Sponsored by Ricola®
I don’t want to offend anyone, so if you are prone to crying please skip this post. What I’m about to share might break your heart…
Don’t tell her I said this, but I have the BEST MOM in the world. Even though she doesn’t look excited at all to be at Medieval Times with me, she was/is the absolute best mom ever…
(It’s unfortunate if all this time you thought you had the best mom, but you were going to find out eventually.)
Growing up I was a pretty healthy kid and rarely ever got sick. So, entire school years would go by without us needing to stay home from school due to illness.
Every once in a while my mom would let us have ‘mental health days’ = it was a day we could stay home from school to relax or do something special.
As an adult I still try to take super good care of myself so I can give myself a day off for doing something I enjoy versus hacking up a lung in bed (isn’t that attractive?).
Recently I headed over to my family’s to spend some time with them over Christmas break. My lil brother was on vacation so he and I walked the dogs, ate donuts and just had a really great low key kinda day.
As adults, we often get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life, forgetting how important it is to take a break and unwind. Just like those “mental health days” my mom would let us have, it’s vital to take care of our mental well-being, not just our physical health.
And sometimes, taking care of ourselves means recognizing when we need more than just a donut day or a walk with the dog—it means asking for real help.
Whether it’s stress, trauma, or something deeper, there’s no shame in reaching out. That’s why places like Sacred Journey Recovery Rehab exist—to give people a safe space to hit pause and genuinely heal, not just push through.
They take a whole-person approach that reminds me a little of those mental health days from childhood, except with a lot more intention and support. It’s a place where rest is more than just rest—it’s restoration, growth, and the first step toward a healthier, more grounded version of yourself.
I’ve learned to give myself those moments of rest and joy, whether it’s spending time with family, walking dogs, or indulging in something small that makes me smile. It’s about recharging so I can show up as the best version of myself, whether in personal life or at work.
In today’s fast-paced world, mental health support has become more important than ever, and HelpCare Plus offers an accessible way to stay on top of it. With telecounseling, it’s easier than ever to connect with a mental health professional without leaving your home.
It provides a great option for those who might not have the time or ability to visit a clinic in person, allowing for flexible, confidential, and convenient sessions.
If you do get sick and don’t want to be hacking up your guts Ricola has super strength cough relief drops. They have Chrüterchraft, the natural yet effective blend of Swiss herbs to help fight the feeling. Being sick sucks, this makes it better 
Tip: Please take these with you if you’re sick while traveling. It’s so gross to be on a plane next to someone who is coughing for 3 hours straight – that has happened to me.
So the moral of the story is – try to keep yourself healthy so you too can take a Wellness Day! If you do get sick Ricola can help make you feel better faster so you can get back to doing the things you love (like eating donuts with your fam).
Why take a SICK DAY when you can take a WELL DAY?
Tell Ricola how you would spend a free day off of work and you could win! Call In Well and you could win a free trip to the Land of Chrüterchraft, or $500. Because there’s feeling better, and there’s “A free trip to Switzerland” better.
Question: Do you ever take ‘non-sick days’ to stay home and relax or just do something fun?
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Ricola. All opinions are my own. Don’t take a well day unless your boss/mom/teacher/dog gives your permission.
When I was a kid my parents would call us in for a “sick” day most Fridays during ski season. Instead of heading to school, we took off as a family to hit the slopes and our pediatrician was always to happy to write a note, considering family time as beneficial as a couple of months worth of Fridays at school.
I’ve taken a handful of mental health days where I literally cannot even deal with the stress of work for one more day. I stay home, and usually I pretend I’ll run errands or straighten up around the house, but mostly I lounge around with my dogs and watch Netflix in my pajamas. And it is awesome.
You look identical to your mom, by the way!
If I had a free day off I would try to take a day trip somewhere I wouldn’t normally take. I’d request that free day on a Friday or Monday so I could extend into a weekend. 😉
We have paid time off (not seperate sick/vacation days), but I usually use them as either recovery days for long races (70.3 or 26.2 gets a day off after if it’s a Sunday) or vacation. I don’t get sick a lot, and even if I feel rough, I’d rather be at work if it’s not contagious and save my time off for fun stuff.
Yes! I take a health day and get good run in. Then I’ll do something fun with the kids, like go to the aquarium or mini golf.
Actually, taking a “mental health” day off is very key in the big scheme of things. I do so a few times a year. I always wake up early, (why is it easy to wake up early when I don’t have to go to work?) head to yoga and then take a swim and a steam. I spend a few hours at my local gym and love it! 🙂
Mental health days. YES! Totally a thing for us growing up…and still today, too 🙂
I woould wake up later than usual. Get myself some coffee and breakfast. Watch the today show and sometime later in the day depending on how I feel . I would go on a 30 min walk or a 3 mile run nice and easy.
YEP YEP YEP thats how I MAMA too.
<3
Yup and one of those is my birthday – I always take the day off and do whatever fancies me; sometimes it’s just to read a book while sipping coffee or watch TV or treating myself to a day spa treatment.
Usually, if I call in to work, It’s because I feel like I need to go run or workout! So I sleep late, then go run, and then enjoy not being at work!
I have taken a day or two to go hang out with my girlfriends who are stay at home mom’s. But other than that I usually use my PTO for vacation days.
I totally take mental health days! I actually think they are really important to staying healthy. My boss maybe doesn’t know that I do that though …
I take healthy days at least 3 times a year. It’s a necessary part of my sanity.
Yes! I take at least one day a month off just to do things I want to do. But to be fair, I run my own business and it’s just me and I work ALL the time so I need the ‘me’ time…and I deserve it.
I’ve done the mental health day thing. Usually it’s to catch up on the mundane chores that I can’t get to when I’m really busy. I hate feeling overwhelmed so it technically does fall under mental health =)
I have been battling a tough cold since Monday. I woke up better on Wednesday but still wasn’t 100% so I called in and so happy I did. Not only was it a perfect rest day but I was able to come to work today back to my old self. Rest days are awesome.
In Wisconsin we need to
Make the most of summer weather. I will use my wellness days to go boating and relax once in awhile!
I go to the gym or take the dog on a long walk. Then, I fill the tub with essential oils and Epsom salts and just soak. We never take time to take baths anymore because we never have time! It is such an easy, necessary treat 🙂
This is a funnily appropriate post. I went to work, but left after an hour because I felt so wretched! But I agree. Taking mental health days can be really beneficial. I love them, even though I rarely take them.