By Selokela Molamodi

With less than 100 days left in 2024, it is safe to say that it has been another year for the books. There have been big wins and losses in various aspects of the world and dare I say, your life. Frankly, the year-end fatigue is slowly creeping in and everything feels or seems like a drag. From the check-in meetings to helping kids with homework or even spending time with friends. You are not lazy, your body is also telling you it’s time to think about a break or even take one.

While it is always great to put your best foot forward at the start of the year, the same cannot be said for the end of the year. As the festive holidays draw closer, you might start to feel more tired than usual. Although I am not a qualified medical doctor, I fully understand what not taking a break can do to you and will explore that shortly. In today’s fast-paced world, we often find ourselves moving from one task to another without even noticing that we have not eaten or even had a glass of water. Rest has somehow become forgotten in our daily lives and often manifests in serious health problems. This is why it is important to ‘take a break’ before the break.

Taking a break before the official break simply means that you prioritize rest before the official break in the festive season. Granted, not everyone rests in the festive season and this is especially true if it is peak season in your line of work. However, most people often take leave to try and rest, only toend up being caught up in the business of the holidays.

There are a few practical ways that you can use to practically take breaks:

1. Take it one day at a time.

Often, we think that taking a break has to be a grand exercise that costs us money or completely disconnects us from reality. This is not always the case. In a recent radio interview, transformational life coach and healer Zanele Ntombela shared practical tips on taking a break before the break. “Taking a beak doesn’t have to be an expensive activity,” she said. Zanele highlighted scheduling rest in your daily routine as a practical way of taking a break before the break. “Set an hour or 30 minutes aside in your day where you spend time doing something that makes you feel happy or rested. It could be listening to your favorite music, walking, or whatever works for you,” she said. This is proof that rest can be part of your daily routine. Even God took a break!

2. There is always help.

The second way of taking a break is by asking for help and accepting. While it can be hard to reach out and ask, it is necessary for your sanity as a human being. If you struggle to ask for help, at least learn to accept it when people offer it. Whether it’s asking for more time or letting someone run your errands for you, allow help to exist and work for you fully. Given whatever relationship you might have with trust issues when it comes to help, there is always help. Just for you.

3. It’s okay not to be okay.

The above statement could not be any truer. In a world where we need to have everything figured out and know what our next step is, it is often impossible to admit that we are not okay. As a result, our mental health is affected and this seeps into the cracks of the other parts of our lives. Unhealthy coping mechanisms become the order of the day and before we know it we spiral out of control. Acknowledging that you are not is an uncomfortable part of being human and it is okay. Life is a series of seasons. Some seasons are better than others but you have to embrace all the seasons. Just like the Amapiano song goes, amalanga awafani!

Rest should not be seen as a reward but an inherent right you must exercise without any doubt, shame, or fear. It is important to remember that rest is not only essential for your body. It is vital for your mind and your spirit. So, permit yourself to disconnect and feel like you again. The world won’t fall apart because you just need a moment to yourself. Choose rest. Choose your wellness.

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About the author:

Selokela Slu Molamodi is a member of the ACTIVATE! Change Drivers Writers Hub, an award-winning broadcaster, qualified facilitator andGen G champion.