Do You Need a Mental Health Vacation?
To be at your best, you require a bit of rest.
Who are we kidding? We’d all love a nice, long, and relaxing vacation. The sun, the sand, the drinks in hand — I could be taken back in an instant looking at past photos. No matter how you vacation, or what your ideal vacation setting is, I know at times burnout is inevitable. And I’ll be the first to say that taking a break from ordinary life is essential for your mental wellbeing.
But, what happens when you can’t escape to the warm climates or lounge away on a ship in the middle of the ocean? Although you might be working away day in and day out, whether you’re at home or not, your mental health depends on that much-needed break so you can recharge and come back better than ever.
Looks like it’s time for the ultimate mental health staycation! Yes, you may not be packing your bags to hit up the beach or board the ship. And no, you won’t be getting any tan lines this time around. But you’ll be pressing the reset button on your mind, and that’s what it’s all about, right?
Here are three ways to make your staycation a relaxing one:
Unplug
First things first — let those who need to know that you’ll be taking a week off from your devices. And then, do the craziest thing. Turn them all off and keep them off. The less screen time, the better. Stay the hell away from social media, and the alike as it’s all just a distraction that can hinder your mind from resting. If you need to keep your devices on, limit yourself to only one set time block of 20 to 30 minutes.
Treat Yourself
I look at it this way, you work all year just to deserve a week or two off. You’ve worked hard and it’s time to not only relax, but also to splurge on something you wouldn’t necessarily purchase for yourself on a normal occasion. When I cruise, I gave myself a budget and shop for something either unique or lavish. Well, it’s time to treat yourself to something nice if you have the budget for it. Go on, you deserve it.
Try Something New
Perhaps it’s time to finally find that new activity or passion project you’ve been dying to dive into. Haven’t gotten into one of your old hobbies in a while? Why not get back into it and take it to the next level? Tons of people pivot their passion projects to awesome side-hustles for an extra income stream. For me, diving into something creative is an excellent outlet and doesn’t feel like work at all. Writing is one of those outlets. In the past, I’ve made beaded bracelets and freelanced as a copywriter, and the enjoyment behind the talent or hobby can potentially lead to brighter opportunities in the future.
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