How to Take An Effective Mental Health Day
How to Take an Effective Mental Health Day (Especially Around Your Cycle)
by Brianna Hall
Let’s just start by saying this:
You don’t need to earn rest.
Mental health days aren’t a luxury—they’re a business strategy. Especially if you’re a mom, entrepreneur, leader, or all of the above. And when you start tuning into your cycle and how it affects your productivity, you'll realize some days aren’t meant for pushing through... they’re meant for pulling back.
As women, our bodies operate on a monthly rhythm, not a 24-hour one. Understanding this has completely changed the way I show up in life and business—and it’s why I fully support taking mental health days that align with your cycle.
🌀 The Case for Cycle-Aware Mental Health Days
Ever felt extra weepy, foggy, irritable, or just off—then realized your period started the next day? That’s not random. That’s your hormones shifting, and girl, they impact everything:
→ Your brain
→ Your energy
→ Your mood
→ Your ability to work, think, create, and lead
So why are we still trying to operate like nothing’s different?
Taking a mental health day the day before or the first day of your period can be life-changing. It’s a gentle nudge from your body to slow down, reset, and give yourself permission not to be in “go mode.”
🧠 What an Effective Mental Health Day Actually Looks Like
Spoiler: it’s not just staying in bed and scrolling TikTok.
(Okay… maybe a little.)
But a truly effective mental health day should nourish your body, mind, and spirit so you can bounce back better. Here's how I structure mine:
1. Clear the calendar (and the guilt)
Cancel what you can. Delegate what you can’t.
Your rest is just as important as that client call.
2. Nourish, don’t neglect
Simple meals. Lots of water. A warm bath. Low-stimulation activities like journaling, reading, or even light organizing if that feels good.
3. Acknowledge where you’re at in your cycle
→ Follicular phase = creative energy
→ Ovulation = communication queen
→ Luteal = detail-oriented + introspective
→ Menstrual = rest, reflect, reset
Use this intel to know when to schedule strategy sessions and when to schedule silence.
4. Journal through it
What’s coming up for you emotionally or mentally today?
The pre-period window (aka the “inner autumn”) often brings up what needs attention. Pay attention.
5. Come back with a plan
End the day with one small way to support your next phase.
Maybe it’s shifting your weekly schedule, prepping nourishing snacks, or automating more in your biz.
🌸 Your Cycle Is Not a Liability—It’s Your Superpower
You’re not “too emotional.” You’re not lazy. You’re not inconsistent.
You’re a woman operating within a hormonal system that wasn’t built to hustle nonstop. And when you give yourself grace—especially during your menstrual phase—you’ll find that you have more energy, more clarity, and more creativity the rest of the month.
So go ahead—mark that mental health day on your calendar with pride.
It’s not a day off.
It’s a day on purpose.
🧭 Cycle Productivity Tracker
Use this guide to align your productivity, rest, and nourishment with your hormonal cycle. Each phase has its strengths—when you work with them instead of against them, you’ll feel more energized, clear-headed, and confident.
✨ Want a downloadable version of this tracker to print or keep on your desk?
📥 Download the Cycle Productivity Tracker Here
Curious about how to build your business around your biology instead of burning out trying to “keep up”? Come hang out with me on Instagram at @brandedmarketing_co or tune into the Hot Mess Mom Boss Podcast for more cycle-friendly business and mindset tips.