- It will reduce your stress
Stress affects everyone, and it can silently build up until you feel weighted down. Although not all stress is bad, work-related stress is often detrimental to physical and mental health. The National Institute of Mental Health recommends finding activities, such as meditation and exercise, that can help reduce everyday stress.
- You can catch up on sleep
Sleep is one of the most important factors in maintaining good health and wellbeing. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep a day, but this number can increase if you are especially active. Losing sleep is cumulative and is called ‘sleep dept.’ Naps can provide some extra minutes or hours of sleep to make up for lost time.
- Provides time to focus on self-care and restoration
You deserve to put yourself first, to feel loved and to feel balanced. Establishing a self-care routine will help develop self-compassion and self-confidence, while making you feel more restored and whole. Not sure where to start? Do You Yoga has some great tips for starting your own self-care routine.
- Help you decrease work-related burnout
Working 9am-5pm five days a week is draining, and can cause burnout if you don’t recover fully on the weekends. If you are dreading going to work in the morning, it may be time for a mental health day.
- You’ll be more productive at work when you return
Just like the rest of your body, your brain needs time to rest and restore. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that depression and anxiety disorders cost a trillion dollars globally in lost productivity each year. By taking a day off, you may be increasing your ability to work faster, smarter and better.
Here are a few things you could try during your mental health day: take a walk in nature, attend a yoga class or get a massage. Whatever you do, it’s time to carpe diem!
What is your favorite thing to do during your mental health day?
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