Taking a Break – it’s Mental Health Wellbeing Month.
Hi, it’s been a minute. But I’ll be honest, I’ve been struggling lately with everything I’ve been doing. But I’ve also realised that taking a break is good. Today is about taking breaks from everything you’re doing—at least a day or two if you can afford it. Have a lazy day, basically.
The reason I say this is because this month is Mental Health Well-being Month. It’s important to take the time to look after ourselves and check in. Sometimes we become overwhelmed by everything happening at once, and we feel compelled to complete everything immediately.
I recently spoke with someone who shared their experience. They had been working constantly and felt extremely tired. They had asked for extra support at work but ended up doing even more than usual. One morning, they woke up and simply couldn’t go to work. They didn’t even answer the phone; they just informed their workplace they weren’t feeling well and wouldn’t be coming in.
Surprisingly, their workplace didn’t even check in to see if they were okay. Instead, they simply asked, “Where are you? Why aren’t you here yet?” This made my friend realise they were just another cog in the machine. No one genuinely cared about their well-being. If they didn’t show up one day, someone else would easily fill their role.
This is why taking time off to care for yourself and show yourself love and compassion is crucial. Always make time for yourself. Take the time to reset. I needed that kind of time earlier this month. I know it’s been quiet here, but I’ve also been busy working on a podcast about well-being. Additionally, I’m currently taking a course on mental health and mental health in the workplace.
Mental health is something we often don’t discuss openly enough. People frequently question why mental health has become such a significant topic these days. The truth is, many people are struggling and suffering in silence. The world is changing so rapidly. We don’t always have the time to process everything happening around us. This fast-paced environment affects how we work, socialise, and communicate with others.
I believe it’s essential to take at least one day where you do nothing related to work—where you don’t even think about work. For me, the challenge has mostly been about work, especially as a freelancer. Freelancers rarely have boundaries because they’re constantly relying on the next job or project. Freelance work isn’t always secure. Projects can end abruptly. This makes it difficult to set boundaries and say no to unpaid extra hours.
Even in permanent roles, it’s important to recognise boundaries. You may have the security of a fixed position, yet redundancy is still possible. However, there’s usually provision for overtime pay or taking time off in lieu. With freelance roles, overtime often goes unpaid or is compensated inadequately, despite requiring senior-level work.
Taking breaks allows you to reassess and reset. I’ve realised how refreshing it is to spend a day not working, simply relaxing, binge-watching TV, and enjoying life. I’m not necessarily talking about going out. It can be simply going for a walk, sitting on the sofa, or watching TV without any pressure to do anything else.
I encourage you to take a day off this week to rest and recharge. That’s what today’s post is about: prioritising rest and giving yourself permission to pause.
Have a wonderful rest of your week.
PS: I’m excited to soon share my new podcast, which will be called the Omuntu Blog Podcast.
