We all know the signs. You wake up feeling exhausted, like you haven’t slept a wink. You can’t get your mind to shut down long enough to take a deep breath and relax those tight muscles. You find yourself snapping at your significant other over the smallest things and you can’t remember the last time you indulged in a little fun for fun’s sake.
Yes, we’ve all been there, maybe some of us are even there today. So what do you do when you just don’t feel like you can make it through one more day at work without exploding? A mental health day might be just the ticket.
Why Wait?
Of course, it’s best if you take that day to yourself before the explosion become imminent. In fact, planning ahead for mental health days – actually scheduling them onto your overbooked calendar – is often the healthiest way to go. However, some of us know those stress overloads can sometimes sneak up on us, necessitating that early morning call explaining you are under the weather and won’t be making it into the office that day.
Whether you plan your mental health day ahead of time or take one on the fly, we all need those days to recharge and reset. At Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers, we understand the importance of mental health days and encourage other companies to take the same step in offering those days to their staff as part of the employment package. Whether you are working with patients struggling with addiction or trying to balance the books for a corporation, that time off can actually make you a more productive employee overall.
Are You Ready for a Mental Health Day?
How do you know if you are at the mental health day point? Consider these warning signs:
- You are unable to sleep well at night
- Your productivity during the day has gone down
- You experience feelings of extreme apathy
- Your temper grows shorter and shorter
- Even small things cause acute irritation
- You are not feeling recharged after the weekend
The earlier you recognize these signs, the faster you can nip the stress overload in the bud. Some people even like to pre-plan their mental health days after a particularly busy stretch at work or a major event in their personal lives.
How to Plan Your Mental Health Day
When you do take a mental health day (remember we said when, not if), make sure you use it to your fullest advantage. The goal of the day is to focus on you and spend your time in activities you enjoy. This might mean revisiting a hobby you haven’t had time for, getting in touch with nature or spending time with friends or family you haven’t seen for a while. For some of us, a mental health day might include time for a nap, particularly if we haven’t been getting our prescribed shut-eye at night.
Most importantly, take your mental health day without feeling guilty about taking that day for your personal recharging. Whether your employer makes a point to offer mental health days or not, you are entitled to give yourself the time you need to heal your mental and emotional state as well as your physical body.
Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers works with teens struggling with all types of addictions. Our programs center on clinically-based, comprehensive treatment programs for our patients and their families. To learn more about our services, contact Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers 866-889- 3665.
