Written by Olivia Phillips

Mental health days are a recent movement towards prioritizing mental health in the workforce population. Taking a mental health day is stepping away from one’s usual tasks to re-energize and recharge by focusing on personal mental health (Theisen, 2022). It involves taking control and being conscious in boosting personal morale, functioning, attitude, and wellbeing (Theisen, 2022). What makes mental health days significant is how they can vary between person to person. A mental health day could be as simple as leaving work an hour early to do a self-care activity. Or it could be taking the full day off to go on a day trip.

Below are ways individuals can spend their mental health days:

• Take time for yourself

• This could be as simple as watching a movie on the couch or take yourself out to a restaurant.

• Have a self-care day

• This could include booking a spa appointment or getting that haircut you have been putting off. Inexpensive self-care ideas could be doing something you enjoy like reading or exercising.

• Do one of your favorite activities

• This could include watching or playing one of your favorite sports, gardening, painting or drawing (Theisen, 2022). 

• Spend time with friends or family

• This could include going on a hike or out to a restaurant, watching a movie, or hosting a game night with friends or family.

Our society places much emphasis on careers, so understanding the role of mental health and how it affects work performance is of importance. The goal is to have a positive work environment while prioritizing personal mental health. The book Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace: A Practical Guide for Employers and Employees is highly informative about fostering a positive workplace environment by prioritizing the mental health of employees (Hasson & Butler, 2020). The book is an example of how our society is shifting its views on the workplace environment. The authors refer to the mental health organization “Mind” which suggests an individual with good mental health can have positive self-esteem, maintain relationships, be productive and engaged in one's environment (Hasson & Butler, 2020, pp.3-4). If one notices while these suggestions are personal, they show how improving one’s own mental health is influential on their environment. Additionally, the Mind organizations reported that the number one reason for staff absence is poor mental health (Hasson & Butler, 2020, p.43). It is important individuals prioritize their mental health and wellbeing for their personal gain which then follows suit into their career and social life. 

To start, it is important individuals take that first step in asking for a mental health day, which can be difficult, but the benefits are rewarding.

Listed below are some benefits of taking a mental health day:

• Decreasing the risk of burnout

• Boosting attitude

• Increasing productivity in work

• Prevention of a mental health crisis (Theisen, 2022)

References

Angela Theisen, L. C. S. W. (2022). Recharge with a mental health day. Mayo Clinic Health System. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/recharge-with-planned-mental-health-day 

Gill Hasson, & Donna Butler. (2020). Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace : A Practical Guide for Employers and Employees. Capstone.