Buzz
Once a month, I set aside at least one weekend day to do absolutely nothing. On these days, I engage in activities that might seem unproductive to others—like reading, napping, rewatching an old favorite show or movie, and simply letting my mind wander as I think.
If I don’t prioritize these days regularly, I can feel the lack of them. That’s why I aim to make time for these “No Plans Days” whenever possible.
These moments are what many call “mental health days,” though I prefer calling them “no plans days” because the name leaves no confusion about their purpose. Scheduling them in advance, rather than letting work and obligations overwhelm me, prevents the burnout that comes from scrambling to catch up later.
SELF recently published an article on how to effectively take a mental health day, recommending the importance of planning these days ahead of time:
In a perfect world, we’d incorporate mental health days into our schedules to prevent burnout before it even starts, as David Klow, a licensed marriage and family therapist and the founder of Skylight Counseling Center in Chicago, shares with SELF. We would catch signs of stress early and choose to step back, taking days to focus on mental well-being through restoration and self-care.
For some, taking mental health days during the workweek might be an option thanks to vacation days or freelance flexibility. However, planning these days ahead ensures that you can take them when you're not working, leaving your vacation time for a proper getaway, which is just as crucial to avoiding burnout.
If you haven’t planned a mental health day yet, you can always use sick leave for it—provided you have that benefit available. It’s important to remember that many mental health challenges, like depression or anxiety, are unpredictable, and sometimes you can’t control when you need time off.
If you’re able to reserve one full day each month for mental health and self-care, make sure it’s on your calendar. After all, sometimes the best time to take a mental health day is before you feel you need one.
