The concept of taking an occasional mental health day used to be associated primarily with work burnout. When people were completely stressed out and on the verge of a meltdown, they would check out for a day to recharge.
With all of the tumult in recent years, the scope of activities needed to tend to mental health has broadened significantly. It doesn’t matter if you are working sixty hours a week at your job or holding it down at home as a stay-at-home mom, anyone can benefit from taking a day off for self-care.
Your mental health affects your daily life
Human beings can only experience complete wellness when we’re feeling sound of mind, body, and spirit. Each of these aspects of our being can influence the other. For example, we might suffer from physical symptoms, such as fatigue, sleep issues, and irritability, when battling depression.
Our minds can influence our attitude, mood and physical health in a powerful way. By tending to mental health we also improve our quality of life. Taking a day to refresh your spirit and shake out the doldrums, should be an essential aspect of self-care.
Do you need a mental health day?
Recognizing the signs of emotional burnout is essential for your wellbeing. Too often, we ignore these warning signs and push forward without taking the break we truly need. Do that long enough and eventually, you reach the point when you feel overwhelmed, unwell, and frazzled. Keep an eye out for these telltale signs that you are in need of a mental health day:
- Feeling irritable, grumpy, and agitated
- Feeling hopeless and despairing
- Feeling anxious; feelings of fear, worry, and dread
- Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
- Feeling overwhelmed
If you recognize some signs of mental burnout, give yourself the gift of a restorative mental health day.
Ideas for your mental health day
One person’s idea of a satisfying mental health day might be totally different from another’s. When you plan your own mental health day, do some reflecting about the types of activities that nourish your spirit and replenish your mental health. For some people, doing absolutely nothing can be total bliss.
Consider these ideas as inspiration for your own mental health day routine:
- Pamper yourself: Enjoy a menu of self-care activities at a local day spa, or indulge in a weekend wellness retreat.
- Take a day trip: Pack a lunch and head off on a solo adventure to a lovely destination. Take along a journal and a good book.
- Visit some galleries: Take a day and spend it meandering through art galleries and museums. Treat yourself to an upscale lunch, too.
- Get a mani-pedi: Indulge in a deluxe mani-pedi with all the bells and whistles.
- Grab a friend and see a sporting event: There is nothing like attending a ballgame to help you leave your worries behind for a few hours.
- Take a scenic hike: Set out on a scenic hike and take in all the remarkable wonders of nature.
The benefits of taking a mental health day are numerous! Just taking that little break from the daily grind to practice a little self-love can recharge your spirits. If you have been feeling down, anxious or burdened, do yourself a favor and start planning your own special mental health day today.
Ashley Addiction Treatment, formerly Father Martin’s Ashley, is a nationally recognized nonprofit leader in integrated, evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders and is accredited by The Joint Commission. We offer holistic care that encompasses the mind, body and spirit through inpatient and outpatient treatment, and provide drug detox, relapse prevention plans, family wellness programs and a variety of other services tailored to each patient’s unique needs. Our driving principle – “everything for recovery” – reinforces our mission to transform and save lives through the science of medicine, the art of therapy and the compassion of spirituality, and is complemented by our philosophy of healing with respect and dignity. For information about our comprehensive programs, please call (866) 313-6307.