Ever felt like you were dragging your feet through your work days? Having your morning coffee to cope can only go so far. When feelings of restlessness or burnout get triggered by work more frequently, don’t neglect these feelings or push yourself to continue as if everything is alright.
Being part of the workforce today can be pretty demanding. In fact, modern work conditions have led to the rise of hustle culture—one that puts work at the center of one’s life. Though we can always strive for more, the daily grind can become draining if we no longer have the capacity for other things.
More people have realized that hustle culture isn’t for them and have begun prioritizing work-life balance. In a Harvard Business Review study, 30% of men and 50% of women reported that they resist working long hours to develop healthier boundaries between work and life. Despite their careers being chaotic, their mindset of balancing professional and personal priorities helped improve their lives.
With this in mind, protecting one’s peace is an ongoing process—not a one-time breather. Nevertheless, a good way to enforce healthy work-life boundaries, especially to avoid burnout, is to take restorative mental health days off.
Additionally, it’s not a good idea to wait for your breaking point before filing your mental health leave. Knowing your limits is helpful in establishing firm boundaries and determining when you need a break. This way, you’ll be able to maintain productivity at work and take time for yourself.
If you’re looking for ideas on how to spend your own day off, read up on some tips for taking a restorative mental health day. However, if you’re still not convinced, here are five reasons why it’s perfectly okay for you to take a restorative mental health day even when you’re at the topp!
You can practice mindfulness
Disconnecting from your regular routine can help you redirect your energy towards looking inward. During your restorative mental health day, it may be beneficial to meditate, reevaluate your habits, and look back on things you’d like to improve within yourself. From here, you may identify patterns that hold you back from being your best self—and hopefully address them.
You can prioritize your well-being
As Michelle Obama once said, women in particular should keep an eye on their physical and mental health. Instead of constantly prioritizing other things or people, take the time to truly listen to your body. Whether or not you’re feeling under the weather on your mental health day, you can begin practicing healthier habits with ingredients that you can easily find in nature.
You have more time for your hobbies
Recreation is another important factor in taking control of your time. On top of just being activities you enjoy, your hobbies can play a big part in building the life you aspire to live. Doing something you enjoy in your free time can reduce stress, help you learn new skills, and even gain a sense of accomplishment. Plus, you may even make friends through your hobbies.
You can spend more time with loved ones
Margaret Trudeau once said that we all need community support, especially if you find yourself in a negative mental space. While it is important to spend time on your own, it’s also crucial to have a safe space with people you trust. On your mental health day, you may want to catch up with friends or family members. Hanging out with them may even allow you to find more ways to cope with the support of others.
You can rediscover your identity outside of work
You might feel a little guilty for taking a mental health day. A good tip to deal with these feelings is to remember that you are not your work; your sense of purpose shouldn’t be dependent on what you create. Together with the free time and social support you have better access to on your mental health day, you will hopefully be able to recalibrate your perspective on work and enforce work-life boundaries that will keep you holistically fulfilled.
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