Tardy but Present

Okay, you can definitely mark August’s edition as late, but as a union member, it was essential that I properly observe an extended Labor Day holiday. Realistically, this newsletter would be a waste if I didn’t follow my own advice, right? So, this month, you’ll get two editions from me, and If you’re new here, welcome!

My newsletter thus far has been geared towards individuals already in the career field. Still, with school back in session, I was inclined to explore how the future workforce is presently navigating their well-being. Around this time every year, I can’t help but reminisce on my own student experience, especially as a 2020 graduate. Attending my graduation via Zoom is certainly the origin of my mindfulness journey. Especially since before the pandemic, my wellness practices consisted of spontaneous fitness classes and unutilized meditation apps on my phone.

My curiosity about my prospective colleagues‘ mindful state guided me to survey eleven college students and recent grads in my network. I inquired about their ideal mental health day itinerary; seven respondents already indulged in this practice. Mainly, all visualizations included napping or sleeping in as a vital component of the day. Moreover, I inquired about the barriers they anticipate with scheduling intentional time off as a student or once they land their first professional role.

Students & recent grads anticipated barriers to scheduling a mental health day:

·?????? Extracurricular activities

·?????? Judgement and jealousy from others

·?????? Being misunderstood by traditional colleagues and organizations

·?????? No support or approval from manager

·?????? Last-minute priorities arising

·?????? Deadlines and the fear of falling behind on work

There are noticeable resemblances listed above to the ordinary reservations I receive from my peers in the workforce about utilizing paid time off in unconventional ways. How do students already have the same apprehensions about mental health days before they even dip into the labor pool?

Furthermore, What neglectful habits are WE already modeling?

To further dive into these questions, I reflected on my own upbringing and probed about guardian’s prioritization of self-care. Sixty-three percent of this sample size have witnessed their parents take a mental health day. That’s slightly over half, but there is more progress to be made. I wanted to highlight two responses that resonated with me:

"Very little was displayed for me to be honest. My parents always cared about a good work-life balance but didn't really set much of an example for ways of doing so other than never really bringing their work home with them if they could help it.”

“My mother would take a mental health day to do housework. I have never seen her actually relax and enjoy a peaceful day. I have only seen my father a couple days off to do similar things. They also rely heavily on prayer to bring peace of mind.”

It was apparent when my parents had a day off, as family announcements were made beforehand. There might have even been a household countdown, but those days were filled with errands, appointments, and home improvement projects. However, no activities or dedicated time that really flaunted relaxation.

I appreciate everyone who took the time to answer this survey. Shoot me a message on LinkedIn if you're a college student or recent grad interested in participating in this survey. Stay tuned for more insights I'll share from this research in future editions, but in the meantime, I want us to be conscious of the patterns we display and seeds we plant. Yes, there are more conversations surrounding mental health than ever before, but do our actions accurately reflect our language in this era?

If you refuse to schedule a mental health day for yourself, do it for the next workforce generation that’s undoubtedly watching you.