Repeat after us – “mental health is not taboo”.
We all have times when we need to take a break from work. In these uncertain times where we are in a constant state of flux between restrictions and lockdowns – this becomes especially prevalent.
It can all start to feel a bit too ‘go, go, go!’ and, caught up in it all – you can easily forget to stop to come up for air.
Recharging and regrouping allows people to rest their minds and return to work feeling more energised. Enhancing productivity and more importantly, morale and wellbeing.
For more on the benefits – see our previous article ‘The benefits of taking a break.’
Normalise taking a mental health day
The first step to normalising the need for a mental health day is to recognise and engage in the benefits. Learning and educating others to know that if you’re not feeling 100% emotionally, psychologically, or physically, then it’s simply best that you are not at work. This step is sometimes not as easy as we think, with many of us believing that we don’t have the time to do this. Often seeing ourselves as too busy, we fear that a pause will cause us to fall behind.
While it can be a bit of a mental battle, you need to remember, we are all human (not robots!) and are worthy and deserving of a break from time to time!
When lockdowns or restrictions are in place (as has been the case recently across Australia), it can be hard to know what to do with a day off. The same applies to financial limitations or extended leave capacity. There will often be circumstances where taking time away from work won’t mean an epic adventure. Instead, focus on allowing a mental health day to be a quiet time dedicated to you and your wellbeing.
Whether you’re in lockdown or free to roam, here are a few suggestions on how to get the most out of your mental day off.
10 easy activities to recharge and repair:
- Catch up on sleep
- Cooking
- Reading
- Walking
- Pamper session – facemask, scrub, etc
- A bubble bath (loaded with magnesium (Epsom salts) and a drop of lavender for ultimate relaxation)
- Go for a bike ride/exercise
- Gardening
- Meditate or practice low-level yoga
- Curl up on the couch with a blanket and a good show or movie
While we’re definitely not saying that a day or two away from work is going to solve everything, we do highly recommend it as a great first step towards prioritising your wellbeing. It’s a chance to focus on your hobbies and doing something important to you and your mental health. Whether it’s some low-key, quality couch time or pulling out the personal ‘to-do’ list and ticking off some long pushed aside items to gain a sense of personal self-accomplishment.
Normalise taking a mental health day and remember in 2021, mental health should not be a taboo subject, anywhere but in particular within the workplace. Be kind to yourself and don’t let the (misplaced!) guilt of taking a mental day off take over. Taking the time to recharge is vital to your health and in the long run, will benefit your position. After all, a happy and healthy employee is the foundation of business success.
Feel like it’s more than just ‘mental burnout’? Contact one of our Recruitment Consultant professionals for a free, confidential chat about your current professional situation.
