The Importance of a Lazy Day

Rest is a crucial part of wellness. It’s the only time we can recharge and continue handling the stressors life throws our way. Many people are wary of taking advantage of rest due to the worry of being called “lazy.”

Counselors, coaches, and other professionals should focus on helping clients achieve wellness by discussing with them the importance of taking a “lazy day.” In general, people need to learn how to stop feeling guilty for relaxing. By learning to stop the guilt, clients become more comfortable taking time for themselves to relax and recharge. August 10th is the perfect time to start, as it is National Lazy Day.

Dangers of Calling Someone Lazy

The term “lazy” gets thrown around a lot without any regard for people’s feelings. Sure, there are some lazy people in the world, but society calls people lazy for the most absurd things. For example, people often judge introverts for their introspective nature. What introverts see as a need to be alone and recharge, others call “lazy” because they aren’t out in the world interacting with people or doing things.

A more severe example is when people suffering from depression or other mental disorders are called lazy. In fact, a common mental health myth is that character flaws cause issues with mental health. In reality, mental health has nothing to do with being lazy. Coping with a mental disorder is already emotionally trying; judgment from others who know nothing about someone’s situation certainly doesn’t help.

Calling someone lazy without understanding their circumstances is dangerous. That individual may begin to feel like something is wrong with them. Instead of accepting that they are suffering from depression, anxiety, or another illness, they’ll begin to see themselves from someone else’s perspective. Individuals being told they’re lazy because of how their mental health symptoms affect them is harmful to their mental health.

What Is a Lazy Day?

Did you know there was a national lazy day? Well, there is, so tell your clients to plan to celebrate National Lazy Day on August 10th this year. Most of us probably didn’t know National Lazy Day existed, even though it seems we have a national day for just about everything. The goal of this day is for people to take a break from the responsibilities of their everyday life. A lazy day could look like lounging on the couch all day and only getting up when absolutely necessary. However, this doesn’t have to be how your clients celebrate National Lazy Day themselves.

A lazy day looks different for everyone. For you, that might mean laying on the couch binge-watching your favorite Netflix series. Others may take advantage of a lazy day by staying in bed to get some extra sleep. In many ways, a lazy day is similar to a self-care day.

One problem with society today is that we’re so focused on our success that we neglect our basic needs. Neglecting our basic needs is exactly what causes people to need to focus on self-care or take advantage of a lazy day. If your clients struggle to practice self-care every day, encourage them to look up resources that will help them care for themselves a little each day. Whether they read a book, play a game, or take themselves to a local spa, their lazy day should help them feel relaxed, refreshed, and recharged.

The Importance of Rest

The most important factor of a lazy day is its ability to provide rest. Rest is critical for improving physical and mental health. People experience increased concentration, an improved immune system, and even an overall improved mood when well-rested.

So many people avoid rest due to their fear of appearing lazy. Think about how counterproductive it is that so many of us feel this way. These feelings may derive from a person’s upbringing or simply from today’s societal constructs.

Our culture is so focused on success that we look down on people who would rather be happy and healthy than get into the next tax bracket. By explaining the importance of rest to your clients, they may feel more comfortable taking advantage of opportunities to practice self-care, prioritize their health, and enjoy the occasional lazy day.

Looking For More: Consult with Headlight

Helping your clients understand the importance of rest, self-care, and taking a lazy day is important all year round, not just because August 10th happens to be National Lazy Day. If, however, you are struggling to approach or discuss the topic successfully with your clients, consider reaching out to Headlight.

Our whole goal at Headlight is to provide people with improved paths to wellness. We do this through our online platform, where we can provide clients with many quality mental health and coaching services. To learn more about Headlight, visit our website today.

August 10th is National Lazy Day, and what better way to celebrate than by informing your clients of the importance of taking a lazy day for themselves every once in a while. The idea of being “lazy” carries a lot of shame. Individuals suffering from depression or other mental disorders that affect their energy levels and social battery are often called lazy. This can be very hurtful. Instead of ridiculing these individuals, we should ask ourselves, what’s so wrong with taking a lazy day? To function at our best, our minds and bodies need quality rest. That means taking the time to just do nothing somedays. Discussing the importance of rest with your clients can help them feel less shame about taking the occasional lazy day. To learn more about empowering your clients to take advantage of rest, call Headlight at (866) 249-6114.