When our body gets sick, most of us don’t hesitate to take care of ourselves, including taking a sick day at work. However, when our mind isn’t feeling well, how often do any of us take a day off? Everyone needs to take a mental health day. Now more than ever, we are living in stressful, uncertain times, and it’s essential to take days that restore our health – mentally and physically. Here’s why you benefit:
- You reduce your stress levels.
Long hours, high demands, and being pulled into a million different directions can wear anyone out. Be sure to pay attention to signs you are getting too stressed. You may have trouble focusing at work, regular job duties become more challenging, motivation is slipping, and your emotions are way over the top. These are signs you need a break. When do you, make sure you take a real day off, too. Don’t check your work email and don’t make a to-do list. Mental health days give your mind the breather it needs.
- You can get to know yourself again.
If you ever feel like you are living on autopilot, it is a sign that you need a day to take care of yourself. Schedule a day off when you know it won’t interfere with work and on a day when family responsibilities are manageable.
When your mental health day arrives, take the time to relax and calm your mind down. Spend some time journaling and reflecting on where you are in your life at the moment. Take a long look at what is stressing you out and think about what you can do to reduce stress. Also, plan to do something fun that just you enjoy. It can be cooking a favorite recipe, playing with art, or going through photo albums and walking down memory lane. Get back in touch with yourself, and you will be surprised at what you learn.
- Get things done you’ve been putting off.
Despite the previous advice of not doing anything on your to-do list, sometimes conquering your to-do list will help your mental health. Schedule a day where you can do errands that have weighed you down. Make a checklist for yourself to conquer those tasks. It can be anything from large to small. You’ll end the day feeling as if a burden has been lifted.
Mental health days are often seen as needless or time-wasting. Yet, our mental health matters as much as our physical health. Taking a day off to relax will do you a world of good. Your mind – and your body – will thank you.
I’m always hesitant about taking a mental health day off as I don’t want to be seen as weak or like I cannot do my job. It’s a hard one.
Totally understand that! I struggle with that too.