WHEN TO TAKE A MENTAL HEALTH DAY

Experts DR JODIE LOWINGER and CRAIG DAVIS explain the importance of time out

SIGNS YOU NEED ONE

“You may be finding that you’re tired and it’s hard to concentrate, or that you’re unnecessarily irritated by your colleagues,” says clinical psychologist Dr Jodie Lowinger. There can also be feelings of, “[hopelessness], lethargy or ambivalence,” adds Craig Davis, certified teacher at Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute.

WHY THEY’RE IMPORTANT

“We generally have no issues taking time off to recover when we are physically unwell because we understand that the quality of our work is compromised, and that it will take longer to get well if we don’t rest and recover,” says Craig. “The same is true with our mental health. We need to learn how to look ourselves with good self-care.”

HOW TO SPEND THE DAY

It’s up to the individual, but Dr Lowinger advises turning off devices and ignoring social media to help relax and reset your mind. “The best thing you can do is get outside for a walk, eat nutritious food that feeds your body and mind, and drink a good amount of water,” she says.