We get time off for vacations, holidays, and when we're physically ill, but what about our emotional and mental well-being? Don't our brains deserve the chance to recharge and reset? More employers are joining the move towards encouraging their employees to take care of their mental health, but if yours doesn't bring up the subject, you can still request a day off every so often for the sake of your sanity.
Taking a mental health day is just as vital as staying home for a runny nose or belly bug, if not more important. As per The American Institute of Stress, "Numerous studies show that job stress is far and away the major source of stress for American adults and that it has escalated progressively over the past few decades. Increased levels of job stress as assessed by the perception of having little control but lots of demands have been demonstrated to be associated with increased rates of heart attack, hypertension and other disorders."
Before your mental health takes a dip and wreaks havoc on the rest of your life, talk to your boss and ask for time off to mend your mind, boost your spirit, and get your emotions in check. You'll fare better for it as will your job performance.
You Need to Catch Up on Sleep
The daily grind can make a good night's sleep hard to achieve. We wake up early, go to bed late, and with work on our minds 24/7, the sleep we do manage to get may not be all too restful. A mental health day can be alarm clock-free, nap-friendly, and more than just a dream if you request the time off.
As per Huffington Post, "Sleep is a performance enhancer. Experts agree that an ideal workday would start at 10 a.m. so employees can sleep and be at their most productive, but since that's likely not happening anytime soon, a mental health day can help alleviate some of the exhaustion."
Remember to rest up interruption-free, and realize the sweet dreams of a day to yourself.
You'll Return Refreshed and More Productive
If you're in a slump or lack the motivation you once had, a mental health day can give you the reboot to get back to your energetic, go-getter self. There is always room for improvement, and a day to rethink and reactivate is the perfect way to reach new potential.
According to Family Share, "Studies show taking time off makes you more productive in the long run. Motivation is much like a muscle; it gets fatigued if it doesn't have an opportunity to rest and rebuild. So, while it may seem that you don't have time to take a mental health day, the investment will actually pay off in the long run."
Bustle adds, "You'll benefit from being refreshed and others will notice you showing up brighter and happier."
You Can De-stress
No matter how much we may love our job, there is always some degree of stress. Some folks have it harder than others, but stress can wear us out and cause not only mental fatigue, but physical repercussions too.
Bustle notes, "According to the American Psychological Association, taking time to recharge will have a very positive effect on your stress. While it may not erase it entirely, it will bring it down quite a bit.
Family Share adds, "When you are overwhelmed with life, your body physically absorbs stress, causing you to feel more tired, get sick more often, etc. So, not only is a mental health day advantageous for your mental health, but it does wonders for you physically."
If you start to feel the weight of stress coming down on you, nip it in the bud by calling for a mental health day. You'll become more balanced and focused to get back to work with a clear head.
Does your company embrace the idea of mental health days off?
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