Most of us keep our smartphones close at hand to keep ourselves connected, productive and entertained. While there is no disputing how essential mobile technology is managing our home, social and work lives, many people feel a distinct sense of digital overload.

The pings and constant vibrations from app notifications, the temptation to scroll mindlessly through social media feeds, and the inclination to take photos when you’d rather just enjoy the moment, it can all become overwhelming and distracting, especially if you are trying to relax or enjoy family time over the festive season.

TCL suggests some ways to ensure digital balance and wellbeing while still getting the most from your phone.

1. Use Android’s focus tools to set gentle limits

Your Android smartphone will work with you in your goal of getting the right digital balance. The Digital Wellbeing dashboard lets you track how you are spending your time on your phone, including which apps you use the most and which send the most notifications. You can use Digital Wellbeing to set limits on the time you spend on certain apps to control digital overload.

2. Pause notifications

One of the best ways to reduce digital distraction is to turn off non-essential notifications when you are enjoying the beach or chilling with your family. Using Do Not Disturb, notification categories, or scheduled quiet hours helps create clearer separation between personal downtime and digital activity. The Focus mode in Android Digital Wellbeing lets you select apps to pause temporarily.

3. Find balance together

During family visits or group activities, simple rules, such as no devices at the table or one quick check-in per hour, help everyone stay present. If you’re looking forward to some digital-free family time, Digital Wellbeing can help. Family Link lets you connect a child’s device to your own so that you can set rules. You can create screen time limits, manage the apps and websites that your child uses, and even lock a child’s device remotely.

4. Take some time for digital detox

December is a perfect time to reset your relationship with digital technology. It is an opportunity to think about using it more intentionally to create space for wellness, focus, and balance. Brief breaks, like phone-free mealtimes and an afternoon with the device in another room, can be mentally refreshing.

5. Use hardware that supports comfortable viewing

Hardware like TCL’s NXTPAPER technology can make screen time feel more natural and relieve eyestrain, especially during long sessions. NXTPAPER 3 looks a lot like e-ink. It’s easy on your eyes, but is fully colourised and suitable for watching video and playing games.

6. Use night modes when you are getting ready for bed

Late-evening scrolling often affects sleep. Android’s Bedtime Mode combines greyscale, reduced interruptions and dimmed brightness to support a calmer routine. It is a simple step that helps you wind down instead of stimulating your mind right before sleep.

7. Use your smartphone to support your detox and mindfulness journey There are many apps for Android that can help you to manage your digital detox as well as practice mindfulness over the festive season:

• Headspace: Explore science-backed exercises that help you care for your mind and boost mental health with meditation.
• Calm: App crammed with guided meditation, sleep stories, soundscapes, breathwork and stretching exercises.
• DetoxLock: Detox Lock is a powerful and simple app blocker to go cold turkey from distractions.
• Digital Detox: Decide your own digital use rules for self-accountability and block out digital noise.

8. Review your home screen

A cluttered home screen can encourage unnecessary tapping and scrolling. Remove distracting apps and those you seldom move from the first screen to reduce impulse use and stay focused.

8. Use voice controls for quick tasks

Voice commands can help you send messages, set reminders or search for information without going into apps that might take your attention longer than necessary.

9. Use offline modes

Downloading playlists, maps or reading material before travelling helps you stay entertained and do essential tasks without getting bombarded with updates.

As thousands of South Africans prepare to hit the road for the festive season, ensuring your vehicle is ready for the journey is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family. Whether you’re driving to the coast, visiting relatives upcountry, or moving between holiday gatherings, long-distance trips place extra pressure on your car – and many of the breakdowns that occur on South African roads every Festive Season are entirely preventable.

According to Bhavish Vallabhjee, Product Manager at Engen, a few simple checks can mean the difference between a stress-free trip and hours stranded on the roadside. “You don’t need to be a technical expert to keep your car safe,” he says. “With a bit of preparation and the right products, you can avoid most mechanical issues that typically occur during the December rush.”

1. Start with Your Tyres

Tyres are one of the most common causes of holiday breakdowns, yet they remain one of the most overlooked components. Vallabhjee explains that tyre pressure changes significantly when a vehicle is fully loaded or towing, which is why it’s essential to check the manufacturer’s recommended pressure before you leave. Drivers should also take a moment to inspect tread depth, look for cracking or uneven wear, and ensure their spare tyre is in good condition and that they have the locknut key if the vehicle uses anti-theft wheel nuts. Rotating tyres at each service also extends their lifespan and promotes even wear.

2. Don’t Neglect the Heart of Your Engine: Your Oil

Engine oil is vital to your car’s health. As Vallabhjee puts it, “Oil doesn’t just lubricate – it cools and cleans your engine. Running low or using the wrong grade can cause severe and costly damage.” Before heading off on a long trip, motorists should check their oil levels and top up if necessary, then recheck after a few hundred kilometres. Oil should be replaced annually or at the service intervals recommended by the manufacturer, and it’s crucial to use the correct grade specified for the vehicle.

3. Why the Right Oil Matters

Not all engine oils are created equal. Vallabhjee emphasises that South Africa’s environment – with its heat, dust and varied terrain – places unique demands on vehicles. “Engen Xtreme oils are formulated specifically for local conditions,” he says. “Whether you drive an older model, a taxi or a modern vehicle, there’s an Engen Xtreme product suited to your engine.” He urges motorists to request their preferred oil brand when servicing their vehicles.

4. Check All Fluids – Not Just Oil

Several other fluids play a crucial role in vehicle safety and reliability. Coolant prevents overheating (especially important in hot, dry regions), brake fluid enables safe stopping distances, power steering fluid ensures smooth and responsive steering, and windscreen washer fluid improves visibility by removing insects and road grime. Vallabhjee recommends adding a small amount of liquid soap or specialised cleaner to the wash water to help clear stubborn debris from the windscreen.

