Whenever I start to habitually pick up an inanimate object and say “good afternoon” or whisper to myself “what a bitch” after a rude caller, I know it’s time for a mental health day.

One may ask, “What is this mental health day you speak of?”

It’s not a vacation day. It’s not a sick day. It’s a day for you and you only.

Look at it like 24 hours of relaxing and reflecting.

The relaxing part can be anything. Imagine taking a nap during a week day, cooking up a hearty breakfast, working out in an unpacked gym, starting a personal creative project, or finally getting to your list of movies to watch. It’s all about giving yourself the time of day.

The reflecting part is necessary. It’s too easy to let your office job and other concerns take over your personal well being. Give yourself the time to actually say, “Let’s think think out why I am so stressed. What am I doing right? What am I doing wrong?”

I give all props to my Mom who instilled the idea of a mental health day to my siblings and I since a young age. Life is too good to only focus on the stress.