Take the day off!

My first thought was to start this blog by getting us a tangible working definition of mental health and wellness. Of course, my second thought was second guessing my first thought. Replacing it with a more formal introduction of myself and my honest authentic opinions and motives seemed to be how any reasonable blogger might set out into the unknown. Obsessive attention to details can really take me out of my body and into a galactic outer world. Some people call this "checking out". I like to refer to it as a trauma response, but that is a heavy topic for a start (so more on that later).

Instead, putting all that chatter aside, I realized we need something that is more immediate, something that could help us right in the here and now. So, I want to start with identifying the signs and symptoms of needing a mental health day aka a DAMN DAY OFF! I know, a mental health day just sounds so unacceptable, because who has time for that?

I could list hundreds of reasons why we need a day off, a mental break from everything and everybody. To start, do you notice how post “COVID-19” people are so edgy? Edgy about the new mandatory “back to the office days” which translates for some into sitting in traffic bumper to bumper or train transfers that prolong the commute to over and hour and a half each way? And what about how couples that were never a great match being forced to spend the last 3 COVID years together, morning, noon, and night, throwing, another COVID doozie. I have heard a lot about awful spouses and their partner’s divorce fantasies. Admittedly and cheerfully, this year, I had the great pleasure of realizing the dream of breaking free. Afterall 3 years morning, noon and night with the wrong match is painful enough to make the uncertain future a more attractive option. One last plug in for the uptick in anxiety and depression, the numbers are at an all-time high, lack of access to care (minimal providers and long waits time for appointments). We really need a better way for mental health selfcare.

I propose a damn day off. Let's call it preventative for the sake of mental wellness.

Some of the sign and symptoms to lookout for when there is a need to regather ourselves mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually are:

• Feeling tired even though you slept a full 8 hours+

• Lack of motivation, not wanting to do things you would normally enjoy.

• Not looking forward to Monday circling back around, but it is only Wednesday.

• Complaining (this one was once a huge one for me, complaining about a job at nauseum. I even had a quote at one point “Angelina, the girl that hates her job” Ugh I would get tired of hearing myself).

• Just that overall sense that you're on the brink of burnout and you keep fantasizing what it might feel like to crash at a fancy psych hospital where all your meals are made fresh and organic and on your spare time you get lost in an adult coloring book or catch up on novels that you made a mental note to read "as soon as I have more time".

Yeah, these are all indications. This is also sounding a lot like a depression.

The point is to call your attention back to your mental wellbeing and make better choices for your own head's sake. In our post Covid world, (again with COVID) we really take offence to the co-worker sniffling. Why don't that same position when our co-workers are miserable and polluting the environment?

Work environments are pressured to become more accepting of mental health concerns but if you need to still argue the importance of a mental health day here are some facts:

• Mental wellness increases participation and productivity.

• Increased job satisfaction with the likelihood of staying with the company.

• Less sick callouts.

• Overall better relationships with fellow employees.

These facts also contribute to cost savings and that is what a company wants to hear. Just run it by the CFO.

I would love to hear how your workplace views mental wellness days. Feel free to hit me up at arao@thementalwellnesscollective.com

How does your company support mental health days?

• They don't
• It's a culture of don't ask, don't tell
• They are so supportive, I am so lucky.