Have You Taken a Mental Health Break?

If you’re working or studying for long hours, then it’s probably time for you to take a mental break.

You’re up all night studying for exams, working full or part-time, or maybe dealing with personal hardship. You end up tired, angry, and unleashing all that pent up tension in an unexpected moment. So how do you deal with being burnout?

• Get some sleep – Your body needs to recover, especially your brain.  When we sleep, the brain fills with 60% more fluid. Dead dendrites and synapses that aren’t being used get pulled out.  Similar to the way your body sheds off dead skin, your brain needs to do something similar.

• Take A Walk – You don’t have to be completely disconnected from the world, but maybe 15 – 30 minutes could do your head some good. Giving yourself some time to observe your surroundings can help settle overlapped thoughts.
• Meditate – I know sitting still for a period of time seems difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Meditation can be done anywhere in as little as 5 minutes. The trick is to relax your body and slowly focus on your breathing. It helps reduce stress, increase focus, and create good conditions for healthy sleep.

• Do What You Like – Remember the part about not being 100% disconnected? Here’s where it applies. When you decided to take a mental break, you chose to find happiness. It could be listening to your favorite music, watching a movie, knitting, reading books, listening to a podcast, or playing with your pets. Either way, you’re creating a happy place for you to feel free.

Remember, the point of taking a mental break is to take some time to focus on yourself. Our brains can only function for 30-45 minutes at a time. So look at the sky, binge-watch Game of Thrones, or take a nap. Just make sure not to overwork yourself.