Every single one of us needs a day off every now and again. A mental health day is a day that you take off work for a refresh. You get to rest, relax, and relieve some stress.
Below I have listed the obvious signs to pay attention to:
Dread going to work
Do you wake up wanting to stay in bed, wishing you could just pull the covers over your head? Does the thought of going to work fill you with dread? If so, it’s time for a day away from the stress of the office.
Whenever you’re not really feeling like going to work and you go anyway, chances are that you will have a bad day. This can cause you to start disliking your job, which makes it even harder to go to work every day.
Unable to focus
Making mistakes more often and scrambling to get all your work done is a telltale sign that you need a break from work. Having too much going on at work and at home makes it that much more difficult to focus.
Taking a day off can help you clear your mind and come back with a fresh perspective ready to tackle work projects.
You may also be so tired and burnt out that you can’t focus on anything. Working so much that you haven’t been getting much sleep. If you find yourself fighting to stay awake, it is time for a mental health day.
Feeling under the weather
Your mind is so connected to your body that negative thoughts and emotions can cause negative effects on the body. For instance, you are getting headaches more often or you keep catching colds and are not sure why.
A possible reason your cold keeps returning week after week or won’t seem to go away for days is that your body is telling you that it needs rest.
A mental health day could be just what you need to help you recover and feel better.
Mood changes
Your mood is changing, causing you to get irritated more with everyone, including your family and friends. The smallest things set you off, and you remain in that mood for the rest of the day.
Taking some time off to get your mind back on track keeps you from taking out this frustration on the ones around you.
Why should you take a mental health day?
It is a day that is focused on your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. We all are human, and we need to take breaks from whatever ruffles our feathers sometimes. One thing to make a note of, it’s okay to take a mental health day and not feel bad about it.
We get burnt out and need to reset. It may not seem like a big deal to take a mental health day off from work to some, but it really is. Even though you are physically capable of going to work every day doesn’t mean that you should.
Working under constant pressure and stress can affect you in the long run, so it’s best to eliminate it by taking breaks.
If you are burnt out while working, you won’t be getting as much work done. You could be fighting your sleep all day because of lack of sleep, or unable to focus on completing tasks because of being so overwhelmed.
What to do on a mental health day
1. Rest
Sometimes it feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day. We get so caught up in getting things done that we don’t think about the lack of rest.
They say that 7 to 8 hours is a good amount of time, but most of us only get around 4. Over time your body will start to break down.
Resting is a big part of our health. It is good for our immune system, improves moods, and can increase concentration. When you are well rested you feel better and can focus more at work.
2. Get out and mingle
Catch up with some of your friends that you haven’t seen in a while. Spending time with others helps keep you in a positive mood.
Hanging out with others can help with those negative emotions like loneliness. You are connecting and creating those bonds with others that create happiness.
3. Don’t do anything
If you don’t feel like doing anything, then don’t do anything! Being in go mode all the time makes you forget to take a break.
It is okay to spend a day doing absolutely nothing. Giving your body and mind the time to relax. Enjoy not having to do anything at all.
4. Get outside
Nature is free and goes such a long way in helping you to feel better. The sun, for instance, is the most natural way of supplying Vitamin D.
Everything about nature is beautiful: trees, plants, grass, animals, and the smell. Being in an environment like this takes your mind away from everything else that is going on in your life.
Taking a mental health day gives you time to take care of YOU. It allows you to focus on relaxation to cope with your day-to-day challenges. When will you take yours?
No comment yet, add your voice below!