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Lethabo performed well during high school. Afterwards, he decided to take a gap year to rest and care for his mental health. What I loved about this interview was how the concept of mental health kept resurfacing; for Lethabo to have the courage to keep on going, to make decisions that, although contrary to societal beliefs, were important to him and his wellbeing. What glued all this together was the concept of rest. Whether this was Lethabo taking a gap year to rest, or you taking time during your day to relax, rest is crucial.
Whilst most people live a fast-paced life, constantly on the go; REST is just as important but often neglected. Rest is as productive as doing work. This sounds wrong to say, but it is true. As a recovering workaholic, Lethabo reminds me that it is of great benefit to take a break to take care of oneself.
So, here are 4 tips you could implement on how to Rest:
1. Rest Day
Whether you are in high school or university, it is a great idea to have a rest day. Take this day to do things that you enjoy. Do art, practice an instrument; take a day to yourself without the stresses of academics.
2. Breaks in between study sessions
Although it sounds productive to say 'I'm going to study 5 hours straight!", it isn't as effective as it sounds. Short breaks in between help your brain to get some rest and be energised again. There is a variety of study methods on the internet regarding different study-to-break ratios; try them and see which one works for you!
3. Sleep
I cannot emphasize this enough. I have experienced different sleeping patterns. I used to work during the night and sleep during the day. I felt like a night owl and thought I was more productive during the night. Unfortunately, the long-term effects of that are not cool. I was often exhausted even after I woke up. I realized that, if I did one all-nighter, my body would take around 2 days to recover, and it was not worth it.
Although it's important to get 7-8 hours of sleep, is also important when you get those 8 hours of rest. It is usually best to be asleep between 22:00 pm and 02:00 am. Therefore, sleeping for 8 hours after 2 am is not as effective.
4. Take your time
Whether this is in life, academics, eating or anything else. In most of life, patience is required. Lethabo's patience is absolutely beautiful. To know that things don't just happen automatically and that the process is not meant to be rushed. Take each day and hurdle one step at a time. We all want to see results now, to achieve now, to start working today and produce results tomorrow, but that is not life. It is a journey, enjoy every step and savour each moment. Give yourself time to feel the grief and allow yourself to enjoy the joyous moments, to immerse yourself in the excitement.
Life is not meant to be walked through alone. Surround yourself with good people. Then, take one step at a time.
It was an honour to interview Lethabo. Don't forget to listen to his interview by clicking the following link:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6TmlodpgTgf4fUsgy6qc9U?si=AZZ7oecFRX6GvxqhQa2w7Q