Do you take mental health or "knock off" days?

[mrsltg]

Mental Health days are something we were allowed as kids (we never missed school more than a day or two per year). My mom would judge "burnout level" and determine whether or not we really needed a day. If we did, we were allowed to stay home. She told us our mental health was as important as our physical health. I firmly believe that. At my current job we are give a bank of days to use however we see fit. There have been days when I literally could not take it so I took off.

In answer to your question, as long as it's not abusive it's fine.

 

[cinmell]

When I worked, I took a "mental health" day or two.

 

[nowellsl]

I've done it before,it always seems to make me sick (bad karma I think!). Luckily we can accumulate our sick leave so I plan on retiring with a healthy nest egg!

 

[KelNottAt]

I don't do it. But, I might consider it if I didn't have to conserve my PTO for school holidays, vacations, docs appts, and "real" illnesses. I get 240 hours per year. It has to cover everything: sick, vaca, personal, etc. I usually don't run out, but I've come close a couple times.

I think as soon as the kids' schedules become a little less demanding, I might start taking some mental health days. But, probably won't "fake" an illness. I'll just schedule a day off in advance for fun, for me.