ball to drop, know that I'm right here with you, hanging out in our very own version of the Upside Down. To help you through, here are some of my observations about these in-betweens.
1οΈβ£ The In-Between Is a Real Place This Sunday doesn't come with expectations to perform, produce, or even be particularly productive. In fact, it's just about the opposite. You're either on holiday vacation or acting like you're on holiday vacation. π
And yet, we can feel strangely compelled to get sh*t done. I've always noticed that when external pressure wanes, we do a fantastic job at replacing that space with internal realizations. It's as if the things we've been ignoring finally get some air time.
This is the perfect time of year for self-reflection, so let that have its space.
π Lesson: The in-between isn't something to rush through β it's something to recognize.
2οΈβ£ Clarity Rarely Shows Up on Demand We live in the age of instant gratification, which is why there's a seemingly constant pressure to figure things out β especially before the year flips. New goals. New direction. New energy.
But none of that arrives just because the calendar says it should. Clarity, confidence, and purpose show up after we stop forcing it. Every meaningful shift in my life has emerged after I let go of a little control, stopped trying to plan every step, and loosened my grip.
It rarely comes when I white-knuckle a plan into existence (quite the opposite, actually).
π Lesson: Let your new year planning fall where it may, not just because the year increases by one.
3οΈβ£ The Sunday Scaries Aren't About Monday This Week Let's be honest β there's probably not much waiting for you in your inbox tomorrow.
*If only I could be so lucky π*
And yet, here you are, worried about the post-Christmas workload or the fact that you just have to get back to a routine in general.
Newsflash: if that's you, there's a good chance the Sunday Scaries aren't actually about work. If you've been questioning whether you could have more meaning and direction in your lifeβ¦or maybe quietly questioning "is this still working for me," then lean into those Sunday Scaries a little more this week.
π Lesson: When work isn't the issue, it's worth listening to what is.
4οΈβ£ The In-Between Makes Patterns Visible When life slows down, patterns start to show themselves. What keeps coming up in your thoughts? What is draining you? What keeps drawing your attention?
What inkling would you act on if you let yourself? You don't need answers yet β just awareness.
π Lesson: The in-between isn't asking for decisions; it's offering information.
5οΈβ£ This Is Exactly Why I Wrote Scary Good π You knew it was comingβ¦ in just ten days, the non-self-help self-help book of a lifetime (at least, my lifetime) will be available wherever books are sold. This strange, uncomfortable space between certainty and change is the foundation of Scary Good: Discovering Life Beyond the Sunday Scaries.
The book isn't about fixing your work or optimizing your week; it's about learning how to listen β especially in moments like this β to understand what the Sunday Scaries are actually trying to tell you.
If this in-between feels familiar, you'll feel right at home in these pages.
π *Lesson: *Scary Good* launches January 8. [The waitlist is open.]
6οΈβ£ You Don't Have to Navigate It Alone For some people, the in-between feels philosophical. For others, it's highly practical β burnout, job uncertainty, or a sense that something needs to change at work.
Luckily, we have a great resource for those who are struggling on the work front. The third annual Job Seeker Summit is coming to a screen near you on January 8th, and it's exactly what you need to create momentum, find clarity, and gather all the resources you need to take your career (and job search) to the next level in 2026.
No more career in-between here!
π Lesson: The Job Seeker Summit happens January 8. [Register now!]
7οΈβ£ You Don't Have to Close the Year "Figured Out" The last Sunday Scaries of 2025 feels significant to me, especially as I release a book and usher in an entirely new chapter (pun intended π ) of what we all know and love about Combatting the Sunday Scaries.
That said, I encourage all of us, myself included, to avoid looking at the next week in a "wrap it all up" kind of way.
You don't need resolutions tonight. You don't need a five-year plan. You don't even need crystal-clear clarity.
All you may need to do is lean into the in-between and trust that the next step will show itself when it's ready.
π Lesson: It's okay to end the year unfinished.
If the Sunday Scaries are feeling a little extra tonight, don't worry. You're not behindβ¦ you're not at a disadvantage going into the new year. Maybe you just need to pay a little attention. π§ββοΈ
Here's to listening well, resting even better, and stepping into 2026 with intention instead of pressure.
Your Friend and Coach, Angie