how to take a "mental day off"

You wake up one morning tired of whatever and you would rather have cigarette butts put out on your eyes than go to work, but the alternative of staying home sounds just as awful. If that's you, follow these steps:

Step 1
Ensure that no one will be looking for you unless it is an absolute emergency.
That means you call in sick to work-- not working from home-- sick as in you're in bed all day. You then tell your family members, children, spouse, partner or anyone who might look for you that you are heading out of town for a meeting so you will be unavailable most of the time. If you tell them you're out of town they will unlikely ask you to do something for them.

Step 2
Travel Somewhere
Whether by car, train, bike, etc., go to one of your favorite places that is at least one hour away from where you live.

Step 3
Music
This is essential for a mental day-off. The long distance travel will give you plenty of time for music. I highly recommend a playlist that will trigger a variety of emotions; anger, sadness, joy, nostalgia, etc. You are alone so this is the only chance you get to go through all of these emotions and get it out of your system without judgement from anyone around you and distractions from a t.v, phone or internet. This is also why mental days off should be done solo. Also, sing every song at the top of your lungs.

Step 4
Arrive at your destination and do your favorite things

Step 5
Go home just in time
Make sure you get home about around the time you would normally get home from work so it's like you've had a full day of work but you were really out doing some of your favorite things.

Here's some photos from my mental day off, which I spent in San Francisco.

Playing tourist and taking in the action

Having lunch outside with a view of stores you can't afford

Take your own self-portraits because it seems more awkward to ask the dude next to you smoking a bowl to take a photo of you. 

Maybe a mental day off is just what you need. Do it.