For many, the return to reality after a blissful holiday can feel like a crash landing – inboxes overflowing, calendars crammed, and the pace of life suddenly dialled back up to full volume. And within a very short time, the restorative effects of your holiday can be undone as the pressure returns. But what if the secret to beating the post-holiday blues lies not in what you do after your trip – but in how you prepare before it?

Samantha Pillay, Director at leading lifestyle and travel brand ekko, believes holidays should be planned from departure to return – ensuring you leave with peace of mind and return able to ease into the swing of things. “We often focus all our energy on the getaway itself – the destination, the itinerary, the escape. But the real game-changer is when we also plan for the return. A well-thought-out comeback strategy can extend the benefits of your holiday and help you re-enter your routine with vitality, motivation, and optimism,” she says.

So what does a well-planned return look like? Pillay shares her essential strategies for maintaining that holiday glow:

Before You Clock Out:

1. Departure prep

• Prioritise and action what needs to be done before you leave and flag non-urgent tasks that can be deferred.
• Submit any required documentation, e.g. expense reports that will fall due while you’re away.
• Prepare a clear, comprehensive handover document to brief your manager, colleagues, or stand-in on responsibilities, key contacts, and any daily tasks you need to delegate.
• If any work requires a password, ensure it’s shared securely with the responsible person(s).
• Inform key clients or stakeholders of your absence and who to contact in your absence.
• Organise your workspace so it feels welcoming when you return.

2. Tidy your digital space

• Clear your inbox of lingering threads or flag key items for follow-up.
• Unsubscribe from unnecessary emails to avoid adding to the deluge when you return.
• Mute notifications from non-essential apps

3. Set realistic expectations

• Review priorities before you leave and set realistic expectations for your first week back.
• Acknowledge that you won’t catch up immediately – and that’s okay.

4. Ease into your routine

• Don’t let your post-holiday self get swallowed up by old habits again – avoid diving straight from poolside to inbox.
• Rather, make provision for a buffer day or two at home before returning to the office. Use this time to reset sleep patterns, unpack, and mentally shift gears.
• Schedule a lighter first day back – reserve your morning for email triage and low-stakes solo work rather than meetings.
• Avoid back-to-back meetings or major deadlines in your first 48 hours.
• Reintroduce your routine gently and remember to make time for things you enjoy, like the gym.

Prepare Your Home For An Easy Return:

1. Clear your fridge of perishables and tidy up your home – you don’t want to dread coming back to the chaos left in your haste to leave.

2. Set yourself up for a smooth first night back by changing sheets and laying out fresh towels before you leave.

3. Consider scheduling an online grocery delivery for essentials so you don’t have to shop after a long trip.

4. If you are taking a December holiday and have school-age children, buy any new school clothes and stationery before your departure to avoid a last-minute rush.

5. Allow everyone time to adjust – resist the urge to jump straight back into packed schedules and activities.

Book your next adventure: Research shows that anticipation is a powerful mood booster. In fact, the Institute for Applied Positive Research found that 97% of people feel happier simply by planning a trip, with 82% reporting a significant boost in happiness once the trip is booked. Even if it’s months away, having another trip on the horizon can lift your spirits and give you something exciting to look forward to.

As Pillay notes, “Holidays aren’t just about escape – they’re about renewal. So, don’t just plan your holiday – plan your comeback and avoid the post-holiday blues, she concludes.”

Plan your next getaway with the benefits of an ekko portfolio – visit www.ekko.co.za.

Johannesburg’s summer is about to get a whole lot hotter. Youth radio powerhouse Y has confirmed that its flagship music festival, LYFE, returns this December, headlined by international R&B star Sabrina Claudio, alongside local favourites Lloyiso and Manana.

Set to take place on Saturday, 6 December at Marks Park in Emmarentia, LYFE promises a full day of music, fashion and energy that reflects Joburg’s vibrant youth culture. The event is part of Y’s official summer launch, following the Club Y party in Melville the night before.

Claudio, known for her velvety voice and soulful hits such as Belong to You and Unravel Me, will bring her smooth R&B sound to South African shores for the first time. Her appearance marks a major coup for Y, which has steadily positioned LYFE as one of the city’s premier live music events.

Joining her on stage is South Africa’s own Lloyiso, whose emotional ballads and soaring vocals have earned him international acclaim, and Manana, the Swazi-born, Johannesburg-based singer and producer celebrated for his soulful storytelling and collaborations with artists like Ami Faku and Sun-El Musician. Together, the three artists headline a lineup that blends global appeal with homegrown soul.

