What do I mean by a mental health day? I’m talking about a day for de-stressing, relaxing, and forgetting your usual worries. I’m not talking about calling in sick to work because you just can’t deal with whatever is going on there. Mental health days are ones that should be regularly planned so you don’t feel the need to call in sick to work!
With a degree in Psychology, I am aware of and bothered by how little attention we pay to our mental health in this country. We tend to value productivity to the point of not enjoying our daily lives very much. We just wait for the next vacation to get “caught up” on relaxing, if we even take a vacation!
I work from home so I don’t have the usual stressors that a lot of you do by dealing with co-workers every day. But I have a “to-do” list in my head that’s a mile long and I stress myself out thinking about getting it all done! On top of that, I’m transitioning to a new career and haven’t been making much money in the past year. Can you say “guilt”?
I think we all deserve a mental health day at least once a month to remind us of why we work! You might also want to read my short book review for “Positive Intelligence” then grab a copy to read on your day off! It might help you to figure out how to deal with your thoughts. Otherwise, read on for tips on spending some time attending to your mental health.
Girl time for mental health
I have a couple of friends that I am so grateful for because they actually call me and ask me to do things with them! This might be normal for you, but for me, it’s a rare occurrence. So I cherish these two friends!
I was never able to have kids of my own so most of the women I knew hung out with other mothers because it was easier. I understand that, but I really missed girl time back then.
Friends nearby
One of my friends lives 15 minutes from me and used to be a customer of mine in my former business. We were chatting one day after her appointment and she surprised me by inviting me over to see her newly renovated kitchen and have some wine with her.
Since I don’t get asked to do things very often, I happily accepted her invitation and we had a really nice time. Now she’s one of my best friends! And since she lives close by we get together often just to visit or do other fun activities that our husbands would hate! Like “paint & sip” classes or cookie-making!
I love my husband, but men just don’t think the same way women do! Spending time with my female friends reminds me that the things going on in my head aren’t that unusual! It’s nice to have girlfriends that feel the things I feel and share some of my more feminine interests.
Long-distance friends
My other great long-time friend lives an hour and a half away in our hometown. Not that far, but our outings require a little more planning. We might try a new restaurant and go shopping. Other times we may visit a winery, or go hiking or kayaking somewhere nearby.
Recently she called to ask if she could come for a visit because she’s a teacher and spring break had arrived! So we made plans for lunch and a shopping day. Most of the time the shopping is just something we do while we talk. But we might find some good deals and we both leave feeling lighter and happier.
So a great mental health day for me is always time spent with friends. Do you have friends you can get together with for some girl time? If you do but your schedules are difficult, try setting a monthly reoccurring date. If that’s what goes on your calendars first, then it’s less likely to be skipped or forgotten.
There are actual health benefits that we get from our female friendships, like lowering blood pressure and boosting our immunity. So if you don’t have friends like these to hang out with, keep looking. They’re good for your health!
Try to find people that you have things in common with, then ask them to do something fun with you. Many times I think these get-togethers don’t happen only because we forget to ask.
Benefits of exercise and alone time
Some of you spend your days around lots of coworkers, dealing with work problems and other stress. My husband is one of these people. So a mental health day for him is usually time spent alone working in his garage on the weekend. Physical labor is a good stress-buster for him!
He grew up on a farm and he recharges by fixing things, building things, or planting things. He is a social person, so he has a membership at a gym where he goes during the week for his nightly workouts. But on the weekends he and I try to do something fun together for exercise. Did you know that exercise is a scientifically proven stress reducer?
My hometown friend who teaches high school uses running as a way to relieve her daily stress. That “runner’s high” is a real thing! According to Harvard Medical School, “Exercise reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones” (cortisol) and it increases “the body’s natural painkillers and mood elevators” (endorphins).
If you haven’t found an activity you really love, start trying some new things to see what might work for you. Take a class and learn to dance, or start biking, rowing, skating, or hiking. Yoga and Tai Chi have been shown to be excellent stress reducers since they involve deep breathing.
Related article: How to enjoy exercise!
By taking a class, you might also meet other women who could become new friends! If you really don’t want to be around other people, then hire a personal trainer to teach you the right way to exercise on your own so you actually experience some progress.
Crafting for relaxation
There are very few things I can do that calm my mind, put me in the moment, and make me forget everything else. I learned by accident that crafting is one of those things. It turns out that it’s good for your mental health because it actually reduces anxiety and depression by being meditative.
Years ago, I bought myself a Cricut machine to use to make cards and other crafts I was thinking of at the time. I did it as a way to make some extra money. I just didn’t realize what a benefit it would have on my mental health!
It took a while to learn to use it. Thank you, Youtube! But once I did, I realized that when I was making things I would get totally lost in the process and forget everything else for a while. It takes a lot of concentration to create something, do it in the right order, and get it all glued together just right!
I know lots of people that like coloring books, or paint-by-number sets for relaxation. I occasionally crochet with the benefit of having many hats, scarves and wraps to choose from in my closets! It’s also very gratifying to make things for other people.
My final thoughts
These are just some examples from my own life that have really helped me to disconnect and recharge my spirit. My point is that you need to keep looking for things that bring you joy. It’s important to remember that our lives are happening right now, not five years from now after you reach a certain goal!
I’ve always felt that above everything else, life is meant to be enjoyed. It’s important to learn and grow, which means getting out of your comfort zone at times. Learning something new is always a little stressful in the beginning but that’s just a short-term situation. From those experiences, we find more things to look forward to.
If we can’t enjoy life, then what’s the point? Don’t wait for life to happen to you, make it happen for you!
Remember to take care of your mental health and set aside time to relax a little whenever you can. There will always be some stress in life, but it doesn’t have to keep up indefinitely. Make time to slow down and just be happy for a while!
Related article: Dying to be me – book review.