What Happens When You Actually Take a Mental Health Day (Flex Your Friday)

Work Smarter, Not Harder: How Time Off Fuels Creativity

Most people think working harder means working better, but research proves the opposite. Rest isn’t a luxury; it’s the secret ingredient to productivity, problem-solving, and creativity. At Iron Roots, we believe in working hard, but we also believe in stepping away when you need to. That’s why we encourage our team to use PTO and embrace our Flex Your Friday culture. Because the truth is: time off fuels your best work.

Work Smarter, Not Harder: Why Rest Matters

According to the U.S. Travel Association, in 2019, 55% of American workers didn’t use all of their paid vacation days, leaving behind an estimated 768 million unused days. This isn’t just a personal loss, it’s a business problem. Burnout costs companies billions each year in lost productivity, mistakes, and turnover.

The solution? Step away. Research shows that unplugging allows people to return sharper, more creative, and more motivated. Rest should not be seen as slacking but as a competitive advantage.

What Happens When You Actually Take a Mental Health Day

A mental health day is more than just a break. It’s a reset button. When you give your brain downtime:

• Stress levels drop, improving focus.
• Creative connections spark as your mind wanders.
• Perspective shifts, helping you solve problems faster.

Neuroscience backs this up, our brains often make their best breakthroughs when we’re not actively “working” on a problem.

Why Time Off Benefits the Whole Team

Taking a day off doesn’t only benefit you, it benefits everyone around you. Rest helps prevent burnout before it leads to bigger issues, reduces mistakes so projects stay on track, and creates space for teammates to step up and grow. When one person takes rest seriously, it sets a standard for the whole team. Healthy teams thrive because they’re balanced, not because they’re running on empty.

Flex Your Friday: A Culture of Balance at Iron Roots

We’ve built small but powerful reminders into our culture at Iron Roots. One of our favorites is Flex Your Friday. If it’s Friday and your work is done, you can leave early. No guilt, no questions, no strings attached.

It’s a simple signal that rest matters. By encouraging breaks, we prevent burnout before it begins and ensure our team stays energized week after week.

How to Make the Most of Your Mental Health Day

A great day off looks different for everyone, but the key is choosing what truly recharges you. For some, that might mean going on a hike and reconnecting with nature. Others may enjoy shopping or running errands without feeling rushed, catching up with friends and family, or simply resting at home with a book and coffee. Whatever you choose, remember that PTO is fuel for better work, not wasted time.

Rest Is Fuel, Not a Detour

Rest is not the opposite of productivity. It’s the foundation that makes it possible. If you’ve been putting off that mental health day, consider this your sign: put in the PTO request, close your laptop, and go do what fills your tank.

At Iron Roots, we know that the best work doesn’t come from running on empty. It comes from people who know how to recharge.