The Importance of Mental Health Days
Have you ever felt like you can’t get out of bed? Do you want to lounge around and take a break from the world? Feeling like this is normal and enjoying your solitude to reset is okay. This is what we call, a mental health day. A mental health day is a day when you take a day off from work or school to focus on your mental well-being. Taking time to yourself to protect your peace is a great tool to recenter and get back to your normal self. If your mind isn’t right it can be difficult to function, so taking care of that first is an important step.
Mental Health Days for Kids: Why They Matter More Than Ever
Since Covid, kids and teenagers have struggled with mental health more than ever. Sometimes there is a misconception that kids do not experience mental health disorders but this is completely false. There can be big benefits for kids to take mental health days, especially for kids with learning disabilities, sometimes school can be overwhelming and kids can get overstimulated. Taking a break and recharging is an important tool to teach kids that it’s okay to take care of their mental health.
When is it okay for kids to take a mental health day? If your family is dealing with a loss or a divorce and your child is directly affected by this, taking a mental health day is recommended. If your child is feeling anxious or stressed, this is another valid reason for them to take a mental health day. However, it’s also important to set limits with your kids on how many mental health days can be taken in a month or a school year. This prevents kids from abusing mental health days because it shouldn’t be used just because your child doesn’t want to go to school or because they don't want to take a test.
Why Mental Health Days Are Essential for Adults
Being an adult is not easy. Juggling a full-time, sometimes two jobs, on top of bills, and maintaining a social life can affect one’s mental health especially if you are a parent as well. This is why adults must take mental health days. Maximizing your vacation time from your job is a perfect way to take a mental health day and if you can’t it’s okay to call out. Having an employer that recognizes the importance of mental health will understand. It can be difficult to have a mental health day as a parent because your child is your number one priority. If you have a circle of family members or friends that can help take the load off of you, asking for a night off and asking them to babysit just for a day or two can be helpful.
Mental health days help prevent burnout, improve focus, support emotional balance, encourage self-care, and stress relief. You shouldn’t feel guilty for taking a mental health day, remember that you always come first. Our brains are the most important part of our bodies so taking care of it is necessary.
