Mental Health Days Are the New Sick Day
’m lucky enough to live in a state that offers sick days. As a full-time working professional, with a side business and a toddler… sick days are the lifeline I didn’t know I needed. Why? Because they can be used for more than just being sick—and honestly, they should be.
What should we use sick days for, you ask?
Well, if you’re a mom, you know the ONLY time you get a break is… honestly… never. Maybe when you’re working, or that 30 minutes between daycare drop-off and getting to your full-time job. I’m not saying this in a “we need to ask for more help” kind of way—I’m just stating what’s true for most of us.
Maybe my household is a bit different because my husband works 24-hour shifts. But that also means he gets full 24 hours off… or sometimes even four days off. And if those days fall Tuesday through Friday, do you know what he can do while our son is at daycare? Literally anything he wants.
Do you know when I have time alone to do nothing? When I’m sick… during the week… taking a sick day.
I mentioned how moms are wired differently, but sometimes it’s not even about that—it’s just the reality that we don’t get much time alone. And honestly, in most households with two 9–5 schedules, it’s probably not much different. But when you see built-in alone time happening right next to you, it just hits a little differently.
Anyway, back to what we should be using sick days for:
Being sick — I know this seems obvious, but sometimes we feel the need to do it all… even when we feel terrible. Take the day. Binge that show you’ve been meaning to watch. Take the nap you’ve been saying you need for months.
Self-care — Manicure and pedicure kind of girl? Book it for 10am instead of squeezing it into your evening or weekend. Love a good massage? Schedule it for 1pm after Pilates and lunch with a friend.
All the medical appointments — Knock them all out in one day. Dentist? Check. Yearly physical? Do it. OB/GYN? Get it scheduled. Just don’t forget to leave time for lunch in between.
A “you” day — Go thrifting, grab lunch, get in a midday workout, sit in the sun with a coffee… just do you. It’ll go faster than you want it to, but use it to decompress so you don’t end up biting the heads off the people around you (at home and at work).
My team calls sick days “sickofdis” days, and honestly… that’s exactly how I see them. Of course, save them for when your kids are sick too. But try to plan 2–3 of them a year just for you.
You’ll thank yourself when you’re walking out of your massage at 2pm… and still have time to sit on the couch for an hour before daycare pickup.
