Why ELE is Embracing Mental Health Days: Evolving Our Approach to Rest and Recharge

At Erin Leonard Events, we’ve always believed that exceptional events start with a team that’s rested, respected, and supported. In the past, that’s included closing our (virtual) doors for a full week to give our team uninterrupted space to unplug for a Mental Health Week.

But as our company has grown, so has the rhythm of our work and so has our team’s capacity. We’ve found ourselves in a season that requires more flexibility, while still staying true to our core value of prioritizing wellness.

So, we’ve evolved our approach.

This year, we’re moving from a single Mental Health Week to a Mental Health Day model. We’re pairing single days off with existing holidays to create regular 4-day weekends throughout the year with no PTO required. This new format allows us to keep our momentum while still carving out intentional time to reset.

Why does this matter?

Because mental health isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s ongoing. It’s personal. And in our line of work, where high stakes, tight timelines, and constant coordination are the norm, taking a pause can be the most powerful way to sustain excellence.

We still believe in the science: rest improves performance. Burnout is real. And none of us are our best selves when we’re running on empty. We’ve built in these days as a reminder: rest isn’t a reward, it’s part of the process.

So whether our team is hitting the trail, booking a massage, finally getting to that stack of unread books, or doing absolutely nothing at all — you won’t find us in our inboxes on Mental Health Days. And when we return? We’ll be more energized, more grounded, and more ready to serve.