Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 8-6-21

Health
Everyone has to deal with varying levels of stress. This can be particularly difficult to manage if you also have symp- toms of depression or anxiety. When you feel like your stress levels have reached their peak, it might be time to take a quick break to reset.
Sometimes taking a mental health day—a day off that's specifically geared toward stress relief and burnout pre- vention—is the best thing you can do for yourself. While one day might not solve heavy un- derlying problems that lead to burnout, a mental health day can provide a much-needed break to pause, regroup, and come back with greater levels of energy and a fresh, less- stressed perspective. Whatever stressors you face, these tips can help you take a mental health day and make the most of it.
TAKE A DAY
Once you have decided to take a mental health day, the question then becomes "when and how?"
The best way to avoid feeling stressed about taking a day off is to schedule a day off ahead of time, ensuring that you've taken steps to rearrange your workload or find a replace- ment for the day. However, if you wake up in the morning and just feel that you can't face
the stress of the day, this may be a good time to take a mental health day and make the most of it.
The decision of when to take a mental health day really de- pends on your personal situa- tion. If your employer is supportive and you are com- fortable sharing your reasons, feel free to plan a mental health day out in advance. If you don't want to divulge your reasons for taking a day or if your employer is less under- standing, don't feel obligated to share.
Weekends work well, too. While a "traditional" mental health day generally includes taking a day off from work, it's not necessary to call in sick to take a day to focus on stress re- lief.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Knowing what you can ex- pect to get out of a mental
health day is important. It's important to remember that it isn't a day to hide from your problems.
An effective mental health day can help you:
• Destress
• Get a handle on your emo- tions
• Relax
• Resetyourperspective
• Rest
• Take a step back to evalu-
ate
Problems can seem harder to
deal with when they seem close, overwhelming, and in- escapable. Taking a mental break from work and spending some time on self-care can sometimes give you the mini- break you need to head back into things with a clear head. DECIDE WHAT YOU NEED MOST
Sometimes this one is a no- brainer—if you're exhausted, your body will be screaming that it needs to rest. Of, if you feel you can't face another day of hard work, you may just need to have some fun. How- ever, if you're feeling over- whelmed, you may not be as aware of your needs.
Take a minute and really re- flect: Would you benefit the most from some tension relief?
Or from making a few changes that will relieve stress in the future? Some time with a loved one? Or just a change of scenery? As different stressors require different responses, different types of mental health days fill unique needs. IF YOU NEED
TO RELAX
Taking a mental health day often means taking time out to relax. That can mean watching TV in pajamas for hours, or puttering around the house and doing nothing. As long as this isn't an everyday thing, that's fine. Some activities can take a little front-end effort and feel immensely relaxing once they're completed.
SOME THINGS YOU CAN TRY INCLUDE:
• Attendingayogaclass
• Gettingamassage
• Swimmingatthegym
• Takingawalkinnature
The key is to spend time doing an activity that you find relaxing, whether it's taking a hike, exploring a museum, or just spending some time im-
mersed in a good book.
THINGS TO AVOID
• Avoidfriendsandfamily
• Smoke,drink,oruseother substances
• Overeatunhealthyfoods
• Ruminate or wallow in negative emotions
• Spend all day reading posts on social media
There are plenty of ways to spend your day, whether you decide to catch up on some much-needed sleep, indulge in a hobby you love, or hang out with a friend. Spend your day on activities that boost your physical and mental wellness. IF YOU NEED SOME FUN
If you really need a change of scenery and a "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" kind of men- tal health day, be sure you make the most of it. Plan at least one fun event—either something you normally love to do and don't do often enough, or something you've always wanted to try. Take a good friend along, if possible, to really make the day memo- rable.
PAGE 8-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 2021