by Jaylon Brunson

I would like to propose the idea of Mental Mondays. Mental Monday would be a day off from every other Monday from college. This day would serve as an opportunity for reflection and reviving one’s thoughts. As a student, I think it would be very helpful to have a day to think about life and different situations without the pressure of school and outside distractions.  

I spoke with some friends and they all discussed the stress they are under with school, work, sports and family life. They stated that having a day, even if it is only one day, to process life and relax would be a great help.  

For Mental Monday to be effective though, students must be intentional with their time during these days. This day could be a great opportunity for students to reach out and utilize different resources, whether that be friends, family counselors, therapists or religious leaders. I believe this day can be an outlet that students can use to assist in coping with any life situation. Mental Monday could also be a time where students enjoy relaxing activities that bring them peace and joy such as journaling and going to the gym.  

I have seen companies use every other Monday as a “Flex Day” for their employees, and the feedback has been positive. Companies report that this type of schedule brings positivity and employees are more productive because they have more time to recover from work. Employees find that at least two of their weekends in a month are extended, giving them more time to enjoy more pleasurable and relaxing activities.  

My hope is that Mental Monday can be used in all levels of education as there have been reports of students having a difficult time with mental issues since entering college with the stress and expectations that come with college. There is proof out there that days like these work so hopefully, something like this will be implemented in the future.