Let heritage day benefit your mental health VUYOLWETHU FUNDAM FATIGUE and constant irritation could be signs you’re suffering from burnout and need to take a mental health break. Many people have had to adjust to working remotely, blurring the boundaries between their professional and personal lives. Working from home can be a nightmare, a simple beep from the phone or an incoming email is enough to spike anxiety and fears of not keeping up with work demands. A 2020 study, conducted by Giant Leap, a workplace consultancy, revealed that 86% of people wanted to go back to working in an office. Some felt frustrated and isolated, while
others simply missed the office vibe and their colleagues. If you don’t have any time off, why not use your Heritage Day public holiday to switch off and breathe. Not sure if you should do that? Here are some of the signs it’s time for a mental health-care day: Feeling lonely Given that we spend much of our day cooped up in our rooms working, this is understandable. Unwinding over coffee and small talk with a colleague is no longer an option. Withdrawn socially This might happen without you even noticing. You may be socially withdrawn if you don’t want to make plans, engage in
conversation, or talk to others. Negative thoughts Pessimistic thinking or personalising other people’s negativity or feedback are examples of negative thoughts. Issues sleeping You have trouble falling asleep and you toss and turn a lot, which makes you feel sluggish when you wake up. What does a mental health-care day look like? It could be as simple as taking a day off from work to recuperate, preferably outdoors. According to the NHS healthcare site, talking about your feelings with a friend, family member, health professional or counsellor can also be therapeutic.
