How to Take An Effective Mental Health Day
Everyone has to deal with varying levels of stress. This can be particularly difficult to manage if you also have symptoms of depression or anxiety. When you feel like your stress levels have reached their peak, it might be time to take a quick break to reset.
According to research conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), anxiety and depressive disorders cost more than a trillion dollars globally in lost productivity each year.
Whatever stressors you face, these tips can help you take a mental health day and make the most of it.
When & How to Take a Day Off
Once you have decided to take a mental health day, the question then becomes "when and how?"
The best way to avoid feeling stressed about taking a day off is to schedule a day off ahead of time, ensuring that you've taken steps to rearrange your workload or find a replacement for the day. However, if you wake up in the morning and just feel that you can't face the stress of the day, this may be a good time to take a mental health day and make the most of it.
The decision of when to take a mental health day really depends on your personal situation. If your employer is supportive and you are comfortable sharing your reasons, feel free to plan a mental health day out in advance.
While there has been a growing movement to destigmatize mental health issues in the workplace, many employers still do not support mental health concerns as a legitimate reason to miss a day of work.
You can:
Call in sick
Plan to use some of your time off
Schedule your mental health day for a day you already have off
Weekends work well, too. While a "traditional" mental health day generally includes taking a day off from work, it's not necessary to call in sick to take a day to focus on stress relief.
What to Expect
Knowing what you can expect to get out of a mental health day is important. It's important to remember that it isn't a day to hide from your problems.
An effective mental health day can help you:
Destress
Get a handle on your emotions
Relax
Reset your perspective
Rest
Take a step back to evaluate
Ease your pain, stiffness, headaches, and jaw pain
Problems can seem harder to deal with when they seem close, overwhelming, and inescapable. Taking a mental break from work and spending some time on self-care can sometimes give you the mini-break you need to head back into things with a clear head.
Decide What You Need Most
Sometimes this one is a no-brainer—if you're exhausted, your body will be screaming that it needs to rest. Of, if you feel you can't face another day of hard work, you may just need to have some fun. However, if you're feeling overwhelmed, you may not be as aware of your needs.
Take a minute and really reflect: Would you benefit the most from some tension relief? Or from making a few changes that will relieve stress in the future? Some time with a loved one? Or just a change of scenery? As different stressors require different responses, different types of mental health days fill unique needs.
If You Need to Relax
Taking a mental health day often means taking time out to relax. That can mean watching TV in pajamas for hours, or puttering around the house and doing nothing. As long as this isn't an everyday thing, that's fine. Some activities can take a little front-end effort and feel immensely relaxing once they're completed.
Some things you can try include:
Attending a yoga class in-person or online like this one
Getting a relaxation or hot-stone massage
Book a swimming lane then enjoy a hot tub
Taking a walk in nature someplace serene
Listening to some music, stand-up comedy, or podcasts
Use Pinterest to make a new craft
The key is to spend time doing an activity that you find relaxing, whether it's taking a hike, exploring a museum, or just spending some time immersed in a good book.
Things NOT to Do
Avoid friends and family
Smoke, drink, or use other substances
Overeat unhealthy foods
Ruminate or wallow in negative emotions
Spend all day reading posts on social media
There are plenty of ways to spend your day, whether you decide to catch up on some much-needed sleep, indulge in a hobby you love, or hang out with a friend. Spend your day on activities that boost your physical and mental wellness.
Plan Something Fun
If you really need a change of scenery and a "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" kind of mental health day, be sure you make the most of it by planning ahead. Plan at least one fun event—either something you normally love to do and don't do often enough, or something you've always wanted to try. Take a good friend along, if possible, and try to plan one activity that allows you to get into Nature.
If nothing grabs your attention, try to engage in activities that provide just the right type of challenge: Hobbies, games, and the like.
Make Some Changes
If the stressors seem to pile up and you're looking for a way to slow down and stop the "noise," you may want to take a day to restructure things. You may not be able to eliminate all of your ongoing stressors in a day, but you might be able to make a significant reduction in a few areas, which may, in turn, create a lasting impact on your stress levels.
You can start to eliminate stress by:
Creating a list of things that drain your energy
Cutting out some of your larger stressors - even ONE makes a huge difference
Taking a look at your priorities and keeping a gratitude journal
Working on increasing job satisfaction
Don't expect to be able to take on all of this in a single day. If you want to use your mental health day to make real changes in your life, use it as a chance to evaluate, plan, and get ready to work on those changes.
If You Need a Longer Break
If you're concerned that your overall stress levels need more than just a mental health day, consider taking a staycation or (local) vacation. You may also consider whether you're headed toward burnout.
Online resources can also help, and you may want to also bring up your concerns with your doctor, chiropractor, or talk to a mental health professional. There are many steps that can be taken to help.
If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health issues, visit https://wellnesstogether.ca/en-CA/ to access FREE counselling services or call 1-866-585-0445 (Adults) or 1-888-668-6810 (Youth). You are not alone, we are in this together.
For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
A Word From Dr. Chisholm
A mental health day can be useful from time-to-time, but you should strive to make your mental health a priority every day. Just like you brush your teeth twice a day to maintain oral health, make sure you give your brain a scrub twice a day too. Ten minutes of a positive mental health activity upon waking and before going to bed can make all the difference.