Vetnews | Augustus 2024 4 « BACK TO CONTENTS Taking a break We just returned from a 2-week road trip to the Kgalagadi with dear friends. This happened just days after our daughter (#NextgenerationVeterinarian #proudparents) got married in our home town, Hoedspruit. Joining us were long-time friends from Belgium. On our way back this picture popped up on my Fb page. It is not in my nature to believe in coincidence. Two things popped up for me. The one is how important travel for a person is. I met a young girl in the city of Kuruman working in a leather shop. She was born and raised there but had a dream to au-pair internationally. I could not encourage her enough to grab the opportunity, gather up the courage to take the next step and explore the world. Back to our time in the Kgalagadi: there is very little to no cellphone signal, Wifi internet is available at R75 for 400Mb. I knew I had to prepare the next Vetnews and realised I had to do most of the work even before the wedding. Fortunately, the pages of Vetnews are filled by wonderful trustworthy people which meant that most of the work could be done beforehand. Thanks to all of you – ed. Being without an internet connection can be pretty uncomfortable because who is used to conversations any more? (silly smiley face). BUT, resting can mean a break from not only social media but also being unavailable for work stuff and preparing for it. I read in an article on www.verywellmind.com the following: Taking a break from work is essential, and yet many people leave their vacation time unused.1 Whether you plan a vacation, a staycation, or a playcation, it’s essential to take a break from your job, your routine, and the demands of life to keep stress levels in check. When you take a break, you’re not shirking responsibility. You’re taking care of yourself so you’ll have the stamina to be your best. By learning the signs that you need a break, you’ll know when to schedule some time away to help you feel refreshed and restored. Taking a break from work is vital if you want to manage stress and avoid burnout. Signs that you might need to take a break include feeling cynical, exhausted, or withdrawn. By taking a break, whether it’s a vacation or just a short break during the day, you can come back to your work with a fresher, more rested mind. That got me thinking that the best break you can take is from news and social media. In the ‘old’ days we used to come up to Kruger pretty often, be it for work or vacation. I remember distinctly leaving my emotional baggage, hurt, sorrow etc at Oom Paul’s bust at Kruger gate. The time in the Park was without any ‘outside’ disturbances or influences. When it was time to leave, I was ready to pick up whatever I left at the gate and face reality again. Yes, it was before connection to the world was simply held in your hand, therefore I think we have a greater responsibility to take a break from being in touch with the world and rather focus on ourselves when we take time out. Be encouraged to take leave and also be fair to those working for you to get enough rest to also keep the stress levels under control. In this month’s magazine, there is a heartfelt obituary to Dr Fritz Zollner; one of our own receives a prestigious award; the next chapter in the Onderstepoort History series and some recent research on cats. Enjoy the read. v Andriette From the Editor Editor’s notes / Redakteurs notas
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