YuLife’s all-in one insurance and employee benefit provider has revealed a dramatic rise in anxiety before work across the UK. Google searches for Sunday Scaries are up 84% on average year-on-year.
Based on searches for terms such as “Sunday Blues”, “Sunday Scaries” and “Sunday Syndrome”, the data shows that Norwich residents are most worried about Monday mornings. They recorded 382 searches per 100 000 people. Newcastle (348), Oxford (345), and London (345) are the UK’s top Sunday night hotspots.
The rise in anxiety on Sundays is a reflection of a larger trend towards burnout at work. YuLife data shows that 66% of employees will feel burnt out by 2024. Sunday night anxiety may be a red flag, especially among younger workers and hybrids.
YuLife analyzed national search behavior and ranked UK Cities based on Sunday Scaries search volume. These findings are a digital warning of employee stress and a call to action for employers.
The UK’s most anxious cities
The cities with the most anxiety about Monday are listed below. Norwich is the city with the highest number of Sunday Scaries searches per 100,000 people in the UK. Newcastle is next with 348 and Oxford in third place with 341.
| City | Total Search volume per 100k residents |
| Norwich | 382 |
| Newcastle | 348 |
| Oxford | 345 |
| Reading | 299 |
| Plymouth | 295 |
| Dundee | 285 |
| Ipswich | 270 |
| Gloucester | 249 |
| Bristol | 246 |
| Portsmouth | 244 |
The UK’s Least Anxious Cities
Based on the search volume, these are the UK cities with the lowest levels Sunday night anxiety. Manchester is the city with the least Sunday Scaries searches per 100,000 residents. London is second with 59 and Durham third with 78.
| City | Total Search volume per 100k residents |
| Manchester | 48 |
| London | 59 |
| Durham | 78 |
| Nottingham | 81 |
| Cambridge | 100 |
| Sheffield | 106 |
| Leicester | 106 |
| Liverpool | 111 |
| Northampton | 114 |
| Milton Keynes | 132 |
What employers can do to ease Sunday night anxiety
Sunday Scaries can be a sign of a deeper issue at work. Poor boundaries, lack autonomy and a feeling of disconnect are all common. The anxiety that can show up Sunday evening is usually a result of what happened during the week.
The employers have a crucial role to play. The first step is to create a culture of wellbeing prioritisation before burnout occurs. It doesn’t require huge investments, but consistency is key. Encourage teams to take a break after work, support flexible schedules and recognise effort on a regular basis can all help.
The key to a proactive wellbeing program is support. Platforms such as YuLife can help employers create a culture of prevention, encouraging employees to take care of their mental and physical wellbeing every day, rather than only when something goes wrong. The goal is to reduce stress by reducing daily stress. This can be done through mindfulness challenges, movement challenges or real-time incentives.
Businesses can prevent Sunday anxiety by giving their employees the tools to prioritize their well-being and encouraging them to do so. What is the result? The result?
Katie Howarth is the Head of People at YouLife comments
If your employees feel anxious even before the start of the week, this is not only a health issue, but also a risk to your business. Sunday Scaries can be a sign of a larger problem: an employee base that is feeling overwhelmed, disconnected or unsupported. These feelings are not just a result of a bad Sunday night. They’re also a reflection of the week that has passed, including unrealistic expectations, lacked flexibility and poor boundaries.
Employers have two options: ignore the problem or take proactive steps to prevent it. It’s possible to create workplaces that are proactive in their approach to wellbeing, rather than reactive. We believe at YuLife that everyday, small actions can have a positive impact on how employees feel about their job, their team, and themselves. When employees feel empowered and supported, they are more likely to show up for work on Monday. They also show up at their very best .”
Methodology
YuLife analyzed 3 search terms related the “Sunday Scaries”, including phrases such as “Sunday Blues” and “Sunday Syndrome.” using data from Google Keyword Planner, and KeywordTool.io. The monthly search volume was normalised to the latest ONS population data in order to calculate the number searches per 100,000 residents. The final ranking includes the top 40 UK towns and cities.
The original HR news article Brits are losing sleep over Mondays: New study finds the most anxious cities in the UK appeared first on .
