6 Signs You Need a Mental Health Day

Sometimes, our daily routines can feel mundane or unfulfilling. If not disrupted, the tedious rhythm of day-to-day life may even become a stressor and pose a threat to your mental health. For this reason, it can be essential to take a day off from your typical schedule and focus on taking care of yourself.

It is important to note that serious mental health issues cannot be solved in one day, and that you should seek ongoing treatment for any consistent issues. Additionally, it’s important to practice rest and self-care daily, as these are basic needs that are required for us to be healthy. As Tricia Hersey says in her book, Rest is Resistance, “Treating each other and ourselves with care isn’t a luxury, but an absolute necessity if we’re going to thrive. Resting isn’t an afterthought, but a basic part of being human.”

Although it is not a substitute for mental health treatment or daily rest, taking a mental health day can provide time to recharge in order to be your best self when you return to your typical routine.

Here are some signs that it may be time to take a mental health day:

You’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed.
You’re having difficulty concentrating or completing tasks.
You’re feeling physically or mentally exhausted.
You’re having difficulty sleeping or experiencing a change in sleep patterns.
You’re having difficulty maintaining healthy relationships.
You’re feeling disconnected from your usual activities and interests.

You can also check out this burnout questionnaire, which may help you understand if you’re in need of a mental health day and/or improved daily self-care practices.

Overall, if you feel like you would benefit from a mental health day, you should take one. It is never a bad idea to dedicate time to taking care of yourself.

You may be wondering, well what should I do during this mental health day? Truthfully, that is up to you. Your mental health day should contain activities that you enjoy, find peaceful, and recharge your energy. This can include taking naps, going to the spa or salon, participating in a hobby, exercising, reading a book, or watching television. What’s most important is that you do not spend your mental health day exerting yourself even more. This is not time to catch up on chores, work on schoolwork, or run errands. It can be understandably difficult to avoid these things during your time off, but it’s important to remember why you decided to take this day off and honor your body’s need for rest.

It is essential to regularly check in with yourself and assess if you are experiencing symptoms of burnout. Recognizing these symptoms and taking time for yourself can be life changing. Taking mental health days and practicing self-care regularly are necessary for your health. We challenge you to prioritize your health and take a mental health day if you feel it will benefit you!

The Best Choices When Eating Out: Chinese Restaurant Edition

By Leda Tello, Registered Dietician at LBU

According to T. Colin Campbell, PhD, professor of nutritional biochemistry at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, the traditional Chinese diet is significantly healthier than the typical American diet, which frequently places meat as the main course.

However, if you want to eat well, you don't need to go to China's countryside. Simply incorporate the Chinese method of eating into your diet. You can do this wherever you are, whether you're cooking Chinese food at home or dining out. Chinese cuisine offers a wide variety of dishes that can be healthy options if prepared properly. Some examples of healthy Chinese dishes include:

Steamed dishes

These can include fish, vegetables, and dumplings. Steaming is a method of cooking that preserves the nutritional value of food and does not require the use of oil.

Stir-fry dishes

These can also include a variety of vegetables and meats and are cooked quickly over high heat in a small amount of oil.

Soups

Clear broths or soups made with vegetables and lean meats can make a healthy addition to a meal.

Hot pot

To prepare the components for this recipe, a simmering pot of broth is used. Meats and vegetables can be used as ingredients, and different flavors can be used to make the broth.

Vegetarian Options

Dishes with tofu and vegetables, such as Mapo tofu and Kung Pao tofu, etc.

Remember to watch your portion sizes and ask for foods to be served without additional salt or oil because Chinese cuisine frequently has dishes that are rich in sodium and fat.

Please be aware that restaurant portions are very enormous, particularly during dinner. Before dining out, look over the online menu to select a dish that will satisfy your daily calorie requirements.

For more information, please contact:

Leda Tello

Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist

(214) 540-0303

How Can Self-Care Benefit Me

Jenine Lemmons, Director of Behavioral Health

"Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel." - Eleanor Brown

Self-care is an investment in our own pleasure and wellbeing, whether it be through exercise, mindfulness exercises, or simply taking a nice bath. It might be simple to overlook our personal needs and become overburdened by daily expectations and duties in the fast-paced modern world. But by including self-care practices in our daily routine, we may enhance our general health and happiness and more effectively manage the stress and difficulties of daily life.

Self-care can improve:

Physical Health

The state of your physical body and how well it is operating.

Benefits include:

Improved thinking, reduced anxiety, improved sleep, weight management, and the reduction of health risks.

Psychological Health

Tuning in to how we feel, think, relate and exist in our daily lives.

Benefits include:

The ability to cope with challenging times in our personal and professional lives.

Emotional Heath

Our sense of wellbeing, our ability to cope with life events, and how we acknowledge our own emotions as well as those of others.

Benefits include:

Resilience to stress, deeper relationships, higher self-esteem, and more energy.

Balance

Balanced living means considering all aspects of your life: relations, work, fitness, health, and emotional wellbeing.

Benefits include:

Stress reduction, productivity increase, and being in tune with feelings.

Stress management

Lowering stress to lower your risk of harmful physical and mental effects.

Benefits include:

Improved sleep, less muscle tension, and improved mood

Relationship Health

A healthy relationship which includes mutual respect, trust, honesty, and compromise.

Benefits include:

Reduced stress, sense of purpose, and longer life.

In order to maintain a good balance and avoid burnout, self-care entails setting aside time to give priority to our own physical, emotional, and mental requirements.

To take a self-care assessment, please click here.

If you need to talk to someone, please reach out at (214) 540-0300.