Exhausted, South Africa? Hang Tight – Relief is Just Weeks Away!

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Right now, South Africans are feeling it – that collective exhaustion, the weight of a year’s worth of grit catching up to us. We’re tired, frayed, and just about gatvol. But hold on – because the lightness is coming.

Johannesburg, South Africa (26 October 2024) – Sometimes, we just feel… well, done. This week, my friend Graeme Codrington posted a question that perfectly captured that feeling of “done-ness” so many of us are going through right now.

He overheard someone, frustrated and weary, saying, “The chaos must just stop.” A simple sentence, but one that holds so much of what many South Africans are feeling lately. So he put the question out there: Are we all feeling this same chaos?

If you’re nodding your head right now, you’re not alone. I get asked about this all the time, and I’ve even got a whole section on it in one of my keynotes. Every year, like clockwork, we hit this same stretch, and every year, the collective exhaustion takes hold of us.

It’s not just a mood; it’s backed by data, and it seems as predictable as the seasons.

Right about now, from September to early November, South Africans start to feel “moeg.” But that’s putting it lightly, hey?

The truth is, we’re gatvol.

And it’s no wonder. We’re a hardworking nation, pushing through a year of deadlines, frustrations, challenges, and dreams, only to hit the last stretch feeling like it’s “too much.” There’s this collective sigh of “not again” and “why can’t things just work?” And it doesn’t matter where you look – on the road, in the shops, or online – there’s a tension bubbling up.

Just this week, I found myself in a bizarre road rage incident. A truck had blocked off a lane, and I needed to get out, patiently waiting with my indicator on. But the driver next to me? He wasn’t having it, refused to let me in, and the shouting from his car that followed was just crazy.

Normally, it would get to me, but I couldn’t help thinking, “Yup, it’s that time of year.”

So, what’s going on? Well, it’s partly what psychologists call the “Spotlight Effect.” Right now, we’re so tired that all the negative stuff seems to be magnified – we see it everywhere. It’s like there’s a spotlight trained on every little frustration, every headline, every mishap, and we start to think that’s all there is. Even here on Good Things Guy, we see a noticeable dip in readership over this period. People stop seeking out the good news because they’re just not in the mood for it. The bad stuff feels all-consuming, and we get lost in it.

But here’s the beautiful part – we do get through it, stronger and ready for what’s next.

This heavy feeling? It’s only a season, and, like all seasons, it passes. Come mid-November, as if on cue, everything starts to change. The weight lifts, the pace eases, and it feels like the whole country lets out one giant exhale.

It’s that “Dezemba” feeling, that buzz that fills the air with anticipation, and it’s uniquely South African.

Every year, right on time, we move from weary to wonderful, from frustration to freedom.

And there’s just something magical about December in South Africa, right? You can feel it when you see the first holiday lights, hear the familiar summer sounds, and gather with friends or family. It’s a shift in our spirit. It’s when hope rushes back in, joy flows a little easier, and even the everyday stress just… melts away.

Side note: The Dezemba vibes culture in South Africa (which starts in early November and sometimes lasts till February) needs to be studied. It is the best.

The good news is, we’re only three weeks away from this lightness. It’s coming, like clockwork, just as it always does.

This cycle of challenge and resilience, exhaustion and renewal – it’s a rhythm that we know and live by. And every time we reach this end-of-year lift, we come through with more strength, more gratitude, and a refreshed outlook. So, if you’re feeling the strain now, take comfort: you’re part of a nation that doesn’t just endure; we rise. We get through it together, and when the celebrations start, we go all in.

So hang on, South Africa.

Hold onto the hope that’s brought us through so many times before. Yes, it’s been a hard stretch, but just ahead lies that familiar spark, that unmatched South African spirit that makes us who we are. We’ll be alright – and more than that, we’re heading toward something wonderful.