A gentle look at what dissatisfaction at work could feel like, and what you can do about it.

That slight thought pattern that creeps in on a Sunday evening (if your working week starts on a Monday). Perhaps these thoughts don’t actually leave you at the weekend at all? Your mood dips, and your focus shifts to work, disrupting your weekend activities and enjoyment. Maybe you start checking emails, looking at your work phone, or replying to messages before Monday has even arrived. Rather than taking the weekend to recharge and focus on life outside of work, your weekends are in effect becoming shorter and shorter.

You start to consider the meetings you need to prepare for, and your body begins to get itself ready for the energy it knows it will need in the coming days.

It could be the Sunday night dread (the doldrums?) and if it has become a regular part of your weekend, it might be time to listen to what it’s trying to tell you.

Because it’s not always about the work piling up. Sometimes, it’s about misalignment.

What is career misalignment?

Misalignment happens when the activities you do and the people you spend time with at work no longer feel like they fit or give you a sense of wellbeing. They may no longer align with who you are, what you care about, or how you want to live. It might have been a good fit once – but things change. You grow. Your priorities shift. What once felt exciting might now feel draining, frustrating, or completely out of sync with your values.

That doesn't mean you’ve done something wrong. It just means you’re ready for something different.

What it feels like

Misalignment often shows up subtly, little by little, before it becomes difficult to ignore on a regular basis. Here are some of the signs I see in clients I work with:

You’re constantly exhausted, even after a good night’s sleep
You dread Monday mornings (or the first day back after a break), and the dread starts to build earlier and earlier in the rest period
You feel under-stimulated, overstretched, or both
You find yourself zoning out in meetings, questioning why you’re even there
You feel like you’re performing a role, rather than just being yourself
You keep wondering, “Is this it?”

Misalignment can show up physically too. Headaches. Jaw tension. A churn in your stomach when you open your inbox. Your body often knows before your mind does.

You’re allowed to want more

Here’s something I wish more people heard:

Wanting to enjoy your work is a valid thing to strive for, if it’s important to you.
Wanting more meaning or balance is a valid thing to strive for, if it’s important to you.
And wanting change doesn’t mean you have to destroy everything.

It just means you have some work to do to be where you want to be, on your terms. By listening to yourself, not always putting others first, you’re already taking a brave and positive step.

What now?

If the dread is a regular feeling, it’s worth exploring what’s behind it. Here’s where you can start:

Get curious
Ask yourself: What exactly am I dreading? Is it the work itself? The people? The pressure? Naming it helps loosen its grip.
Tune into your body
Where do you feel the tension? What happens when you think about your work week? Your body’s cues can be surprisingly honest.
Talk it out
You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Speaking with someone who gets it – a coach, a trusted friend – can help you untangle the thoughts in your head and make sense of what’s going on.
Explore what alignment would look like
What would it feel like to wake up excited about your day? What kind of work would energise you? What do you want more (or less) of?

You don’t need all the answers straight away. But opening the door to those questions is a powerful first step.

Want to talk about it?
This is the kind of work I do with my clients – creating space to reflect, reset, and gently realign. If you’re carrying that Sunday dread and wondering what else is possible, I’d love to help you explore it.

You’re allowed to want more. Book a free intro call or get in touch if you're ready to start shifting things – even if it’s just a small step for now

Schedule a free call