The past two years have been filled with stress and uncertainty. This doesn’t only affect your life at home, but can also impact you on the job. With varying levels of stress during normal times, now’s a period when you might be feeling even more vulnerable. Some signs of burnout, depression, or anxiety can include:
- Loss of motivation
- Negative thoughts
- Major swings in appetite or ability to sleep
- Feeling physically or mentally exhausted
- Getting angry or upset easily
- Getting sick more often
So if you’re not feeling like your best self, what can you do? If you’re truly struggling with depression, anxiety, or another mental health-related issue, it’s critical to get help from a professional. However, if all you need is a little pick-me-up, then take a mental health day. It will help you too.
Why You Should Take a Mental Health Day
Take a breather so you can re-group.
One mental health day might not be enough to feel a complete turnaround. However, it will give you a moment to regroup and think about what’s going wrong and what you want to do to get back on track. When you have time to catch your breath, self-reflect, and even plan a little about where to go next, then you’ll come back to work refreshed or renewed. You’ll gain some perspective while enjoying a much-needed break.
Have some fun.
If your life is all work and no play, you will burn out eventually and this can seep into your career. So plan a day to go out and do something fun, or even participate in an activity or hobby at home that you haven’t had time for. This will help you to relax, reduce stress, and also give you a moment to process what you’re going through. You’ll come back to work more clear-headed and able to focus.
Understand your emotions.
Another benefit of a mental health day is that it will give you some time to step back. You can get a handle on your emotions, rest, relax, and destress, all while hitting the reset button. When you’re constantly knee-deep in problems at work and at home, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed out. But when you plan a temporary escape with a mental health day, you’ll have the time for the self-care you need.
If you think you need a mental health day, you have a few options for how to take one. You can simply call in sick, use a PTO day, or schedule it ahead of time as a vacation day. You’re not obligated to share what you’re doing or why you need it, although you might want to if you have an especially supportive boss.
Need to Take a Break?
If, however, part of the problem is your boss and an overly demanding job, then perhaps it’s time for a change. If so, then Future Force can help. As a leading temp-to-hire staffing service, we work with employers across the area and can connect you with your next opportunity that’s a better fit for your work-life balance needs. Contact us today to get started.
