If you’re feeling overwhelmed or know that your body needs rest before it gets sick, taking a ‘duvet day’ could give you the much-needed rest that your mind and body is calling for. MattressNextDay has enlisted the expertise of psychological therapist Kate Chartres with help on how taking time off work can
Taking a day off work or ‘duvet day’ can make you more productive
Psychological therapist, Kate Chartres, says: ‘Having a duvet day replenishes your stocks. Finding the time to switch off the mind and watch bubblegum tv, snooze in the day and stop that internal chatter allows your anxious mind to repair.’
‘You’ve all heard about how our muscles need to rest. We don’t work the same ones every day, so they have time to repair. The mind needs time too to rest and repair. This enables you to be better, more responsive, and focus on your return to work.’
‘So, if you are feeling frazzled and in need of that duvet day, but you keep going, the chances are you’ll get more and more frazzled, less and less focussed, less able to do your job. When we have too much going on, our concentration/ability to use initiative, judgement etc., are all affected. So, can you afford to pull a sickie? I think the question is to look after your mental health, can you afford not to?’
Therapist’s top three to overcome the guilt that can come with taking a sick day
Let’s be clear. You should never feel guilty when taking time away from work due to physical or mental illness. A report discovered that 52% of people living in Britain felt guilty when taking a day to prioritise their health. If you are one of those feeling guilty, we are sharing tips to help you cope.
Know that being ill is never a sign of weakness
If there is one thing we all have in common, it’s that we all get ill. Listening to your mind and body is a form of self-care and will have positive effects on your work productivity as well as your sleep quality.
Not only that, but if you are in the office and displaying physical symptoms of illness, it also helps keep your colleagues safe. And, think, would you ever judge anyone else for taking a sick day?
Look at what you can change within your workload
If you are suffering from burnout, you are not alone. Studies have found that 75% of British people have felt the same. But it might be time to review your workload to identify what is causing these feelings.
Speak to your colleagues and ask for help. Share your thoughts with your manager and provide solutions for reducing your workload. Take the time away to look at what you can remove from your workload. A problem shared is a problem halved.
Treat yourself with compassion
Be kind to yourself. Don’t punish yourself for needing time away. You would never do the same if one of your colleagues came to you for help, so why do that to yourself? Try to look at the issues you have identified from an outside perspective (as if you are doing so for your colleague) and provide solutions for reducing burnout problems.
How to make the most of your duvet day so you come bouncing back to work. Often, our weekends can feel anything but restful, mainly if we save a lot of our errands for our ‘free time. So, with that in mind, make your day – or days – to make it easier to work through your errands. You could:
Take time cooking some healthy meals that you might not usually have the time for
Read a book that you haven’t found the time to start yet
Have a long and uninterrupted bath, which will also help to improve your sleep due to regulating your body temperature
Watch your favourite TV series or film
Do some yoga/stretching
Spend time finding new music
Complete life admin (this could include running errands, putting a laundry load on)
Three ways taking a duvet day can help you sleep better
Naturally, the sleep experts at MattressNextDay also suggest sleeping as there are many benefits to this stopping burnout from happening:
You can boost your brainpower, meaning you have less to worry about when sleeping
A study by the University of Pennsylvania revealed that just ONE lie-in could help boost alertness and improve your attention span. Meaning taking that day to recover fully before going back to work can make you a better worker. But, as you are more productive and getting more done, you are less likely to toss and turn all night thinking about your workload.
Your stress levels will lower, impacting your sleepless
Stress lowers your sleep quality, meaning you wake up groggy and suffering from a lack of energy. But, taking this time to read, watch TV, take a walk or do some ‘life admin’ can lower your stress levels. Therefore, you should experience a better night’s sleep.
It’ll make you less susceptible to illnesses that keep you up at night
Stress can impact your immune system, making you more susceptible to illnesses that can keep you awake at night. If you feel burnt out, taking a duvet day can help stop those symptoms from developing.
