How to Take An Effective Mental Health Day
Take a mental health day!
Having studied as a Registered Nurse (RN) in my previous career, schooling was focused on self-care and preservation. While the term “mental health day” wasn’t spoken it was my understanding that this self-care was a part of this term.
Working in today’s world can be overwhelming, stressful and chaotic. As an RN, I resonate with those words deeply exposed to trauma, lack of control and controlled chaos, there were times when I think to push through to the next shift or day we needed to take a minute. We need to collect ourselves and reflect which may require us to take a mental health day. As a society, we are inundated with information, stimulation and constant input which I believe requires us to check out and take care of ourselves.
I know this probably sounds counterintuitive to take time off work even if you aren’t “sick” but I think these days that we take for ourselves gives us the recharge we need to not get sick, burnt out and lose interest in our current job or life.
When taking a mental health day consider the following:
Take a break for the day about thinking about work or anything stressful
The day is just about you
What do you enjoy doing? Is it soaking in a tub with bubbles and a candle, is it listening to music and dancing around your house, or is it maybe taking a nap
The point is to decompress and let everything go for the day. Knowing that whatever you need to do will still be there tomorrow and one day won’t make or break you. It can be hard to think that way, I know from personal experience. I have come to recognize that this is a day to relax and rejuvenate how you chose.
