3 reasons why you shouldn't feel guilty for taking a mental health day
Dang. You are tired. It’s not just the feeling you get from being physically tired. Rather, it’s sheer exhaustion that has settled deep into your bones — making you feel old beyond your years. It’s the type of weariness that wears on you mentally, physically and spiritually. You are tapped out, but your brain is not-so-kindly reminding you that you still have so much to check off your to-do list. So what do you do? The answer: Take a mental health day and don’t feel guilty about it.
What? That cannot be the answer because you don’t have time to take a break. But it’s what you need. And it’s not just you — the truth is that we all need a guilt-free mental health day.
Signs you need a mental health day
You can make it through with a good night’s sleep. You don’t need to take a day to rest and recharge, right? Maybe that’s the case, but, perhaps, you’re experiencing one or more of these issues:
Trouble focusing.
Feeling overwhelmed by things that wouldn’t normally bother you.
Increased anxiety.
Difficulty falling asleep.
Constantly feeling tired.
Feeling irritable and snappy toward family, friends and co-workers.
Surviving on caffeine.
Endlessly scrolling your phone.
Experiencing feelings of “I just don’t care anymore…”
If you said yes to a few of those issues, a mental health day is encouraged and warranted — no need to feel guilty. Rest is important. Let’s dig deeper into why you should rest.
What is rest?
Turns out, if you look up “rest” in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, you’ll find a few different answers all about the different types of rest. Here are a few of the entries that describe rest:
“To cease from action or motion: refrain from labor or exertion.”
“To be free from anxiety or disturbance.”
“Peace of mind or spirit.”
Rest sounds relaxing, doesn’t it? Now that we understand what rest is, let’s dive into three reasons why you should take a mental health day — sans the guilt — and what the Bible says about it. You may be surprised to learn that the Bible actually talks a lot about rest, encouraging believers to take time to replenish and recharge.
God rested. That’s right. God Himself took a break and rested. The Bible specifically says in Genesis 2:2-3 (NKJV), “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”
You can’t pour from an empty cup. When the subject or rest or taking a mental health day comes up, many Christians point to Proverbs 31 (the passage about an honorable wife) — especially when it comes to women, claiming that this passage doesn’t talk about rest. The passage talks about all the ways that a woman works for her family, and that makes her honorable. While it doesn’t specifically say that “women should rest,” it doesn’t imply they should never take a break either. Taking time to recharge and refill your cup is the only way you can continue to serve those around you.
Jesus encourages rest. That’s right — Jesus encourages rest. He literally created the Sabbath day and instructs Christians “to keep it holy,” meaning to honor the day. Here are some verses that talk about rest and encourage you to take a mental health day:
Exodus 20: 8-10 (NIV): “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.”
Mark 2:27 (NIV): “Then [Jesus] said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.’”
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV): “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Centerpoint Church is ready to walk with you on your faith journey
At Centerpoint, our community believes in purpose and passion, and we would love to walk with you on your journey in finding yours. You can also find out what our community’s purpose and passion are all about by checking out some of the past sermons we’ve posted on our website.
Do you want to grow in your faith, or are you simply curious about who this Jesus guy is? You’re not alone. We encourage you to listen to our podcast series online and welcome you to come to one of our Sunday morning services in Valrico, Florida.