No harm in taking a day off to unwind and re-energise

Sometimes it's OK for busy people to have a duvet day. We all need time to recharge and taking time out ensures you return to work refreshed.

It was a Thursday night, and after working on a major project I returned home briefly before leaving to attend a social event, only to return really late and crash out on my bed.

I had previously scheduled to meet an acquaintance to discuss a business project the following morning. My alarm clock went off at 8am, and I was barely able to stretch my aching arm towards my bedside table to put it on snooze for an extra couple of minutes.

The alarm went off again but I could not get up from bed. I sent my acquaintance a text message apologising for not being able to make our meeting. She was cross, saying I should have informed her earlier, that she could have made other plans.

I felt pretty bad. I rarely skip or cancel appointments, so with my body aching, and my mind dwelling on my acquaintance’s message, I knew it would not be a productive day.

I later woke up around noon, which only happens when I am really tired. I put on my warm fluffy robe, turned on my TV, watched movies all day long and ordered in food.

Sometimes even though you have numerous tasks to attend to, you have to give yourself permission to have a non-productive day, even if you are not feeling sick.

Everyone has one of those days, when they are in a bad mood or low on energy, when they do not want to get out of bed and instead jump from one social medium to the next because they do not feel motivated to work, or just fiddle with their phone when they should be working on that presentation. Sometimes, it is fine to have an off day when you cannot work – it happens to the best of us.

So, here is the thing – when you have an off day, you know you are not going to be productive. Unless there is a strict deadline that could affect your job or life, leave things for the day. There is no point in forcing yourself to work on something when you will not be able to give it your best.

I know that every now and then I face a day like this, so I decided to have a list of alternatives I could do instead of sitting at home dwelling on my bad mood and the fact that I am not productive and could be doing so much instead.

One option is to take a long walk. In particular, I try to walk in a nice park, or on the Corniche by the beach and focus on things in the distance, such as a building or a tree, instead of thinking about work-related matters.

Alternatively, I watch a movie with a friend, sit in a nice cafe and drink my favourite cup of tea, or just go to a busy place and people watch. When I am having an off day, it is better to go out and do something I like to brighten my mood than to sit in front of my computer screen forcing myself to work and not giving it my best.

By taking myself away from work and giving myself the permission to do so, it helps me feel refreshed and more eager to dive back into work. Sometimes taking the break is effective enough that I put in double the effort on my return to my desk.

As my mood slowly brightens up, I ease myself back into my work routine. I start by jotting some tasks of the day in my notebook and checking my emails and blog. I found it is key not to rush yourself into your work routine, but to do so smoothly.

There is nothing wrong with having an off day. It is wise to remember that it is only a day, and not your entire life. Keeping your stress levels at a minimum and getting enough rest are key to avoid these days recurring over and over again.

But when you inevitably face such a day, then perhaps it is your body’s way of saying you need a mini break to unwind and re-energise before you dive in and tackle the world once again.

Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer based in Abu Dhabi. Follow her on Twitter: @manar_alhinai

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