Rest Is Not a Reward — It’s a Right

Jacob Holbrook
May 3
2 min read

If your phone battery was on 3%, you wouldn’t call it lazy for needing a charge. So why do we shame ourselves for needing the same?

Here’s the truth: Taking a mental health day isn’t self-indulgence. It’s self-respect. It’s how we maintain our ability to show up, not an escape from responsibility.

Burnout Doesn’t Knock — It Creeps

Burnout rarely shows up all at once with flashing lights and sirens. It trickles in quietly:

Your patience thins.
Your focus scatters.
Your “I can handle it” turns into “I have to handle it” — on autopilot.

By the time we realize we’re crispy around the edges, we’re often deep in overwhelm. Mental health days are how we interrupt that cycle before it hits full burnout.

Think of it like brushing your teeth. You don’t wait until you have a root canal to start caring for them — you do little maintenance along the way.

Self-Care Isn't Always Bubble Baths

Let’s ditch the Instagrammable version of self-care for a second. A mental health day doesn’t have to mean spa days, yoga retreats, or elaborate rituals (unless that’s your jam). It means doing what your mind and body are actually asking for.

Here’s what intentional maintenance can look like:

1. The “Bare Minimum” Reset

Sometimes self-care is just clearing out the clutter that’s been fogging up your brain.

Catch up on sleep (guilt-free naps count)
Tackle that nagging to-do (laundry, emails, appointments)
Get outside — nature doesn’t cure everything, but fresh air helps

2. The “No People, No Pressure” Day

Social fatigue is real, especially for folks who hold emotional space for others (hi therapists, parents, caretakers…).

Airplane mode your phone (yes, really)
Watch your comfort show or read that book you've been eyeing
Let yourself be without explaining it to anyone

3. The “Creative Recharge” Day

For some, rest doesn’t mean stillness — it means flow.

Make art, write, garden, cook without a timeline
Move your body in ways that feel good, not punishing
Revisit hobbies that don’t have productivity strings attached

How to Actually Take the Day (Without Spiraling)

Let’s be real: even when you know you need a break, it’s easy to get tangled in guilt or panic about stepping away. Here’s how to make it smoother:

Communicate clearly: You don’t have to overshare. “I’m taking a mental health day to recharge and will be offline until tomorrow” is plenty.
Set boundaries with yourself: No “catching up” secretly from bed. Give yourself the same grace you’d give a friend.
Remind yourself why: A rested, regulated you shows up better for everything you care about. Maintenance now prevents meltdown later.

So What Does This Mean

You’re not lazy for needing rest.You’re a human with limits. And honoring those limits is how you protect what you love — your work, your relationships, and yourself.

Mental health days aren’t escapes. They’re tune-ups.Take one before your check engine light starts blinking.