Y’s Music Curator, Gcobisa Codi Dinca, said the festival is all about celebrating youth culture at full volume.

“Summer is already knocking, and Y is turning the heat all the way up with Club Y followed by LYFE this December. We are talking next-level vibes, the coldest fits and a lineup that is straight flames. It is all about great fashion, positive energy, good music and that signature Y flavor as always. Pull up, ’cause it’s gonna be a movie!” she said.

The festival will also feature performances from Y’s own talent roster, including Rarri, Fif Laaa, DJ FaeFae, Just Mo and more, a mix of DJs and performers who keep Y’s airwaves buzzing daily. From amapiano to R&B and hip-hop, organisers say the lineup reflects the sound of Joburg’s streets and the diversity of the city’s musical tastes.

Beyond the music, LYFE is billed as an all-day experience, with fashion, food and lifestyle activations designed to capture the spirit of summer. Y says fans can expect “unforgettable live performances, bold street style and that signature Y energy that defines the culture.”

The event runs from 12pm to 8pm, with gates opening at midday. Tickets go on sale tomorrow via Webtickets, and organisers have confirmed that no under-18s will be permitted.

As Y gears up for its biggest summer yet, LYFE is set to once again cement the station’s place at the heart of Johannesburg’s youth scene. “We are hard-launching December,and LYFE is where it all begins,” Dinca said.

As we approach World Diabetes Day on November 14, civil society organisations warn that the cost of inaction on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes is already being paid for in lives, livelihoods and lost potential. The Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA) is calling on the South African government to increase the Health Promotion Levy (HPL) on sugary drinks from 11% to 20%, to help curb sugary drinks consumption and reduce the financial burden on the health system from rising non-communicable diseases.

“Diabetes is now the second leading cause of death in South Africa, yet every year we allow preventable diseases to claim more lives,” says Nzama Mbalati, CEO of HEALA. “Raising the Health Promotion Levy is one of the simplest, most effective steps government can take to protect people’s health, especially children, who are consuming sugar at dangerous levels.”

Since the introduction of the HPL in 2018, beverage companies have reduced the sugar content of their drinks, leading to cuts in average per-capita sugar consumption. But the gains have stalled. HEALA and its partners warn that without further cuts in consumption, the policy’s impact will fade, while rates of diabetes will continue to climb.

South Africa’s obesity rate is already twice the global average, and even one sugary drink a week raises a child’s risk of obesity and diabetes. One in four diabetes cases in the country is caused by sugary drink consumption. These numbers are not just statistics; they represent real people and families forced to navigate lifelong illness and financial hardship.

The economic toll is equally alarming. Treating obesity related conditions such as diabetes already costs South Africa more than R33 billion each year or about 15% of total government health spending. Modelling by PRICELESS SA (University of the Witwatersrand) shows that increasing the levy to 20% could save approximately 72 000 lives and prevent 85 000 strokes over two decades while easing the fiscal pressure on a health system already stretched beyond capacity.

HEALA’s new national campaign, which launched in November, brings this message to the fore in two phases. The first calls for stronger health taxes across sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco, continuing South Africa’s proven track record of using taxation to advance public health. The second sharpens focus on raising the HPL, calling for its increase as part of a consistent, evidence-based approach to protecting lives.

Through personal stories of South Africans living with diabetes, the campaign reveals the real cost of inaction and unites civil society under the banner #OneVoice, calling on government to put public health before profit.

Alphinah Setumo, a 52-year-old mother from Mathibestad, lost both her legs and her eyesight after years of consuming sugary drinks without understanding the risks. “Back then, drinking two litres of a sugary drink a day was nothing,” she recalls. “If I had known what I know now, my life would be different.”

Mpho Thebe, a maths and science tutor from Kroonstad, tells a similar story. Once a daily consumer of fizzy drinks, he lost his left leg to diabetes at 45. Today, he walks with a prosthetic leg and teaches children about perseverance and prevention. “I thought sugar was harmless,” he says. “Now I know it can take everything from you.”

These stories mirror thousands of others across the country, where diabetes silently devastates families, especially in low-income communities where affordable, healthy food and clean water remain scarce.

The campaign, supported by actress and mother Samela Tyelbooi, urges government to act. “As a parent, I worry about how sugar can make my kids sick,” says Tyelbooi. “We need government to increase the HPL, protect our children’s future, and stop putting profit before people.”

