- Even if you’re not burned out, it’s important to take a mental health day every now and then.
- Mental Health Day has been proven to boost mental health and productivity.
- Journaling, spending time with loved ones, and exercising are all great ways to spend a mental health day.
Through the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health issues such as burnout and work-life balance can no longer be ignored. In response, people quit their jobs in droves as part of the Great Resignation.
As a result, more and more people, including employers and school administrators, see value in their mental health days and even offer it as a perk built into their jobs.
A mental health day is a day away from work or school, or a day away from the routine and overwhelming pressures of everyday life.
Unlike traditional sick days, which focus on physical health, mental health days aim to relax and refresh the mind.
Research shows that taking time to de-stress and decompress not only improves your mental health, but your productivity as well. Some experts suggest taking once a month or as needed.
Examples of mental health day activities include walking or hiking, journaling, and massage.
Ahead, therapists share a variety of ideas on how to make the most of your mental health days.
Exercise outdoors (if possible)
This doesn’t have to be strenuous exercise, but some movements are key.
“Walk, run, dance, swim, stretch, bend, or move your body in a way you enjoy. Do whatever feels accessible, comfortable, and enjoyable to you. please,” she said. she says. “Exercise can help boost your mood, boost your energy levels, and boost your confidence.”
If possible, exercise outdoors, especially in natural surroundings. Being in nature reduces the overwhelming number of potential stimuli such as traffic, sirens, and crowds of passers-by, and this calm atmosphere resets your brain.
Anyway, a short period of indoor or outdoor exercise can change your mindset in a meaningful way. “Exercise releases mood-boosting dopamine,” explains licensed clinical psychologist and author Bethany Cook.
spend time with friends
“Being close to your loved ones can cause your body to release happy hormones that fight stress hormones,” says Cook.
This may explain why research shows that friendships benefit both mental and physical health.
So on your next mental health day, consider spending time with a close friend or group of friends who make you feel supported.
write in journal
Felder recommends using Mental Health Day to take time to reflect on recent challenges.
For example, you can write a journal that helps you identify and understand how you feel about certain issues. This can help support or clarify healing, says Felder.
“This process of attuned to our emotions, without judging them, opens the door for us to practice self-compassion,” she says. It can be a useful and effective tool to help improve positive mood and have a significant impact on mental health.”
create something
“Studies show that engaging in creative work can provide mental health benefits similar to meditation,” explains Felder.
And you don’t have to be a serious craftsman to find joy in making something.
“Creating things can help reduce stress and improve mental health because it helps you keep your attention on what’s going on in the moment and regulate your emotions when you’re doing something you enjoy.” It provides an opportunity to help you do that,” says Felder. Say.
This logic applies to all creative activities. So whether you’re interested in building furniture, writing songs, painting, or just about any way to create something new, it will help.
I read a book
Exercise is one way to improve your mental health, but rest can also have a positive impact on your mental health and help reduce stress.This is the main point of taking mental health days.
That’s why Cook recommends spending part of your mental health day relaxing with a book in bed or on the couch. Doing this “allows her body to remain calm and relaxed and gives her mind a break from reality,” she says.
Complement this rest with a period of cardio to get the benefits of both in a balanced mental health day.
work on big-picture goals
Cook emphasizes the importance of: No Spend a mental health day doing the same old tasks you always do.
“Mental health days are not catch-up days, even if they ease your anxiety,” she says.
Running around to run errands is usually the opposite of what you want on a mental health day.
That said, “Achieving something you’ve always wanted to do can be incredibly satisfying and beneficial to your mental health,” suggests Felder. Especially when it’s not a trip, but an emotionally satisfying milestone or big-picture goal. to the grocery store.
It could be starting from the first page of a novel you’ve always wanted to write, or reuniting with someone important in your life.
“Avoid spending your day running from one thing to another, but try to find a balance between spending time being productive and just spending time,” says Felder.
Tidy up
Cleaning up can seem like a daunting chore — the type to avoid on Mental Health Day.
However, unlike daily errands, tidying up can be a relaxing activity for a mental health day because it can lighten your mood and lessen the strain on your mind.
“The process of clearing and moving things from a space helps cleanse, calm, and reduce stress,” says Felder. “Cleaning our living spaces has been shown to reduce anxiety, improve focus, reduce fatigue, create a sense of contentment, and improve mood, confidence, and overall mental health. increase.
insider takeout
Taking a mental health day means stepping away from work, school, or other responsibilities of everyday life to reset and recharge your emotional health.
The benefits of this are that you can relax your mind, reduce stress, and even be more productive (not to mention joyful).
Activities like exercise, journaling, connecting with friends, decluttering, and spending time in nature can all help build mental health and prepare you to return to normal life.
The exact balance of rest and revitalization is up to you, and your ideal mental health day will vary from person to person. .