5. Make the Most of Your Forecourt Stop

A quick stop at a service station can prevent major problems later. Engen forecourt staff are trained to help motorists with tyre pressure checks, wiper inspections, window cleaning, oil top-ups and windscreen wash refills. “Engen service stations are equipped to assist with these basic checks,” says Vallabhjee. “Take the time. It improves safety and could save you money in the long run.” He also reminds drivers to look after themselves: stay hydrated, take regular breaks, and grab a Brazmata coffee or snack to remain alert.

6. Fuel Matters Too

High-quality fuels can make a noticeable difference in performance, especially on long trips. Vallabhjee notes that products such as Engen Primax Unleaded and Engen’s ultra-low sulphur diesel (10 ppm) help keep engines clean, protect injectors and improve fuel efficiency over time.

7. Plan Your Route – and Know Help Is Close

With the country’s largest service station footprint, Engen ensures that help is never far away. Vallabhjee points out that many of Engen’s 1 040+ forecourts can be found on all major routes and in most towns across South Africa, offering motorists peace of mind during long journeys.

8. A Small Habit That Makes a Big Difference

If he had to offer just one rule, Vallabhjee says it would be this: “Stop at an Engen service station before and during your trip. Let the team run through the key checks – it gives you peace of mind and keeps your family safe.”

Drive Safe, South Africa

As we head into the busiest travel season of the year, a few minutes of preparation can prevent mechanical failures, reduce roadside emergencies and save you from costly repairs. Safe cars save lives.

Take your time, check your vehicle, and enjoy a smooth journey this festive season.

It’s the silver lining for businesses across the globe, helping them achieve not only optimal operational productivity through employees but also the more elusive and valuable aim of fulfillment.

Employees are the core of every business; their skills and competence are essential to not only their own growth but also for the success of the company.

HP’s third annual HP Work Relationship Index (WRI) offers sobering insights into what has long been a gnawing pain point – work is simply not working. The global workforce is under pressure, and countries such as South Africa and Nigeria in Sub-Saharan Africa are no different.

Globally, just 20% of knowledge workers report having a healthy relationship with work, down 8 points from 2024.  Fulfillment at work has reached a historic low with the most significant drop experienced by business leaders.

“The most dramatic decline is among business leaders. Across industries and regions, employees report feeling overburdened, undervalued and under-resourced, with 62% of desk-based workers feeling that demands and expectations have increased over the past year,” the WRI notes.

The workplace has become more demanding but less fulfilling due to economic pressure, global disruption, and unequal access to technology. The disruption and isolation caused by these forces have also put pressure on the workforce.

Leadership experts have termed this quest of employees finding fulfillment in different areas of life as ‘quiet ambition’ and prizes a more holistic sense of satisfaction that workers want to achieve and not merely climbing the social ladder.

The WRI is unequivocal:  leadership can make or break fulfillment. “Fulfilled employees are 3 times more likely to feel connected to colleagues and achieve work-life balance, yet only 16% of knowledge workers trust senior leaders to make the right decisions for their people, down 13 percentage points from last year. High-EQ leadership is a key driver, but it remains in short supply, especially in large organizations,” the report states.

The importance of decent and fulfilling work is embedded in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, particularly Goal 8: “Decent Work and Economic Growth”. This goal emphasizes that while financial progress is essential, it must go hand in hand with the promotion of sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, as well as full and productive employment and decent work for all. That is why financial progress should not only create decent and fulfilling jobs but also safeguard the environment.

However, too often, workplaces become pressure cookers rather than places of purpose – where the relentless drive for productivity overshadows employee’s need for balance, recognition, and psychological safety. In both South Africa and Nigeria, this is compounded by broader socio-economic realities such as high unemployment economic uncertainty and widening inequality. Employees operate under constant strain to perform, often without adequate support systems, career growth opportunities, or emotional well-being frameworks.One report found that a staggering 85% of South African employees grappled with stress in their jobs, while another study found high levels of moderate stress in 77% of Nigerian bankers, indicative of the growing focus on holistic well-being and mental health in the workplace in both countries.

Furthermore, organisational engagement experts have found that only a quarter of South Africans find meaning and fulfillment in the work they do. In a country with an unemployment rate that stands at 33,2% (second quarter 2025), this reinforces the notion that “having a job you hate is worse than being unemployed”.

Technology alone cannot close the fulfillment gap, but it can be a powerful catalyst. Leaders must move beyond directive approaches and embrace enablers such as technology. When equipped with the right tools, employees report stronger connections to their work. Notably, 42% of those with a healthy work relationship use AI tools daily. When implemented responsibly, AI and automation can reduce routine tasks, freeing employees to focus on creative, high-impact work. The future of fulfillment is not about replacing human potential—it’s about leveraging technology to amplify purpose, autonomy, and connection.

As the WRI notes, “While technology alone cannot drive a company forward, it can empower the full potential of employees and drastically improve their work experience.”

In 2026, companies must prioritise fostering environments where employees feel genuinely connected, supported, and valued. Many employees no longer trust that leaders understand what they need, and this will push organisations to re-examine their approaches to management and care. As AI tools become more common, workers will use them to remove simple tasks and spend more time on work that feels meaningful. This shift will matter even more in regions facing economic challenges, such as South Africa and Nigeria, where high-stress and limited support are prevalent. Companies will see stronger teams and greater outcomes if they listen to employees and invest in transparent communication, encouraging managers and helpful technology. Ultimately, when employees feel fulfilled, they contribute more energy and purpose to their work.

Fulfilment, after all, is the new benchmark for productivity.