Do You Need A Mental Health Day?

Recently, I found myself pondering a simple yet significant question: do I need a mental health day? Initially, the idea felt indulgent, maybe even unnecessary, like ordering two scoops of ice cream rather than just one. As if my nightly seven hours of sleep should suffice. But the longer I considered it, the more I realized that my hesitation wasn’t entirely logical. My reluctance stemmed from societal expectations and conditioning. We, as humans, are trained to believe that rest is something that must be earned, not always given. We live in a culture that glorifies hustle and productivity. The idea that “busy is better”, but at what cost? The simple answer is that it’s at the cost of our well-being. What if taking a step back is exactly what we need in order to keep moving forward?

Recognizing the Signs

I am reflecting back to one particularly difficult morning I had recently. For me, the feeling of burnout started subtly, like a slow leak in a balloon, releasing air so gradually that you don’t notice it until it’s completely deflated. I woke up feeling like I never truly slept, as if my brain had been running a marathon while my body lay still, like my sleep never truly entered a cycle of REM. My body felt sluggish and no amount of caffeine could truly shake away the grogginess.

Simple decisions like choosing an outfit or deciding between a protein bar or a bowl of cereal for breakfast suddenly felt extremely overwhelming. 

I found myself zoning out mid-conversation with my roommates, struggling to concentrate on even the simplest tasks. With this came the irritability. Something as simple as a text notification made me sigh, an expression of annoyance. The vibration tone of an incoming email filled me with irritation. A friend asked me to go to lunch, and instead of excitement or eagerness, I would simply feel more stressed. It’s a slow, creeping feeling that builds up until it feels all-consuming. Eventually I realized I needed to give myself a break. 

alt-text: A little girl laying on the floor, holding onto a carousel as it slowly rotates, pulling her along with it. The caption on the GIF reads, "all of us now."

The Guilt of Taking a Rest

When I first thought about taking a mental health day, my immediate response was guilt. What if I fall behind on my assignments and messages? What if other people think I’m lazy? What if I let someone down? What if it becomes a habit? It reminds me of the dialogue that runs through my head whenever I decline plans or say no to a new responsibility.

We, as humans (and busy adult ones at that), are conditioned to believe that rest is a luxury, one we must earn. We think it’s only acceptable after pushing ourselves to the limit, as if we must prove our exhaustion before we can justify relaxation. Deep down, I knew that ignoring my needs would never make them disappear. In fact, it would only make me less productive in the long run.

Reaching the Breaking Point

I found myself staring blankly at my laptop screen, unable to focus, while my Canvas assignment calendar loomed in the background like an ominous storm cloud. I had deadlines, obligations, and expectations—yet all I could think about was how much I wanted to curl up under a blanket, turn off the lights, put my phone on DND, and shut out the world. That’s when I reminded myself that if I kept pushing forward without rest, I wasn’t just harming myself—I was sabotaging my ability to function.

Think about it like this, you’re going on a road trip. You can fill up the gas tank at your starting point, but eventually, after driving so far, the car needs more fuel. Our bodies need to be refueled in the same way. By forcing myself to continue working without pause, I was setting myself up for burnout, making it even harder to meet my commitments when my fuel tank inevitably ran dry. I wasn’t helping anyone by running on empty. And I certainly wasn’t helping myself.

Making the Decision

So, I did it. I took a mental health day. No emails, no assignments, no guilt. Just me, Law & Order SVU, and a much-needed few deep breaths (and, admittedly, a nap). At first, I felt uneasy, like a driver running a yellow light, unsure if I was making the right call. I had to resist the urge to check my inbox or "quickly" complete a task. But as soon as I let myself relax, I realized how desperately I needed this break. I took a hot shower, did some skincare, and embraced the stillness. It felt like I was exhaling after holding my breath for way too long.

The Outcome 

The next day, I felt lighter. My thoughts were clearer, my body felt less tense, and I was able to approach my to-do list with calm instead of dread, with motivation rather than exhaustion. No, that one day of rest didn’t erase all my stress, but it certainly gave me the space to breathe, reset, and remind myself that my well-being is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.

I also learned an important lesson: the world didn’t fall apart because I took a day off. My responsibilities were still there, but I was in a much better place, mentally, to handle them. Taking time for myself wasn’t a sign of weakness; it was an act of self-care. Actually, it was a sign of determination.

My Ultimate Takeaway

If you’re asking yourself whether you need a mental health day, the answer is probably yes. Burnout doesn’t always announce itself loudly. It often starts as a whisper, the quiet exhaustion we convince ourselves is normal. But it doesn’t have to be. Listen to your body, recognize the signs. Most importantly, give yourself permission to rest. The world will keep turning, your tasks will still be there tomorrow. You’ll just be better prepared to handle them after recharging.

Rest isn’t a reward for hard work; it’s an essential part of life. So go ahead. Take the day. You deserve it.