Your anxiety may go down
Stress can build up in your system over time, leading to an overarching feeling of dread or anxiety, Dr Merrill says. “Left unchecked, this can lead to feelings of hopelessness and depression,” he says. Taking a mental health day can go a long way in interrupting the stress build-up. In fact, just one session of mindfulness meditation significantly reduced anxiety and improved cardiac health, according to a meta-analysis published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Watch for these 7 silent signs of high-functioning anxiety.
Chronic health issues may calm down
One of the primary ways your body manifests mental stress is through a flare-up or worsening of chronic health conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and a wide range of autoimmune disorders, Dr Merrill says. Taking a mental health day not only gives you some time to rest and recover but the reduction in stress can help reduce your pain and number of flare-ups over time. Chronic illnesses need a good long-term plan for management, however. Start with these tips for managing a health crisis.
Your sex life will improve
Mental illness can take a serious toll in the bedroom, in fact, one of the first signs of depression is a lower libido, says Sarah de la Torre, MD, an OB/GYN. “Managing stress is key to having a healthy, fulfilling sex life,” she explains. Taking a mental health day can give you and your partner a whole day to reconnect emotionally and physically and improving your mental health overall can make sex more frequent and more pleasurable, she adds.
For more sex tips, check out these 25 little sex mistakes you didn’t realise you’re making.