Society is tired. The polls on job burnout mark an upward trend aggravated by the pandemic. Take a day off During the week is one of the easiest ways to take care of your mental health, and although it is clear that a 24-hour break is not going to solve all your problems, help never hurts.
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The psychologist Lisa Orbé-Austin, who specializes in guiding professionals in their careers, ensures that a day off to rest provides a sense of relief, a greater ability to regulate your emotions and a better perspective.
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“It will never end all your problems, but it is a respite,” emphasizes Orbé-Austin. “You should notice some improvement.”
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But is there a day that is better than another to take a break during the week? When you’re on the brink of collapse, a day off feels great. If you have the freedom to choose the day, heed the advice of the experts.
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Don’t fall into Wednesday’s trap
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Melody Wilding, a career counselor and social worker, does not recommend taking an intermediate day of the work week off, as it can be more difficult to disconnect when you know you still have some tasks to finish.
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“You may not even take advantage of the day because you will start planning and preparing the rest of the week to end it well,” he explains. So his advice is to take Monday or Friday off, so that it becomes an extension of the weekend.
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Orbé-Austin agrees that although some people prefer Wednesdays to break the dynamics of the work week, she also recommends Mondays or Fridays to extend the weekend. “A single day is often short.”
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It is also true that it is a social convention to choose Mondays or Fridays to take a day off, says Shanita Liu.
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“It’s easier to get Monday or Friday and not the days in between, especially if your company doesn’t pay much attention to mental health,” he says.
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Liu, for his part, also prefers Mondays and Fridays to extend the weekend. On Mondays, specifically, they allow you to return to work more prepared for the rest of the week.
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“At least you can start Tuesday feeling more rested and, hopefully, more focused,” he values.
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Whichever day you choose, really take advantage of it
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Once you’ve chosen the day, make sure you dedicate it to activities that relax you and promote your mental health.
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“If you take a day off to stay on the couch watching Netflix, you’re not going to solve anything,” says Orbé-Austin.
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According to Orbé-Austin, there are three ways to make the most of a day off for mental health: self-care activities that bring you back to the present (meditation or yoga), do a therapy session with a professional or perform activities that help you release stress and tension (physical exercise or receiving a massage).
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“Think: how do you plan to take care of yourself as much as possible to make the most of your mental health day?” He says.
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Your goal, according to Liu, is to take advantage of the day to satisfy your needs and seek well-being. “That’s what a day of rest consists of.”
This article It was originally published in the ‘HuffPost’ United States and has been translated from English by Daniel Templeman Sauco.
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