[vc_row][vc_column][stm_spacer height=”90″ height_mobile=”-100″][vc_custom_heading source=”post_title” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center|color:%233f3f3f” google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”14404″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][stm_separator color=”custom” style=”style_3″ custom_color=”#0d97ff” sep_width=”200px” sep_height=”10px” sep_css=”.vc_custom_1571309810608{margin-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_raw_html]JTVCRElTUExBWV9VTFRJTUFURV9TT0NJQUxfSUNPTlMlNUQ=[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Although many organizations have revved up their mental health programs for their employees, the stigma on individuals who are experiencing mental health issues still remains. The number of people experiencing this keeps on increasing as the country hasn’t fully recovered from the pandemic situation.
In June 2021, a “Mental Wellness Leave Act” was filed in the House of Representatives which intends to grant a five-day additional leave to Filipino workers on top of the existing, mandatory leaves. The need to push for a nationwide mental health policy is evident in the statistics reported by the National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline which said that it received more than 11,000 calls in 2020, which is 247 percent higher from 3,000 in 2019.
As we wait for the Mental Wellness Leave Act to be passed into a law, we have rounded up five tips and reminders on taking a mental health day off.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]1. Consider company culture
The best person who knows the culture of your workplace is nobody else but you. With your day-to-day interactions with coworkers, you already have an idea how they perceive absences. If you think it won’t be easily accepted by your boss as a mental health day off, you can simply say that you’re feeling under the weather and take a sick leave. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]2. Craft your message to the benefit of the team
No team leader would want to receive a subpar output and poor performance which arise from an unhappy employee. You can always frame your message to your immediate superior in a way that benefits your team such as:
- “I want to give my 100% on our upcoming event. Thus, I’d like to take a day off to recharge and reboot my creative juices.”
- “I’ve been feeling burned out recently and I think taking a day off can help me regain my energy.”
- “I feel a little uninspired in the past weeks. I want to lift my spirits back up and I believe a day off would be beneficial.”
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]3. Share only on the level of your comfort
If you’re not the type of person who’s comfortable with sharing what’s going on in your mind, you can deliver your message in a way that protects your privacy. Remember that you need not overshare if you don’t feel like it. In this case, you may use the following examples:
- “I’d like to take tomorrow off to deal with a personal matter.”
- “My kid has an upcoming school event where my presence is required. I need to take next Tuesday off to attend to this.”
- “I may need to be out tomorrow to handle a health issue with my senior parent.”
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]4. Actually take your mental health day
Now that your mental health day off has been granted, it is your responsibility to actually spend the day recharging yourself by going on a movie marathon, enjoying your favorite dinner, being one with nature, or simply chilling in a place that’s therapeutic for you. Restrict yourself from checking work emails and do not reply to open work messaging applications. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]5. Think where the need stems from
If you’ve been noticing that the quality of your work is slowly declining, you need to trace where the stress, anxiety, and demotivation is coming from. Ask yourself: is it due to the overwhelming work duties? Relationship among colleagues? A conflict among family members?
Some may pinpoint where their negative feelings are coming from that can easily be solved by stepping away from work; while others, may need to seek guidance from a professional in order to get the best possible solution instead of just a one-day mental health leave.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Always remember that your mental health is just as important as your physical wellness. Never feel guilty for taking a break in order to look after your mental well-being.
If you’ll be needing additional resources about mental wellness, seek advice from your HR on when Uploan will be conducting a webinar. Learn a thing or two about caring for your mental health amid the pressure of work duties. See you there![/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTVCRElTUExBWV9VTFRJTUFURV9TT0NJQUxfSUNPTlMlNUQ=[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=”yes” shadow_x_offset=”0″ shadow_y_offset=”0″ shadow_blur=”0″ shadow_spread=”0″][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]