To have just ‘taken a day’ today?

[BasinHaircut]

I called in sick today. Not because I actually feel ill, but for reasons I can’t explain just felt like I needed a day off from life.

I have done some work so as not to have to play catch up tomorrow with emails and the like, but otherwise I’ve essentially pulled a sickie (and I feel guilty about it).

I have a husband and a 5yo son and so taking a ‘day off’ at the weekend isn’t an option IYSWIM. And I feel like there is so much to do day to day that sometimes it’s overwhelming.

Now I think about it I could have taken a day’s annual leave but this morning when I just didn’t want to engage in life I didn’t think of that, I thought a sick day was my only option.

Do I sound like I’m going bananas?

Don’t worry about the company/organisation you work for. It will survive if you are not there for a day or three
Maybe the company will but what about your work colleagues who have to cover for you whilst trying to do their own job.

Had I had the sense to do this I might not have ended up signed off for so long. Hope today helped, but if it didn't don't be afraid to seek help

I have had the past 2 months off work after a breakdown in my mental health resulting in a hospital stay. I'm a teacher, time off is very frowned upon. I'm sure if I had felt able to admit how much I was struggling and taken a day or two when I needed them I may have been able to avoid the complete breakdown that I am still in recovery from.

Nah it's one day OP. Hope you're feeling better. Thankfully my line manager would grant me last minute annual leave if circumstances allowed, in a case like this, which I'm grateful for.

Should have taken it as annual leave.

YANBU.

You work less, you produce more - that's how it generally works. Britain seems to be stuck in this Victorian/Puritan short-term thinking drudgery where presenteeism is the Holy Grail. So a duvet day seems to me to be a mental defense against this ridiculousness and entirely reasonable in these circumstances.

I read somewhere that people are usually only productive for 4 hours a day. As I'm self-employed, I can confirm that this is generally what I do. I work the morning, have lunch, afternoon off and do 1-2 hours in the evening, because I can and it works for me. And I take a day off if I need it.

You didn’t say you felt mentally unwell though, you basically said you just wanted a lazy day to mooch around, so really it should come out of annual leave

Tbh I do think things like this make it harder for people with actual mental health issues as people are conflating the need to have a chill out day with mental illness

Either way hope everyone has a relaxing evening :)

Not at all. A sick day every now and again to catch up is vital. Mum's especially work the weekend as well, and yes, doing the cleaning and the washing certainly takes the fun out of a Saturday off.

YADNU. I work for a company who enthusiastically support mental health days. Everyone works extremely hard in stressful situations and they are designed for days to 'mooch around' do nothing and reset yourself.
One returns refreshed and significantly more productive. There is less long term sick leave and less attrition because of it. No one takes the piss. Never taken one myself but I'm grateful that the option is there if things start to get on top of me.
I often work 14 hour days in response to my company and client needs. The least they can do is occasionally respond in kind when their employees need it.

'Tbh I do think things like this make it harder for people with actual mental health issues as people are conflating the need to have a chill out day with mental illness'

It's not saying that someone who needs a chill out day has a mental disorder. It is protecting mental health. Stress and anxiety can spiral out of control very quickly if left unchecked or unmanaged.

@naked I suppose I think that’s what weekends and annual leave are there for

Either way I wouldn’t be too bothered as long as it doesn’t cause loads of extra work for everyone else in the team :)

Haha Worral exactly what I was thinking

You have one child and you can't have a break at the weekend?! I think you'll find some people have a lot more on their plate than you do. I think many of us would like to check out of life and laze around at home all day (and be paid for it!) while someone else looks after our kid but guess what, we can't because we are grown ups and just have to get on with stuff!!

I hope you had a nice day

For me, it would depend on the job and how much others would be put out by it. In a general office-type job where someone else isn't being pulled in to cover at the last minute, then I don't see much issue for one day - yeah, it's skiving but human needs come first. If it was a job where my absence meant people had to call around for cover and someone who wasn't working needed to come in, I can see why it might be an issue and if I really needed it, I would try to arrange to swap shifts with someone rather than calling in sick.

I agree with others that there is in many places an unhealthy pressure to never have a break, but I would probably find it more stressful to leave that in someone's lap at the start of the day than to go in.

Mum's especially work the weekend as well, and yes, doing the cleaning and the washing certainly takes the fun out of a Saturday off.
Oh ffs we all have to work at weekends and we all have to clean & do the washing!!! If you want extra time off for that then I suggest you ask you employer to cut your hours AND your salary.
How the hell did our parents and grandparents cope? My gran worked long hours in a factory and still manage to run a house (single-handedly because husbands weren't expected to help) & raise 2 children. The only time she took off work was when she broke her back and physically couldn't move!
There's a reason why people use the word 'snowflake' a lot and it sums up a lot of people on here.

I’m half tempted to say YABU but I’m also half tempted to throw a sickie tomorrow as my period is due, I’m tearful, knackered and just want a day on the sofa, alone, with the cats, with tea and a crate of biscuits.

By the way, if it were a matter of depression or anxiety that would of course be different, but from your post it seems like you just fancied a day to yourself?

Yanbu.
You're a damn sight smarter than me who is dragging myself through life at the moment and being silently tearful at my desk .

Star21

Maybe the company will but what about your work colleagues who have to cover for you whilst trying to do their own job.

That’s down to the company’s management to sort out. That’s what they’re paid for. To manage

If you had the flu or something worse, would you really feel guilty about your colleagues coping in your absence?

This was always known as 'skiving' in the past.

Why is it now being called a 'mental health day'?

This.

It is protecting yr mental health.
When I worked in a city hospital ward, it was very intense. We all took the odd day off.
When anybody asked ‘What’s up with X?’, the answer was ‘Mental Health day’.
This was in the nineties. We felt it was entirely acceptable.

YANBU

Hope your enjoyed your day off!

The OP didn’t have flu though. She just fancied a day off.

If you had the flu or something worse, would you really feel guilty about your colleagues coping in your absence?

No, because I'd actually be ill rather than having an attack of Can't Be Arsed.