HEALA’s coalition partners, including health advocates, researchers and civil society organisations, are speaking with one voice ahead of the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement and the 2026 Budget Speech. Their collective message is clear: the HPL is not just another tax, it’s a health tax, like those on alcohol and tobacco, designed to save lives, prevent disease and safeguard South Africa’s future.

“This is not about taking away people’s choices, it’s about giving South Africans the chance to make healthier, more informed choices,” adds Mbalati.

Diabetes and other NCDs already account for over 50% of deaths from preventable diseases in South Africa. Without decisive fiscal measures, the burden will continue to fall on the households least able to bear it.

Globally, countries from Mexico to the UK have proven that health taxes reduce sugar consumption and improve health outcomes.

HEALA is urging citizens to join the call by signing the petition and demanding that government increase the HPL to 20%.

“We have the evidence, we have the stories, and we have the will,” concludes Tyelbooi. “Now we need action.”

Government must act now.
Increase the HPL on sugary drinks to 20%.
Sign the petition at www.heala.org.

BeautySouthAfrica has taken the guessing out of festive season gift shopping with the launch of their annual Festive Beauty Box for women, and their first-ever Men’s Grooming Box.

Filled to the brim with sought-after, editor-approved beauty and grooming products, these limited edition boxes make the perfect festive gift – or well-deserved self-care treat.

As always, you can expect unbeatable value and major savings. With limited numbers available, it’s best to place your order fast to avoid missing out. Here’s what you can expect:

2025 Festive Beauty Box

BeautySouthAfrica’s limited-edition 2025 Festive Beauty Box contains 21 editor-approved beauty products for the ultimate summer beauty regimen. The perfect spoil for yourself or a loved one, this box is valued at over R4000, and is yours for only R899.

The standout products that have been carefully curated for this box include:

Environ Focus Care Youth Revival Masque 50ml;

Playgirl Sensitive Roll-on 50ml;

Shower to Shower Even Tone Deodorant 150ml;

Shower to Shower Fresh Glow Shower Crème 500ml;

Lipsano Cherry SPF30 Lip Balm;

Nu-Hair Protein Booster Shampoo 200ml;

Nu-Hair Protein Booster Conditioner 200ml;

Nu-Hair Placenta with Biotin Leave-In Hair Repair 150ml;

Endocil Foaming Face Gel Cleanser 150ml;

Endocil Night Treatment Crème 50ml;

EAD Tissue Oil Serum 50ml;

SKIN functional The Ultimate Ageing Treatment Tonic 15ml;

SKIN functional Daily Moisturiser 15ml;

RVB LAB Crystal Highlighter;

Gatineau Defi Lift Firming Facial Oil 5ml;

NUXE Prodigieux Néroli Le Parfum 15ml;

NUXE Hair Prodigieux Intensive Repair Hair Mask 30ml;

KISS Bare Collection Lashes;

IQ SunCare Dry Touch Gel-Cream SPF50 50ml;

Catrice Hyper Lash Mascara;

Essence Extreme Shine Volume Lipgloss in shade 02 Summer Punch

The 2025 Festive Beauty Box can be ordered online here.

2025 Men’s Grooming Box

BeautySouthAfrica’s debut, limited-edition 2025 Men’s Grooming Box contains 11 editor-approved products for a hardworking, effective grooming routine. The perfect spoil for yourself or a loved one, this box is valued at over R1400, and is yours for only R495.

The standout products that have been carefully curated for this box include:

Environ Focus Care Clarity+ Sebu-Wash Gel Cleanser 150ml;

Status Aztec Jade Deodorant 130ml;

Playboy Daily Moisturizer SPF15;

Nilotiqa Aloe & Avo Growth Stimulating Hair Oil 100ml;

Shower to Shower Men Extreme Fresh 3In1 Shower Gel 500ml;

Nesti Dante Cipresso Luxury Soap 250g;

SKIN functional Chemical Sunscreen SPF50 15ml;

SKIN functional Blemish Corrector Lite 5ml;

DORCO Pace Cross 3 Razor kit;

Romano Grandiose Eau de Toilette 50ml;

Growth Bomb Supercharge Serum 125ml

The Men’s Grooming Box can be ordered online here.

For more information, visit www.beautysouthafrica.com or email [email protected].

