Taking a break for your mental health
I have been travelling for the entire month of January and will be away for February too. This is mainly due to personal commitments. It has been so hard travelling during this COVID period with multiple PCR tests and quarantine days but I have to be honest, I really needed this break. It has done me so much good.
After almost 2 years of being stuck in one place, doing the same thing, the same routine, these two months have been a welcome break. I had a beach holiday, attended a wedding and had a city break. I feel so much more happier, lively and have reignited that passion for success and to keep myself going.
I’m sure everyone feels down after such a long trying pandemic. I’m sure you just want to get away or just be able to get back to life the way it used to be before COVID. It sometimes feels almost as though our freedom has been taken away. Along with all the problems that COVID brought such as death, loss of jobs, it has also brought misery, anxiety and depression from lockdowns.
Currently, it is not in everyone’s means to get away or have a change of scenery but I would urge you to get away even if for a day or a weekend somewhere nearby. This is just to give your mind that mental break that it deserves, not just from work, family etc but from itself.
Why should you take a break for your mental health?
Relaxation
You must have heard the saying, “All work and no play makes Jack (or Jane) a dull boy (girl).”
There’s so much truth to this saying. Our minds were not made for continuous work and stress that modern life brings with it. Our minds were created to help us survive when necessary and then relax.
Unfortunately, in today’s world, it’s always about being busy. If you are constantly working, constantly doing something, thinking, shopping, then you are living life the way it should be lived. This is the story society promotes. But the truth is, our minds need a break. A few minutes now and then, a few hours throughout the day, a few days in the month, we need to give our minds that break.
We are not robots and if we do not take a break, our minds go into overdrive. This is the reason why so many of us undergo depression, anxiety and are unhappy.
Having spent one month away from work and from life in general, in a new environment, whilst learning new things and exploring, my mind feels so much more relaxed, I’m happier, less anxious and less irritable.
Rekindling passion for life
When you take a break from life, you give your mind that break. It has time to relax and to explore new ideas.
Have you ever been on holiday or simply taking a break and suddenly your mind is overflowing with ideas regarding things you are passionate about? You can’t wait to get back home and put those new ideas into practice.
I completely feel this way now. I can’t wait to get back to the UK and make this year worth living. There are so many new ideas I have and things I want to do. They were always at the back of my mind but my passion had died down due to the same routine and feeling stuck. My mind has had a chance to rest, re-energise and rekindle my passion for the life goals that I have.
Good for your physical health
When you take a break in life, you don’t just give your mind a break but also your body. You eat better, you laugh more, you learn more.
Taking a break means that you’ll be less stressed and happier. This will have a direct impact on your physical health. Did you know that stress can cause so many issues such as Alzheimer’s disease, a weak immune system, increased risk of cancer, increased risk of diabetes, poor skin conditions, stomach problems and so many more?
We can’t completely alleviate stress from our lives but atleast we can give the body a temporary break to recoup and recover and improve our health.
Improved relationships
Taking a break from life is good for your mental health reducing anxiety, irritability and depression.
This means that you’ll be happier and will be able to relate to people much better.
This will strengthen your relationships and build stronger bonds. This in turn will make you happier because human bonding is essential for happiness.
Figure out what you want from life
When we are stuck in the daily routine of life, we do not pause to take some time and think about what we really want from life.
You wake up, make your coffee, go to work, come back home, prepare dinner, off to bed and repeat. Weekends may be spent resting or with friends and family. Before you know it, an entire year has gone by and you ask yourself whether you are any closer to the goals you set for yourself.
Every now and then, we need to take a deep hard look at our life and if we are fulfilling our life’s purpose. When that final resting day arrives and you look back at your life, do you feel that you will have lived your best life? Will you feel that you’ve done all that you possibly wanted to do? Any regrets?
You can use the time off to plan how to take you closer towards your goals.
Getting some perspective
Taking a break from life’s daily routine allows you to calm down and gain perspective on things.
Sometimes, you may become so engulfed in something and it seems so much worse than it actually is.
Taking a break allows you to step back, look at things from afar and realise that it isn’t as bad as it seems.
Infact, our minds have a way of creating imaginary things that deviate from the truth.
Taking a break will give you some perspective on the actual situation, allowing you to be less tense and happier.
Devising solutions
It’s good to be motivated and driven to achieve what you want. When you put in work everyday, you are being consistent and persistent and soon enough, you’ll see results.
But sometimes, your productivity dies. Your brain fails. You are working, being busy but not progressing.
It may seem like your mind was built to keep working, but like our bodies, it needs rest too to function to its full potential.
Isn’t it better to take a break for a day, think through things and devise solutions rather than mindlessly working everyday on something without progressing?
Sometimes, the best ideas and solutions come to us when we are in a relaxed state.
So, if you are feeling stuck, unproductive, don’t feel guilty about taking time off. Do your mind a favour and take that time off and you may find the solution that you are looking for.
Make the most of life
We do not know how much time we have on this Earth.
We were born, brought up, started working, maybe started a family but how many days are left for you to live on this planet?
It’s a tough question to ask and gives me goosebumps even when I think about it.
Life is for living. Yes, you must ensure that you have goals and work towards them but at the same time, do not forget that your time is limited here. Make time to have fun. Make time to meet up with your loved ones. Make time to do the things you love and want to learn.
Taking a break will allow you to live life and knowing that you are living life to the fullest will make you happy.
Knowing that even if you were to die tomorrow, you have lived life well will give you a feeling of comfort. It is definitely easier said than done. But starting and putting in an effort to live that way will make you happier than if you didn’t even try.
Please do not misunderstand me. I do not mean that you should throw away your responsibilities, be selfish, treat others bad just to get what you want to be happy. If you are harming anyone in the process of trying to live your life, you are not doing it right. It will come back to haunt you. It is possible to live your life fully whilst ensuring that you do not harm anyone.
Why should you take a break for your mental health?
I hope the eight reasons above as to why you should take a break for your mental health are sufficient for you to see that you should take time out now and then. I’m sure there are many more reasons that I haven’t stated.
All in all, taking a break will make you happier, less irritable, more loving and enable you to live a fuller life.
Much love xxx
