There aren't any rules when it comes to planning your mental health day. I’ve spent half of one just laying on my bed, listening to music and it was fantastic. As Johnson says, “Taking hot baths or showers are good ways to spend mental health days.” If you’re looking for ideas of how to destress, Dr. Rahbar recommends FaceTiming with friends and family, meditating, journaling, or doing some kind of art project.
Be productive—if that’s what you want
If laying on your bed staring at the ceiling isn’t as satisfying to you as it is to me, feel free to be productive—as long as it’s not work-related. A mental health day is about doing what actually makes you feel better, not what you think you should do.
Do you want to spend all day cleaning out your closet because every day working from home you get overwhelmed at how crowded it is (yes, this is sadly a real example from my life)? Dive in. “Being productive during these times can seem counterintuitive. If you do feel like you just want to spend the day binge-watching shows and eating Cheetos, do it. However, if you do feel the need to be more productive, one of the best things you can do for yourself is some sort of exercise,” recommends Dr. Rahbar, as it provides you endorphins and may help improve your mood. If exercise seems like a drag right now, dig into what would make you happy to accomplish.
Ultimately, there is no right or wrong way to take a mental health day. Whether you spend it finally sorting your bookshelf, sending cards to loved ones, or having a movie marathon, it doesn’t matter as long as it makes you feel better. And hey, if you get tired, lying on your bed doing absolutely nothing is always acceptable. What’s most important is that you’ve taken the first step to take care of yourself, and that is an accomplishment in and of itself.