It's OK to Take a Mental Health Day—When and How to Ask for One

If your stress has become overwhelming, taking a mental health day could provide the quick reset you need.

Stress and burnout can also contribute to serious (and costly) mental health challenges.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission offers certain protections for workers' mental health rights.

When Is World Mental Health Day?

World Mental Health Day happens every year on October 10.

The decision of when to take a mental health day really depends on your personal situation.

Some people feel they need to make mental health day excuses to get out of work.

How do you ask for a mental health day off work?

you could:

Weekends work well, too!

What about students?

State legislation has increasingly supported policies that enable students to take time off for mental or behavioral health.

Of course, policies vary by school and by state.

It isn’t a day to hide from your problems.

It’s also not a day to spend 10 hours scrolling TikTok and calling it self-care.

It’s about giving yourself what it’s crucial that you feel mentally restored.

That might mean finding ways to destress orprocess some difficult emotionsyou’ve been experiencing.

However, you may not be as tuned in to your needs if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Pause for a moment and really think: Do you oughta let go of some tension?

Or do you better make some changes so future you won’t be so stressed?

Just like differentstressorsrequire different responses, the kind of mental health day you take should match your needs.

Taking a mental health day often means taking time out to relax.

That can mean watching TV in pajamas for hours, or puttering around the house and doing nothing.

As long as this isn’t an everyday thing, that’s fine.

Just ensure you’re focusing on things that boost your physical and mental wellness.

Take a good friend along, if possible, to really make the day memorable.

Taking on too much all at once will just make your stress levels worse.

There are many things you might do to start to feel better.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

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