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In today’s fast-paced environment, we’re all expected to work at lightning speed and never take a break. So much, that many of us leave countless vacation days on the table every year. Hopefully, you’re ready to break away from that toxic cycle and take some time to work on your mental health.
To give you an idea, taking a mental health day can help you de-stress, reset your perspective, and allow you to handle your emotions. If you still need more convincing, here are some very valid reasons to take a mental health day without feeling guilty about it.
1. It Will Lower Your Stress and Anxiety Levels
Our work environment, hectic lifestyles, and even our social life can take a toll on ourselves, leaving pretty much everyone feeling exhausted. Stress affects our health in so many ways. Sometimes it’s impossible to notice its effects. With so many stressors at work, taking a day off to work on your mental health and your balance is paramount.
2. You’ll Be More Productive
It might seem counter-intuitive, but taking a break to care for yourself can boost your productivity levels. Research suggests that taking a day off can increase productivity and creativity in the long run. When you take time to relax, your brain essentially resets itself, giving you a fresh start to see things more clearly.
3. Because You’re on the Verge of Burnout
Are you sure your symptoms are not burnout-related? Unfortunately, we live in a burnout culture that calls for people to keep pushing themselves beyond their limits. Burnout leaves us feeling sick all the time, uninspired, angry, and anxious. If you notice these symptoms becoming more common, taking a day off to focus on your health mentally, physically, and emotionally might be just what the doctor recommends.
4. You Need to Make Changes
It’s easy to get caught up in the same routine. Work. Dinner. Sleep. Repeat. Overtime, stressors tend to catch up, and you’re left exhausted and without room for change. When you feel like you’ve let things pile up, consider taking the time to make the right changes. Create a list of everything draining your energy, spot your stressors, revise your priorities, and cut out everything that’s hurting your mental health.
5. It Increases Your Job Satisfaction
Are you feeling tired of your job lately? How many times have you dreamed of quitting your job this week? When we’re stressed, burned out, or exhausted, our job is often the one taking the blame. After all, we do spend over 8 hours of our days there. Re-assess your workplace goals and your work environment by taking a day to analyze your habits.
6. It Improves Your Relationships
If you live with someone, you understand the importance of having some “me” time. Additionally, your coworkers can also take a toll on your mental health. When your stress and anxiety levels are off the charts, you’re very likely to take it out on your close relationships. Taking a mental health day will ensure you get the time needed to calm down and make sure your actions and words are not hurtful to those around you.
7. Your Chronic Conditions Might Calm Down
If you have a chronic condition such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), an autoimmune disorder, or you struggle with depression, mental stress will only make your symptoms worse. Be aware of the impact your mental health can have on your body. Taking a day to focus on your mental health and make sure you remain balanced is paramount to a healthy lifestyle.
8. It Improves Your Sex Life
Most people don’t link the two together, but mental health connects to your sex life. One of the symptoms of depression is a low libido. When you’re overwhelmed, your sexual life will take a hit as well. Taking a mental health day can help you reconnect with yourself and with your partner.
A Note from GR8NESS
As a rule of thumb, if you feel exhausted, overwhelmed, irritable, taking a mental day off might help. Become aware of the various stress symptoms affecting your lifestyle, and make your mental health a priority to make sure you’re giving others (and yourself) the GR8EST version of yourself.
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