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{{label}}Staff Writer - 2.2 min watch
09 May 2019
We can all benefit from some time to reenergise and refocus. Here's five things to try on your next mental health day.
No matter who you are, there will come a time in your working life when you could benefit from taking a mental health day. If you’re feeling drained emotionally, overwhelmed, or too stressed to focus – you can likely benefit from a day or two to re-centre and replenish your mental fortitude before returning to work.
Unfortunately, while rest and recuperation from a physical illness is widely understood and accepted, people often don’t know what to do with themselves when they take time off work for their mental wellbeing. Here are five things that you can do to put yourself first on your next mental health day.
Self-care doesn’t need to be extravagant or elaborate – it can be anything that makes you feel happy and fulfilled. That might mean spending time on a favourite hobby, taking yourself to the movies, or simply reading a good book.
Ideally, you’ll be able to direct your energy to something that you find rewarding and stimulating – rather than focus on negative thoughts and feelings.
If you’re having trouble thinking of something to do, here are five suggestions for self-care rituals that are free and easily achievable.
If you’re experiencing stress in the workplace, schedule some time to talk your manager about methods that can help you deal with it.
The Japanese have long been advocates of shinrin-yoku, or ‘forest bathing’, the practice of immersing yourself in nature for the health benefits it provides. The restorative power of the environment is something that’s well documented, with research showing that even a short walk in nature is linked to improvements in mood.
If you’re taking the day off work, go wild and head outdoors (even if the closest wilderness is just the local dog-park).
Mental health episodes can lead us to neglect our daily routines, so take the opportunity to nourish your body with nutritious whole foods. While the direct impact that our diet has on our mental wellbeing is something that’s still being explored, there’s promising research in this area.
Check in with the government’s healthy eating guidelines to see where you’re doing well with your diet, and where you can improve. If you’re looking for some recipe inspiration, we have plenty of suggestions.
Strong social relationships are critical to our mental wellbeing, with loneliness being a well-documented health risk factor.
Take your day off to schedule a catch-up with a friend who can help you talk through some of the issues you’re facing, or take your mind off them altogether. Doing so might even offer you the opportunity for you to deepen your relationship.
Stress has a documented impact on sleep, which can leave you feeling frustrated and groggy. There’s nothing wrong with using a mental health day to catch up on missed sleep, so that you’re able to return to work well-rested and re-energised.
If you’re concerned about oversleeping, follow our 24-hour guide to a good night’s rest.
If you have serious concerns about your mental wellbeing, speak to your GP or a mental health professional.
Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.
Disclaimer:
The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional, tax or other advice. It does not take into account any individual’s personal situation or needs. You should consider obtaining professional advice from a financial adviser and/or tax specialist, or medical or health practitioner, in relation to your own circumstances and before acting on this information.
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