Taking a mental health day can be beneficial for your overall well-being. Mental health days allow you to take a break from the daily grind and reflect on your own mental and emotional health. Additionally, taking time off from work can help clear your mind, relieve stress, and provide you with an opportunity to recharge before getting back into the swing of things.
Mental health days can be especially helpful when dealing with symptoms of depression and anxiety, as it gives us time to take a step back and reassess our stress levels. Taking just one day off work or school to destress, relax, and have fun is a great way to provide respite from burnout. While this single day won’t solve any deep-seated issues that cause burnout, it will help us come back refreshed and with higher energy levels, as well as a renewed attitude towards our commitments and responsibilities.
The Center for Disease Control estimates that as many as 200 million workdays are lost every year due to illnesses related to depression and anxiety, with the cost being anywhere between $17 billion and $44 billion. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, more companies have begun to offer specialized emotional and mental health services for their employees. These include free access to wellness apps, video sessions with counselors, and stipends for physical or psychological health-related services. Taking a mental health day may not only help individuals reduce stress levels, but can potentially improve employee productivity in the long run.
SIGNS YOU NEED A MENTAL HEALTH DAY
There are some telltale signs that it is time for you to take a mental health day. If you’re having difficulty concentrating or feeling overwhelmed, disconnected from your life, or exhausted despite getting enough sleep, experiencing emotional outbursts or panic attacks, avoiding responsibilities, experiencing decreased productivity from lack of motivation, seeing negative outcomes more often than positive ones, and apathy; these are all signs that it might be beneficial to take a mental health day.
IS TAKING A MENTAL HEALTH DAY CONSIDERED A “SICK DAY”?
Taking a mental health day is not necessarily the same as taking a sick day; it is instead about intentionally taking time off to destress, practice self-care and focus on your own well-being. It can be beneficial in providing opportunities to recharge and refocus, ultimately improving productivity and morale. It is still important to check with your employer’s sick day policies. Depending on your company’s policies and state or local laws, taking a mental health day may require you to use vacation days or paid time off instead of sick days.
WHAT TO DO ON A MENTAL HEALTH DAY
Taking a mental health day can be an important step in managing stress and burnout. To get the most benefit out of it, use your time off to do something calming and enjoyable, like listening to music, going for a walk in nature or spending time with friends and family. You can also use this time to take care of yourself by doing things such as lounging around in pajamas watching TV or taking a nap, praying and meditating, or reading a book.
Other activities you can try to help you unwind could include attending a yoga class, getting a massage, swimming laps, or exploring a museum. Since every person’s stressors are different, it is important to take some time to reflect on what type of activity will best meet your needs – whether it is some downtime with loved ones, tension relief or just having some fun. Ultimately, a mental health day should be about finding something calming and restorative so that you can come back feeling recharged and ready to tackle the challenges ahead.
Mental health days can be beneficial when used to take time away from stress and challenges. However, mental health days shouldn’t be a time to indulge in unhealthy behavior such as binge-watching Netflix, smoking or drinking, overeating unhealthy food, or spending the day on social media. Instead, these days should be used to actively practice self-care activities that help bring our minds back into balance after periods of intense mental strain. With thoughtful planning, mental health days can be great ways to refocus and reframe our perspectives on life.
IT’S SO GOOD FOR YOU, IT HAS ITS OWN MONTH
During Mental Health Awareness Month (May 1st–31st), we are reminded that having an outlet to practice self-care is essential for maintaining our mental well-being. Taking the time to step away from our regular schedules and take care of ourselves can make all the difference in reducing stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. A few hours of self-care has been shown to reduce symptoms of illness while encouraging personal growth, so if you’re feeling overwhelmed, it may be beneficial to take a day just for yourself.
IN SUMMARY
Taking a mental health day IS actually good for you! Mental health awareness is on the rise. Allowing yourself to take time off when mentally exhausted can actually help to restore your focus, energy, and motivation when done properly – who wouldn’t want that? Mental health days can lead to better emotional well-being, so it’s definitely worth considering if you need a break from work or your everyday life!