From Daniel: This is a guest post by Iliana Spector, who writes for Assisted Living Today and NetQin. Iliana has extensive experience in writing for topics related to elderly care and technology.
This article is especially relevant in today’s society, where everyone is perpetually having to do one thing or another. Even while on the train, people are thumbing away on their phones. Here are some ways to take time off – for real.
Whether you work outside the home or in it, chances are good that you could occasionally use a break from your schedule. Call it a personal day or a mental health day. Either way, it means that for one golden day, you let go of your usual responsibilities and embrace just being you.
Does it sound too good to be true? That’s because we have a tendency to cling to our responsibilities with a death grip. Somehow, many of us have decided that the world would stop spinning if we dropped out of it for a few hours. Try taking a one day break, and when no catastrophe ensues, you’ll see just how valuable a personal day can be.
Schedule a Day for You
Put your personal day on your calendar, just as you would any other appointment. This day is just as important and vital as taking the kids to the doctor or meeting with that important client. In fact, it might even be more important because a mental health day is necessary for your continued well being and your dedication to your responsibilities.
Make certain that everyone knows you’re taking this day. Request it off from work, get a babysitter for the kids and make alternative arrangements for meals. This is just one day. You can do it, and your family can function without you for a few hours.
Banish the Cell Phone and Don’t Check Email
Most people carry cell phones like they are another bodily appendage. For this one day, you’re not going to obsessively check your phone. You can keep it in your purse or a pocket just in case of emergency. However, try to resist the temptation to constantly check for emails and text messages as these things can quickly take you out of your relaxed state of mind.
Make a Plan for the Day
This plan can be as simple or elaborate as you wish. What really matters is that you do something that will rejuvenate you. Here are some suggestions for what you might do with your day:
- Lay on the couch watching television while wearing pajamas. Eat a little junk food. Does that seem too lazy and indulgent? If it does, then you know you’re on the right track.
- Coordinate your mental health day with a friend. See a movie or do some shopping. If you’re in the mood for a refined online shopping experience, Shoppok has come through for us multiple times.
- Book a spa appointment. Get a relaxing massage from massage therapy. You might immerse yourself in a mud bath. Your choice of treatments really doesn’t matter. What’s important is that it’s an indulgent time that is all about making you feel better.
- Take a bubble bath and read a good book. Sometimes simply having the house to yourself is amazingly relaxing. Make the most of it with the latest best seller that you haven’t had a chance to read and a long soak in the tub.
- Take a class. Learning something new can be very stimulating, giving your brain new pathways to explore. Try yoga or a cooking class. These can spark a new, stress relieving interest that can lessen your need for mental health days.
- Spend the day with your sweetie. If you’ve got a really busy schedule, you just might be feeling disconnected from the person you love most. Schedule a joint mental health day and do something fun just for the two of you.
You Really Can Do It
Society places a great deal of emphasis on taking on increasing amounts of responsibility, but doesn’t always provide adequate outlets for the corresponding stress. As a result, we have a tendency to keep trudging along, dealing with headaches and short tempers and wondering why life has to be so frustrating and difficult.
With a personal day, you can rediscover some of the things that make life worth living. You’ll take the time to notice how green the grass is or appreciate just how wonderful it is to have a friend or partner that you were lucky enough to spend the day with.