Today is Monday, September 26, and I had to most fantastic school day yet this year!

This is most likely is because I took a mental health day and didn’t go in. It’s funny how I will drag myself into school on my death bed, but when a member of my family needs me, I have no second thoughts whatsoever about putting in for a sub!

Thursday and Friday last week were  a blur of teaching, behavior managing, prepping and sub plan writing. I was motivated to NOT spend my weekend writing sub plans and having to go back into my classroom to deliver them. Going into my classroom, even to just drop something off, always leads to taking care of this, that and the other thing, leading to lost precious weekend hours. So lost sleep and staying up late (and getting up early) are way better alternatives.

I spent a fabulous morning with my husband and then had the rest of my day to myself. It is amazing how productive I can be at home with a quiet house and motivation. I cranked up the music today, sang loudly because no one was here to complain, and finished a ton of things on my never ending ‘To-Do’ list. I even had time to go shopping, childless, before I had to pick up my own from school.

Although I took a personal day, and not a sick day, I am feeling like I would so much rather spend future sick days on my mental health, and continue to suck it up with I have a cold. Next time though, I am going to gift myself permission to NOT check my emails. I did today, and I realized after about the 14th one before 10 am, they will still be there tomorrow and I am ruining the very sanctitude of a personal day by letting work invade my ‘me time’!

Cheers to Mental Health Days! Back to reality tomorrow!!