When in need of a mental health day it is good to remember that you are not a bad person or failed in any way for needing to place a priority on your mental health.  Any guilt you feel will undo any benefit from taking a day to look after your mental health.  Please remember that if you need additional help, I recommend checking in with a professional such as a counsellor or psychiatrist or another health practitioner that you feel safe expressing yourself with.

When taking a mental health day, I recommend that you set an intention for what you are wanting to achieve by taking this day to look after your mental health – is it rest you need? Is it some light-hearted enjoyment to break up what has been a stressful period?  Once you get clear on that, it makes it easier to create activities that meet that need.

I always suggest some time in nature to reset the system - this can be taking a walk, reading outside, meditating outside or maybe even catching up with some friends for a walk and a chat might be what you need.

I then suggest spending some time in meditation to see why it is that you feel the need for a mental health day – is it work stress? Is it family issues, or are finances a worry for you now?  Checking in with yourself to determine what has overloaded the system to need some time out is important because if you can’t create awareness around the issue, it makes it very difficult to create changes and mindset shifts to help with the mental burden.  Once you have identified your core stressor then move onto doing some journaling about its impact on you, some potential journal prompts could include:

• What about this situation bothers me the most?

• Where do I feel stuck with this situation?

• How can I shift my thoughts on this situation to see it from a different perspective?

• If a person is involved, you could look at role playing them and seeing why they are acting the way they are and then journaling on how that makes you feel.

• What changes could I implement to make myself feel better?

After you have spent some time working through what is going on for you and what strategies you might be able to implement to shift the stressful situation, I recommend that you spend time visualizing a soft pink light surrounding you and imbuing you with a deep sense of love for yourself and everything and everyone involved in the situation.  This will calm your central nervous system (CNS), so you feel safe to act on any ideas that came through your journaling. A calmed central nervous system is better able to make healthy choices compared to an overwhelmed one, which feels stuck and sees no available options.

☼ Remember valuing your mental health is a strength and not a weakness.  As with any aspect of your health it requires being looked after and treated well to maintain optimal health and well-being.