Mid-year fatigue is a real thing: Expert

Executive Head of Healthcare Consulting at advisory firm NMG Benefit, Karin Mitchelmore, has advised workers who feel fatigued to take some time off to recuperate and regroup.

With seven months into the year, the mid-year fatigue is starting to settle in for most employees, with some feeling motivated and burnt out.

According to experts, mid-year fatigue has to do with exhaustion and weariness that many individuals experience, due to responsibilities and demands that they have in their lives. These could be at work or at home.

Mitchlemore says can affect both employees and employers, saying it is a real thing.

Mitchelmore says burnout can manifest differently for everyone with some experiencing persistent headaches, restlessness, frequent illness, digestive problems, or changes in weight.

Others might show emotional signs like anger outbursts, impatience, social withdrawal, or a general loss of interest.

Mitchelmore has urged employers to consider and look at having programmes that can assist their employees to deal with the weariness, as it affects productivity.

She says people shouldn’t suffer in silence.

According to the health consultant, one in three South African employees are struggling with the phenomenon.

Mitchelmore is advising employees to foster a new culture of being honest to their managers or HR contact about their situation, saying the more these conversations are normalised – the more the stigma is removed.

Mitchelmore is advising those feeling pressure to consider the points below:

• Re-aligning what really matters: She says burnout often happens when we are pulled in too many directions, and we lose sight of our ‘why’.

“Reflecting on your goals and what gives your work and personal life meaning, can help you prioritise what really deserves your energy,” she says.

• Rest and boundaries are not luxuries: They are essential for long-term performance. Claiming small wins each day can help you rebuild your momentum.
• Do not suffer in silence: While burnout can feel deeply personal, it is important to recognise that you are not alone.