’Tis the season to spark joy, imagination and wide-eyed excitement under the tree. Whether you’re shopping for the little builder, the future scientist, the creative maestro or the avid collector, the right gift can light up their world. Here are some of the top choices this gifting season:

Barbie Dream House – Kids can host the ultimate pool party with the Barbie Dreamhouse! This deluxe doll house has the tallest slide in the Barbie Dreamhouse series to date, with a three-story spiral design for endless fun in the sun. It inspires 360-degree play with a wide and spacious floorplan, three levels, and 10 indoor and outdoor living areas. The playset also features more pet-friendly touches than ever before, including a puppy slide and pool where furry friends can play along with Barbie doll! Plus, the top floor bonus room wows with a sleepover transformation that allows the Dreamhouse to sleep four dolls. With 75+ accessories and customisable spaces that double the fun, it makes an exceptional gift for kids ages 3 years old and up.
RSP: R6769.99

UNO No Mercy – UNO Show ’em No Mercy is our most brutal UNO game yet! It has a ton more cards with WAY tougher penalties (draw 10 cards anyone?) and new rules that will have players stacking, swapping and drawing more cards than ever before! And there’s even a Mercy Rule (yes, we get the irony) if things get too rough. There are two ways to win in this merciless version of the classic game: get rid of all cards OR knock all other players out of the game! Oh and if you manage to get down to one card, don’t forget to yell ‘UNO!’
RSP: R249.99

Hot Wheels City Ultimate Garage – Explore all four levels of racing, stunting and storytelling in the Hot Wheels City Ultimate Garage just like the kids in the Netflix series ‘Let’s Race’. Each level inspires track-play adventures including side-by-side racing, loop stunts and an epic battle with a car-eating dragon. The set comes with two Hot Wheels® vehicles and has enough parking for more than 50 1:64 scale toy cars. It also connects to other sets so kids can build out their Hot Wheels™ City.
RSP: R3129.99

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Sis and Puppy–  Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Sis and Puppy are soft, cuddly, and ready to make sure the learning fun never ends! They respond to your baby’s touch with exciting sing-along songs and phrases that introduce more than 100 first words, parts of the body, colours, shapes, and more! And because every baby develops at their own pace, Sis and Puppy come with Smart Stages™ technology, so you can choose the level that’s best for your child. There are a variety of songs, sounds and phrases within each of the three levels of play. And their light-up, multicolour heart even twinkles along to the music!
RSP: R749,99

Little People Big School Bus – To the park, the museum, or the moons of Jupiter, toddlers can embark on all sorts of exciting field trips with the Little People Big Yellow School Bus. This super-sized, push-along bus comes with 4 Little People character figures, a pull handle, and realistic features like an opening door, stop sign and wheelchair ramp. As kids roll from one adventure to the next, the bus’s playful songs, sounds, lights and phrases help teach the alphabet, counting, colours and more through three Smart Stages levels that grow along with your child. And with space to seat up to 12 figures, your little explorer can bring all their Little People friends along for the ride!
RSP: R1052.99

Fisher-Price Wood Coffee Shop– Preschool kids can start their day with a fresh brew of pretend play with this wooden coffee shop set from Fisher-Price. This adorable playset lets kids play barista or customer with 19 play pieces to bring their stories to life. Ring up customers at the register, “brew” a fresh cup of java, and serve it up with a tasty treat (savory or sweet!) from the display counter. Made with wood from Forest Stewardship Council-certified sources (FSC-N004566) and decorated with non-toxic, water-based paints. Colours and decorations may vary.
RPS: R1439.99

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Piano – With four ways to play, the Fisher-Price Silly Sounds Light-Up Piano keeps your mini-musician busy “composing” and learning all playtime long. As your baby presses the keys of this light-up piano, they’re rewarded with either real piano notes, delightful duck sounds, silly cow sounds, or playful songs and phrases about colours, numbers, and shapes! And with an easy-grasp handle, you can take the silly musical fun wherever you and your baby go!
RSP: R519.99

Converse and Paris-based fashion label Vaquera have joined forces to unveil the XXXHi Slouch Wedge and XHi Slouch Wedge, a bold reinterpretation of the iconic Chuck silhouette that merges Converse’s timeless design language with Vaquera’s subversive, narrative-driven creativity.

Founded in 2013 by Patric DiCaprio and Bryn Taubensee, Vaquera has built a cult following for its irreverent approach to fashion celebrating contradiction, individuality, and self-expression. From their viral pillow dresses to their place on the Paris Fashion Week calendar, the brand has become a symbol of fashion’s avant-garde spirit.

