It's Crucial to Take Mental Health Breaks in Today's World

You may remember me as the blogger who wrote for Work and Bipolar or Depression or Coping with Depression here at HealthyPlace. While blogging on this platform has been a career highlight, I took time off from writing about depression for my mental health. Now that I am better, I feel grateful for the opportunity to write for Mental Health for The Digital Generation. Although I wish I had never left, I know why I needed to do so: we live in a chaotic world where regular mental health breaks are essential. 

Why Take Mental Health Breaks? 

According to StressCoach,

"mental health disorders are widespread and frequently triggered by illnesses and chronic stress. Managing stress can help reduce the risk of these conditions. Taking a mental health break means distancing yourself from stressful day-to-day routines to rebalance your mind, body, and soul. Stepping back from the sources of stress allows you to unwind, recharge, and regain motivation."¹

So irrespective of whether you have a mental health disorder, mental health breaks are necessary for your wellbeing. We live in times where it's normal to keep pushing ourselves even when we are mentally exhausted; this is glorified as hustle culture. However, what is not discussed as much are the consequences of hustle culture: anxiety, fatigue, depression, burnout, and so on. 

In my case, I needed a mental health break because I was going through an intense depressive episode and was questioning my career choices. After a suicide attempt, I decided to step back from writing. It took me a couple of months to realize that I still wanted to be a writer and still wanted to be a mental health advocate, just not one overly focused on depression. This clarity would not have been possible if I had continued to force myself to write about depression. Watch the video below to know how I figured out I needed to take a break from writing. 

What Do You Need a Mental Health Break From?

Many of us need a break from everyday things like work, social media, screen time, dating, and socializing. Sometimes, even our hobbies can feel like chores when we are overwhelmed by stress or mental health issues like depression. In times like these, it's best to listen to our intuition and take a break from whatever is overwhelming. Taking time off to relax will help you recover from stress and give you a fresh perspective on life. 

Source

1. A. (2022, March 3). 5 Signs You Need a Mental Health Break (and How to Take One). Stresscoach. https://www.stresscoach.app/blog/signs-you-need-a-mental-health-break-and-how-to/