Taking a
Mental Health Day by Debra H. Goldstein
I’m tired. I’ve
spent the last few months writing blogs, giving interviews, doing podcasts, and
talking to anyone who will listen about my new Kensington cozy, One Taste Too Many. The book launched
and I’ve been thrilled and grateful for the response people have had to One Taste Too Many, but I’m tired.
Everyone
tells me it’s a good tired, but my body and brain don’t quite agree. Well, my
brain partially does, but even it’s telling me it is time for one of my
personal insanity or mental health days.
For me an
insanity or mental health day is very simple – I may or may not get out of bed;
I may or may not get dressed; I usually write checks and pay bills because I
find that to be mindless and relaxing; the TV will be turned on and off as the
day progresses, but only by using a remote control; I’ll catch up on the
magazines piled on my dresser or immerse myself in a book I’ve been meaning to
That means, I
won’t write. I won’t think about what project I might want to take on next. I
won’t worry about the fact I still can’t work Photoshop Elements well enough to
update my website. I won’t fret about numbers, due dates, Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram, or anything on my to-do list as President of the Guppy Chapter of
Sisters in Crime or the Southeast Chapter of Mystery Writers of America.
An insanity
or mental health day belongs to me. Throughout my life, I’ve learned to be
selfish about my “insanity day,” because if I fail to adhere to its rules, my batteries
won’t recharge, and I’ll continue running like a rat in a maze without ever
reaching the cheese. When I take one of these days, I wonder why I didn’t do it
sooner or why I don’t do it more often – but, I know my answer to that: too
much to do and too little time to do it.
What about
you? Do you ever take an insanity or mental health day? Do you wait too long?
What do you do to recharge yourself?
Vacations are not gratuitous grants of time off by a beneficent employer. They are a recognition by the employer that over the whole year they will get more out of you if you take some time off. As self-employed, it's hard to remember them employer side of that equation: granting the employee time off will provide more output in the long run.
ReplyDeleteAnd, you should do it before you are totally dragging. If you wait that long, it's too late for maximum productivity.
So says the math guy with an MBA and an earlier minor in psychology.
Sometimes, I let a day's worth of errands pile up, figure out the fastest way to accomplish all of them, and do it. No writing. I usually take Saturdays and Sunday mornings off for yard chores.
ReplyDeleteYou are smart to listen to your body and follow through with a day of being good to yourself. I don't do the often, but when I do, it's because I've absolutely reached the point of fatigue. So enjoy your day--in fact, take two or three. You've earned them.
ReplyDeleteGuilty of waiting too long and then I need three in a row. Why three? Well, my tip off is when I cannot get out of bed one day but I'm not sick - just flat out exhausted. Then I give myself the grant of the next two days as free days. I do exactly what brings me joy. I'm good to myself (and by extension the others in my life) but there's nothing gotta do about it. By the end of the third day, I'm refreshed and ready to take up the harness again.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your day off, Debra - You've earned it!
It's helpful to have another passion. Mine is singing. I can get so caught up in that world that my fatigue in writing gets forgotten.
ReplyDeleteJim, you are so right about why employees are made to take their vacation days. Studies show those that don't have lesser productivity in the long run. Margaret, I like the balance you've achieved...Kait, you do it like I do...same with Grace... to the point we have to stop. Now Warren, if I could only sing.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I try not to do writing stuff on the weekends. Makes for a crazy Monday, but that's okay as Mondays are supposed to be.
ReplyDeleteDebra, ever since I returned home. My mom's in rehab. When does taking a mental health day turn into procrastination for a writer! You are amazing with all you have on your plate. Mental health day well deserved.
ReplyDeleteDebra, ever since I returned home. My mom's in rehab. When does taking a mental health day turn into procrastination for a writer! You are amazing with all you have on your plate. Mental health day well deserved.
ReplyDeleteLoved reading this today, Debra because I'm taking one, too, sitting in my nesting chair reading a book I've long wanted to read and listening to the radio in the background with my beautiful tri-colored collie Maggie sleeping on the rug near me. Of course even on my taking a break day there are things I must do like head to the barn to feed them or let them out into their pasture. Then there's my barn cat who needs fed as well as a hen. Unfortunately, I only have one hen left. Then I have to walk back to the woods near my son's house to feed his peacock and my peahen before coming back home and heading for the newspaper box to bring in today's paper to read. Of course, my Maggie goes with me when I head for the barn so I am getting a little exercise. Today it's been snowing and I had to get a towel and wipe her down. Other than fixing lunch and calling my two sisters to find out what day they're coming to visit, I've been reading the newspaper and started a new book to read and checked my emails.
ReplyDeleteLazy Gloria today.
You are my hero, Debra! I was lying in bed reading this - just wish I had someone to bring me breakfast so I could stay there all day. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reminder. I went down to the beach and sat in the sand (as cold as it was) and stared at the ocean. The sounds (or lack thereof), the scents, and fresh air. Behind me, I could see snow on the San Bernardino mountains. In front of me, Santa Catalina. Perspective is everything.
ReplyDeleteHolly
Brava! I take mental health days too. Sometimes, I'll get some writing in and then nap. Other times, just nap. I love naps. Check out for a couple of hours and come back to a different, albeit dustier, world. (Am looking at the dust in my home office right now.)
ReplyDeleteKeenan...ignore the dust. BTW, congrats on all the nominations. Holly - love the idea of sitting on the sand. I am a beach girl though I love looking at it, rain or shine, from a temperature controlled environment. Shari - lying in bed; reading in bed.... heaven. If you find someone to bring you breakfast, send him/her my way. My hubby is no better in the kitchen than I am. Gloria - even the best mental health day has some chores, but reading that book and loving your dog make all the difference . Donnell Ann, it's tough when you are balancing caretaking with every day activities.... there's an emotional drain that can't be accounted for. Vicki --- taking weekends off is a balance. I tend to go the other way...partially because that was when I did a lot of my writing while I was on working...nad partially that's when life is quietest around our house.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteI know I need a mental health day, but I haven't taken one yet. I'm way overdue.
My family responsibilities are my top priority, and right now I can't really take a break from them. The people who usually help me out are having their own health crises right now. And a dear friend's mother just died, meaning I should be stepping up there, since I know my support will make a difference.
Soon I hope things will return to more normal (whatever that is) and the first thing I will do is schedule myself some down time.
We all need that.
I have always been amazed at all you get accomplished. And well. You need to also take a day off from the news and social media. That means you may read this comment, smile, but don’t answer it. Enjoy your time off.
ReplyDeleteI, for one, am thrilled that you are taking a day to yourself now, so that you are totally re-charged for your visit to the Upstate South Carolina SinC Chapter on March 7th. I loved this blog because I agree with you completely. Taking a step back when you're feeling overwhelmed and doing whatever it takes to re-set and re-charge is a superpower, in my opinion. Thanks for the reminder. So looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks!
ReplyDelete