Should I take a mental health day?

When we get sick, we do not hesitate to take a day off from work; however, when we feel our mental health is affected, we feel guilty about taking a day off. I always recommend that my patients imagine a body functioning perfectly but feeling too depressed; they cannot get out of bed.  Before we get to that point, I recommend taking a day off to disconnect from our jobs and reconnect with the things that bring us joy. Not only will it improve our mood and attitude, but we will also feel grateful and energized to return to work.

If you are able to, do not hesitate to ask for it the next time you feel you need some time off. We are human beings and need to treat our minds the same way we treat our bodies because they are connected. Have you noticed that when we are happier, we function better, we don’t get sick as often, and if we suffer from chronic pain, it decreases when we are in a better mood?  We also have more chances of staying longer in a job when we take time off to prevent burnout.

I am sure you will keep all the benefits in mind next time you feel overwhelmed at work and wonder if it is a good idea to take a mental health day.