According to research, job burnout is at an all-time high, and workplace stress is rising across all industries. The causes of such workplace stress are complicated, and more companies are having trouble filling positions, forcing existing employees to pick up the slack. There were many stresses brought on by the pandemic, such as worrying about everyone’s health and the increasing recession scare. The bottom line is that it is reasonable to feel somewhat or significantly burned out by your job.
During such stressful times, taking a mental health day can help. Simply put, mental health days are time off from all work-related activities; however, they are distinct from taking a sick day. Mental health days are private days you can set aside for yourself to refresh and reset, allowing you to focus on something enjoyable and relaxing for you.
It’s important to take a break occasionally for reasons other than mental health. By allowing yourself the time and space to recharge your mental batteries, you can avoid stress-related health issues that could hinder your productivity and job satisfaction.
So what are the Signs You Need a Mental health Day? Keep reading this article to find out a few signs that are a clear indicator that it is the right time to take a much-needed day off.
Few Signs You Need A Mental Health Day
Are you feeling tired and rundown? Then it is a Sign You Need a Mental Health Day. Stress and overwork can quickly take a toll on the body and make you feel tired or downright exhausted. If you are treating life like a race throughout the 24 hours, then you cannot stop thinking about problems at work, and you won’t have any time to rest or escape from the office and will likely have a poor work-life balance. Feeling constantly sluggish and worn out may be directly related to the stress you feel at the office.
When we are stressed and tired all the time due to work, it is all too easy to get angry and lose our temper, even over seemingly small things. Anger can damage your relationship with your loved ones and take you on the journey where you are the only one traveling with not even your loved ones to support and uplift you.
If you find yourself getting annoyed with your coworkers, it might be the right time to take a day off and relax. You don’t want to damage your personal and professional relationships just because you are feeling burned out. Working on stress and trying to journal for mental health is a great way to release your feelings on paper, as opposed to taking it out on your coworkers.
If you cannot focus at work, then it might be one of the Signs You Need a Mental Health Day. Stress can cause focus problems, which makes it harder to complete your work and raises the risk of mistakes. Stress can impair your memory and your capacity to learn new things, so it affects more than just your ability to concentrate. Ironically, being unable to focus can cause you to become completely consumed by your work because you aren’t able to complete tasks as quickly and easily as you once could.
Chronic stress can negatively impact your immune response as stress can raise suppressor T cells and catecholamine levels, which are known immune system repressors. This can increase your risk of viral infections and physical illness. If you constantly find yourself catching every cold or virus that is circulating around the neighborhood or office, you might need to take steps to alleviate some of your stress and take a mental health break from work.
Stress also directly contributes to physical health problems like diabetes risk, heart problems, and plaque buildup. Alterations in acid concentration brought on by stress can also result in ulcers or colitis.
One of the most important Signs You Need a Mental Health Day is that you are not sleeping very well. Sleep is not only important for maintaining your overall health, but is also directly correlated to stress and can contribute to a number of mental health conditions if you aren’t getting adequate sleep. Chronic insomnia is another sign of stress and it can be the stem of a vicious cycle. The less sleep you get, the less you are able to focus and the more stressed you become, the more sleep you might lose and so on.
Few people turn to food for comfort when they are stressed and others avoid food completely when they are anxious. Both the habits are unhealthy and will have adverse effects on the body. If you find yourself binging or skipping meals, it might be time to consider a mental health day so you can figure out if work-related stress is contributing to newly founded unhealthy eating habits.