Many people wonder if they should take a mental health day, as studies show that today's workforce is more stressed than ever. Job burnout is also on the rise. The main factors contributing to the high-stress levels in the workplace are the increasing number of businesses struggling to find workers and the pandemic. In addition, the pandemic has created new job stress by causing employees to feel like they might not be finished with lock-down procedures. Although it's not always possible to take a day off from work, taking a mental health day can help individuals manage their stress levels. Unlike taking a sick day, mental health days are personal days that people can give themselves to get away from their work and focus on something relaxing and fun. Aside from being mentally healthy, taking time to recharge your batteries is also important for maintaining a healthy and happy work environment. Having the necessary space and time to recharge can help keep stress levels in check and prevent them from negatively affecting your productivity. You're Feeling Tired and Run Down Too much work and stress can affect your body and make you feel exhausted. If you're constantly thinking about the problems at work and have no time to rest or take breaks, you might have a poor work-life balance. Having a poor work-life balance can also be related to your overall health. You Get Angry Easily Getting angry can be easy when we're feeling tired and stressed. If you're constantly annoyed by your coworkers, then it's time to take a break from work and relax. Having a mental health day can help keep stress levels in check and prevent it from negatively affecting your productivity. One of the most effective ways to release feelings is by writing down your thoughts on paper. You Feel Anxious and Dread Going to Work If you feel you have no choice but to go to work, it's time to take a mental health day. Having a day off from the office can help keep stress levels in check and prevent it from negatively affecting your productivity. You Can't Focus at Work Getting too stressed can affect your ability to focus and complete tasks, leading to errors and decreased productivity. In addition to your ability to focus, stress can also affect your memory and ability to learn new things. This is why taking mental health days is important to prevent yourself from getting completely consumed by work. You Keep Getting Sick According to experts, chronic stress can negatively affect the immune response, increasing the risk of getting sick and developing a physical illness. It can also raise levels of a certain type of immune system chemical known as catecholamine and suppressor T cells. If you're constantly getting sick, you must take time to relieve some of your stress.
You Aren't Sleeping Well Getting enough sleep is also important for maintaining a healthy and balanced body. Having a poor quality of sleep can contribute to various mental health conditions. One of the most common signs of stress is chronic insomnia, which can result in a vicious cycle. Getting less sleep can affect your ability to focus and keep working. You Feel Disconnected from Coworkers and Others Around You Another sign that you need a mental health day is when you feel like you're not being able to connect with your friends and family. This could include feeling like you're on a different planet from everyone else. You're Eating Less (or More) Some people find comfort in food when they're feeling stressed, while others avoid it altogether. If you're experiencing these types of habits, then it's important that you take a mental health day. It can help you identify if your stress is contributing to these unhealthy eating habits. You Change Your (Alcohol) Drinking Habits If you're drinking more alcohol than usual, then it's important that you take a mental health day. This could be because it's helping you cope with your stress or because you're using alcohol as a coping mechanism. However, excessive drinking can lead to various health conditions. Your Friends and Family Are Concerned About You Since we're all so close to experiencing the same issues, our friends and family can often see things that we can't. If they're worried that you're acting funny or that you're not the same happy-go-lucky person, then it's important that you listen to them. Taking a step back can help you identify if something in your statements is true.