With today’s high-stakes, high-speed workplaces, mental health days at work are a matter of top priority for both employers and employees. Just as sick leave would be to bodily illness, mental health days off work today is a wise and necessary component to encourage the well-being of employees. But what are mental health days and why should these be given priority?
Learning about mental health days
A mental health day is an on-the-job sick day that an employee takes as a way of trying to unwind, recharge, and give extra special care to his or her psychological and emotional well-being. Unlike a vacation day or physical sick day, though, a mental health day actually is taken in order to try to work out stress, anxiety, burnout, or some other mental illness issue.
Even though the trend of having mental health days is not common across every company, it is becoming more popular by the day as more and more people nowadays are aware of the impact mental wellness has on work productivity, productivity levels, and employee satisfaction.
Why are mental health days necessary in the workplace?
More productivity and concentration
Rather than the myth that taking time off diminishes productivity, regular breaks—not to mention mental health days—actually improve performance. With the mind clear, individuals can concentrate better, make sound decisions, and apply creative problem-solving.
Mentally rested workers work better and are less prone to making mistakes.
Enhancing employee retention
Providing mental health services, including work mental health days, shows that an organization is concerned about the well-being of its workers. It is good news in business culture and fosters employee loyalty.
Workers will be better cared for with an organization that understands mental illness issues and allows them to take a sick day if needed.
Eradication of stigma around mental health
Mental illness is still stigmatized despite heightened awareness in the majority of organizations. Eradicating that stigma by normalizing it and introducing work mental health days does.
It reminds them it’s okay not to be okay sometimes—and needing to recharge or getting help is a strength, not a weakness.
Overall well-being
Mental and physical wellness go hand in hand. Anxiety and stress are likely to develop into diseases like insomnia, stomach disorders, hypertension, and even heart disease. By embracing mental health days, companies are effectively providing their employees with a fix of overall well being that will end up reducing health expenses in the long run.
Signs you might need a mental health day
It’s difficult to tell when you need to slow down and have a break. Some of the signs of whether or not you might need a mental health day are:
- You’re completely drained even after spending all night in bed
- You’re irritable or upset about little things
- You can’t focus or make decisions
- You’ve lost motivation for work or activities that you normally enjoy
- You’re depressed, anxious, or emotionally exhausted
- Paying attention to those cues and heeding a day of rest can be the difference between worlds.
How to Take a Mentals Health Day?
A mentals health day isn’t adding something to a to-do list or falling behind on work. It’s being kind and taking care of oneself. A few things about how to spend a mentals health day are:
- Disconnect from work: Turn off email notifications and literally move away from tasks.
- Practice mindfulness: Meditation, yoga, or deep breathing can calm the mind.
- Get outside: Going for a walk outside or sitting outside in fresh air may lift your mood.
- Rest and sleep: Don’t forget the healing properties of rest. Napping or even just lying down can be soothing.
- Talk to someone: A family member, friend, or therapist can provide relief by listening.
- Do something enjoyable: Read a book, watch your show, or play around with a hobby.
- Rest is the objective—not guilt for not being at work.
Encouraging mentals health days at workplace
Mentals health days also require employers to catch up. Here are some of the ways businesses can encourage mentals health days:
- Accept mentals health days as part of formal leave policies
- Educate managers to recognize signs of burnout and stress
- Enforce open discussion of mentals health
- Make employee assistance programs (EAPs) or counseling available
Conclusion
Office mentals health days aren’t a trend—another essential element in building a healthier, more sustainable workplace culture. With burnout and stress on the rise, taking time for rest, reflection, and emotional sustenance is not only kind but also smart. When companies create mentals health days, they are allowing their workers to report to work with their best self—body, mind, and spirit.
It’s good to break from the old burnout model. Let’s get it implemented instead to place our minds on an equal footing with our bodies. Because a healthy mind is a productive, creative, and resilient one.
