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1. Arrange a spa day
14. Volunteer
2. Take a yoga/spin class
15. Send “thinking of you” cards to folks needing a reminder that they matter too.
wellness? When did having perfect
3. Garden/purchase fresh flowers or your space
PTO become a flex? Is it an actual
4. Invite a friend to lunch/breakfast
attendance or an abundance of
flex, a symptom of unhealthy work boundaries, a manifestation of
trauma, or a signal for potential
burnout? Perfect work attendance
5. Sleep/Get more rest 6. Journal/Create positive affirmations 7. Shop (responsibly)
and poor health shouldn't be a
8. Attend a wellness retreat
your title as a team player, or how
10. Explore how you want to live differently
your profession. Perfect work
11. Attend PRIDE events or other gatherings that make your soul feel alive
measure of good work ethics,
committed you are to advancing attendance may reflect poor
boundaries, de-prioritization of self, and an increased risk for severe
physical and psychological injury. As we approach this upcoming
9. Visit a new coffee shop
12. Go to the movies 13. Convince a few of your friends to take a mental health day and you all drive to the nearest beach
16. Schedule a full-body or chair massage 17. Spend time outdoors/commune with nature/go for a hike 18. Redecorate a small space in your home and designate it as a space for wellness 19. Disconnect from energy zappers 20. Check-in with your body and determine what it needs for wellness 21. Attend a therapy appointment 22. Pray/Meditate 23. Create something/Build a business or brand 24. Research other job opportunities 25. REST and decide when you will schedule your next mental health day!
season of freedom (Juneteenth) and love (PRIDE), offer yourself
the liberating gift of removing the shackles of sacrificing yourself for the people and places of
employment who will not hesitate to replace you. Instead, commit to loving yourself differently by
establishing healthy boundaries at work and with others. If you
can't decide what to do on your mental health day, the short
answer is REST. However, if you
want to leave the house and move your body, consider a few of the
I
!
because you wanted to prioritize
en
lth Wellness a e Da lH ta y
as de
Let’s be clear, having perfect attendance isn’t the flex one thinks. When we don’t voluntarily make time for wellness, we involuntarily agree to manage preventable illnesses later.
Let’s be clear, having perfect attendance isn’t the flex one thinks. When we don’t voluntarily make time for
wellness, we involuntarily agree to manage preventable illnesses later. Imagine missing out on a planned event because your body could no longer function due to
neglect. Grab your calendar. Pick a wellness day. Set
the alarm to wake early that day to give your job time
to PREPARE THE OTHERS. When someone answers the phone, say, “I’m requesting a sick day to recharge. I will
return tomorrow and manage the items on my task list.”
Dr. Umieca Hankton (Dr. U.) is a licensed
clinical psychologist with over a decade of mental health treatment experience
across multiple treatment settings. She is
the founder of UNH Counseling Services, a behavioral health agency that deliberately focuses on the psychological health
and wellness of BIPOC, LGBTQ+, college
students, and clergy. To learn more about treatment options and services offered,
please visit www.UNHCounselingServices. com or call 901-300-9082.
Unless your job specifies in writing that sick days are only reserved for physical health concerns, you can take a sick day to care for your mental health.
following next ideas.
HEALTH & WELLNESS |
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