Mental health days

[gogreengowhite]

Do you take them?

Today is the first time I've ever really taken one. I just couldn't bring myself to go in today.

I'm hoping things get better very very soon.

[saywhatnow]

I used to when my job was easier and I was less essential. Now if I take a day off, it is so much of a headache that I'd be in worse shape when I returned....would not help my mental health at all. I think they're great in theory though. I hope you enjoy your day!

[imojoebunny]

I don't work anymore, but I took them pretty much starting in 4th grade once or twice a year until I was 34. Not often, but it loved them.

[tine]

I haven't in a while but I have taken them when I really need to. IMO they really are necessary sometimes. Hope yours helps!

[heygrey]

yes, and they are strongly encouraged by my employer. obviously you can't abuse their graciousness, but it's so nice to be able to call in a couple times a year when you're having a miserable go of it and be able to legitimately say "I'm taking a mental health day."

[LoveTrains]

I haven't taken one in a LONG time. Which is probably why I have the urge to walk out the door and never ever ever come back.

[Awkward]

I took two last year when I was just starting this job and hadn't yet "toughened up," which is a sad commentary on my job. Now that I've been here a while I've learned to let more roll off my back and move on. I still think about taking one, but I'd rather use my days for actual vacations.

Hope things get better soon!

[abramos]

Yes. I take them here and there (maybe once to twice a year). There are times when there is so much drama (read: politics), I just need to take a day off and decompress.

[Deleted]

I am more apt to take a mental health morning. Sometimes, it's so worth it to just go to work two hours late and have a relaxing morning

[gogreengowhite]

And in the legitimate "mental health day" realm I just scheduled an appointment for Monday with a doctor to discuss my anxiety.

[saywhatnow]

Oct 22, 2014 13:11:18 GMT -5 gogreengowhite said:

And in the legitimate "mental health day" realm I just scheduled an appointment for Monday with a doctor to discuss my anxiety.

Good for you! Hope today takes the edge off and the doc can help you out even more.

[niq]

I never did.

Then we had a kid.

I still haven't, but I am no longer going to feel bad about doing so.

[sunnysideup488]

I have used them a few times this year.

We get 10 days worth.

DD1 has overheard my conversation with my boss.

'I won't be at work today, I need a mental health day'

Now when she doesn't want to do something she says 'no thank you mommy. Health day'

[crashgizmo]

Oct 22, 2014 13:06:53 GMT -5 @mrschicken said:

I am more apt to take a mental health morning. Sometimes, it's so worth it to just go to work two hours late and have a relaxing morning

I do this too! In fact, I am doing it today. Luckily, I WFH and make my own hours....so really I'm just adding on the end of my day. 

[winnied]

I usually do it once a year, usually in the fall. I don't know why it's usually in the fall. I haven't taken one this year so I guess that's good!

[raangoli]

I don't but I probably should. We don't get particular days set aside for this though, I'd have to use a vacation day. That is fine with me though since at the end of the year, I have too many unused days and not enough time to use them (but we can carry over 5).

[mbcdefg]

I do it once or twice a year.

[tacosforlife]

I took one Monday. I drank an entire bottle of champagne and organized our downstairs.

We have a second bottle of champagne in the fridge, so I seriously considered taking a second on Tuesday.

[CallingAllAngels]

I have something crazy like 10 weeks of sick leave built up. I take maybe one per year. Usually I have a cold or something that has me feeling crappy, but not crappy enough to legitimately stay home. I have been known to take a mental health day on the anniversary of the day my dad died.

When my kids were younger and getting sick all the time, I didn't take mental health days.

[Waffles]

We get 5 sick days, and we have to get approval for those last two of the five. And I feel odd taking a vacation day without notice.

My old boss wouldn't have cared though. At the end of the year when I still had one of my three "given" sick days left my boss would tell me to take a "sick of work day".
I have no idea how my current boss feels about taking the day off with vacation time without notice though... And he's kind of a machine when it comes to work... I don't think he would understand a Mental Health Day.

[shortstax]

I mildly did this yesterday for the first time ever.

Bragplaint - I realized that I have enough sick/vacation time hoarded to cover my 12 weeks in mat leave next year with some left over. I'd slept poorly (and had killer heartburn) and overall felt like hell, so I used some sick time and went home at lunch. I spent the afternoon on the couch and watched all 4 episodes of Nashville from this season.

Well worth it

[daisypaloma]

No. I really should have in the last few years.

I start a new job in <2 weeks, and I'll take off one day prior to just enjoy. Maybe wake up early and practice my public commute.

[mskitkat]

Once in a while, I have. Very rarely though. I'm the type to feel guilty that I stayed home today, even though I'm legitimately sick enough that even if I could have driven in (doubtful), no one wanted me there, and I wouldn't have gotten anything done, anyway.

[bostonmichelle]

At my job, I usually just shuffle my schedule around and take a half day on a Friday if I need it. But its just my boss and I so if I don't go in the work just sits until the next day. I'll usually take the day off to get stuff done around the house/yard if anything.

My last job though I took a lot of mental health days. Generally I'd have an interview in the morning and just take the afternoon off. But then again I was practically in tears every day going to work and coming home from work and was seriously considering walking out the door and getting a job at a grocery store and relocating closer to my DH's work and getting a cheap apartment. Thankfully I got the job I did, which was per diem and ended up being 30-40 hours a week the first 3 months I worked there until tax season rolled around. It was a great transition.

[Deleted]

I occasionally take a sick day when I am not feeling good, but could probably force myself into work if I needed to. I actually just did this on Monday - I was exhausted, my stomach felt bloaty, I had a had headache, but I knew I wasn't "sick". I just needed a day to NOT be at work and to lay around and nap in my pajamas. So I guess that is kind of a mental health day, right?

[purpleminion]

Yes I do. But I usually say I'm sick or that my kid is sick because I'm not sure how "I need to take a mental health day" would go over with my boss/coworkers. I've also taken "I didn't sleep last night" days when my kids were really small and would tag team waking up every thirty minutes and I literally got NO sleep.

[cheezer]

That would be highly frowned on. We technically have sick days even though I don't know anyone who's ever used one. If you're sick you better be in the hospital if you're not working from home.

[KaraOrNot]

I do. We get a lot of sick time and it is not frowned upon if it is used within reason.

[L]

I never did unless you count college. My DH has started recently...like 1day a year.

[wanderlustmom]

I must be the most self indulgent poster. I relish mental health days and started taking them in high school with my mom's full approval. And I purposely take them when I feel great! I want to work with a cold and stay home when I feel great. About 4-6 times a year, I get the kids on the bus and watch my DVR or movies, go for a run with the dogs, take myself out for sushi and read. I don't schedule clients on those days and it's so restorative.

part of my mental health day is talking to no one. My job is all talking to people (therapist) so I have to cocoon. I did them less when the kids were not in school full time and it showed. I was much grumpier.