4 Reasons You Need a “You” Day

It doesn’t matter what you do for living, everyone needs a day off sometime. Even if you have the greatest job in the world like I do, it’s still important to take some time for yourself. Far too many of us - and it seems like especially those of us in the voice over industry - get bogged down in the day-to-day grind of work. Every day it’s get up, go to work, maybe have a little time in the evenings for a personal life, then go to bed. Rinse and repeat. I find myself doing this without even realizing it.

Obviously, if you’re doing this, it’s a good thing because it means that the work is steady and the money is (hopefully) coming in. However, this is an unforgiving cycle that, simply put, is not sustainable. When you treat every day as a work day and don’t take any time for yourself, it won’t be long before the exhaustion sets in and the burn-out begins.

That’s why it’s so important to plan for a “you” day every now and again. This is a day where you focus just on you. You’re not working, and you’re also not tackling your non-work to do list. That means no house cleaning, no running errands, no anything except relaxing and doing the things that you WANT to do.  

Now, why is this so important? Here are 4 reasons besides the exhaustion and burn-out I mentioned above:

1. You deserve it. You work hard, and you deserve some time to unwind and reward yourself for your efforts.
2. Other people aren’t off. If you take your “you” day Monday through Friday, most of the rest of the world is still working, meaning you get choice seats at restaurants, better availability with spa services, etc.
3. You’ll be more productive afterwards. Your mind and body need time to recharge. When you don’t allow this, your productivity actually declines. Taking a “you” day can give you that rest you need, leading to more productive days later on.
4. You’ll have time to think. Sometimes stepping away from everything is the best way to clear your head and get the clarity you need, whether it’s about your personal or professional life.

So plan a day for you. Not only will it make you feel better, it will make you DO better.