Unveiled during Vaquera’s Fall/Winter 2025 presentation, the Converse × Vaquera XXXHi Slouch Wedge and XHi Slouch Wedge reimagine the Chuck into exaggerated, textile-heavy silhouettes with hidden wedge soles. The XXXHi extends above the knee, while the XHi falls just below, both designed to challenge proportion and movement. Constructed in synthetic-waxed canvas that softens with wear, the design retains Converse’s signature elements the patch, pinstripes, and canvas while infusing Vaquera’s experimental attitude.

“We love to take something well-known like the Chuck and make it feel new,” says Bryn Taubensee, co-founder of Vaquera. “We kept a lot of the iconic elements of the Chuck but removed the laces and supersized the upper. The effect is something familiar while at the same time unknown and exciting.”

Photographed by Brianna Capozzi and styled by Emma Wyman, the campaign features musician Cortisa Star, capturing the expressive, boundary-breaking energy that defines both brands.

In South Africa, the collaboration arrives at a time when local fashion and youth culture continue to embrace bold forms of self-expression and streetwear experimentation.

“Converse has always stood for creativity without limits. Collaborations like this one with Vaquera speak to our local audience’s appetite for originality it’s about celebrating those who dare to do things differently and redefine what style means today,” says Tebogo Mothlamme, Marketing Manager Converse South Africa.

This collaboration forms part of a broader partnership between Vaquera and Nike Inc., which also includes a forthcoming reinterpretation of the Nike Air Max DN8, Nike’s latest innovation in Dynamic Air technology.

The Converse x Vaquera footwear will be available from 11 November at converse.com and select retailers across South Africa starting at R3 199.95.

Across many brands, women are often spoken to through their belongings – their cars, their clothes, their things. When women themselves are highlighted, the focus tends to fall on their strength and resilience.

But, the conversations 1st for Women held with women around the country revealed something deeper: women don’t want to feel they must show strength to be taken seriously. They want to be recognised as whole, able to be soft and bold, ambitious and tired, playful and serious, all at once.

That understanding shapes Her first, then her every thing, the brand’s new campaign and direction. It starts with the woman herself: her needs, her limits and her contradictions, and then moves to everything she values and wants protected. It isn’t about redefining her; it’s about lifting her up and supporting her with the same honesty and empathy she brings to the rest of her life.

The power of being seen

The new direction is rooted in findings from the Her and Now: Insights into the Women of South Africa 2025 report, which reveals a notable gap in how women feel represented. Nearly half (46.5%) of the women surveyed said they feel only “somewhat” seen by brands. This reflects a broader desire for recognition.

“The invisibility crisis among women isn’t just about representation, it’s about recognition of their full humanity,” says Jill Mulligan, Head of Marketing at 1st for Women Insurance. “Women are tired of being seen only through the lens of their productivity or their caregiving roles. They want to be seen first as themselves before being defined by what they do for others.”

The new tagline, “Her first, then her every thing”, responds directly to this. It centres the woman’s first-hand experience before celebrating the many roles she plays and the responsibilities she carries in her family, work and community.

Why the shift from ‘Fearless’?

The research showed that women’s relationship with the idea of fearlessness has evolved. With the accelerating pace of modern life, what once felt energising now feels heavier for many. Women told us that they are constantly being seen as the one who “keeps it all together”, even when life is demanding. They still value strength, but want room to rest and the freedom to show softness or uncertainty without feeling they have let anyone down.

The data shows that:
• 67% of women feel expected to hold everything together daily.
• 96% of women say the right to exhale matters as much as the drive to achieve.

More than 4,000 women contributed to the research. Many described the same contradiction: they feel strong, but they are worn down by being expected to be strong all the time. They are capable, but they are carrying too much. 1st for Women’s move from Fearless to Freedom reflects this shift. It acknowledges that strength and ease can co-exist, that peace is as important as power, and that resilience does not always look like toughness.

Showing the mental load, honestly

The campaign brings the mental load to life by dramatising the constant invasion of women’s headspace. Our protagonist Katlego’s car won’t start. When she messages her family chat group, people from all her various chats suddenly appear around her. They talk over one another, a physical expression of being bombarded by different voices and expectations. The chaos settles only once the 1st for Women Guardian Angel on Call steps in.

The stills extend the idea. Various women are beautifully photographed standing on raised pink podiums, visually lifted above the demands and objects that fill their days: her family, pet, her household possessions, her car, demonstrating that while her “every thing” is valued and protected, she remains “Her first”.

Radio layers messaging group pings and overlapping voice notes to recreate the same sense of overload before the brand voice cuts through. Out-of-home and digital channels maintain the same visual language of elevation, keeping the woman at the centre of the frame, not lost behind the noise of everyday life.

A commitment, not a campaign

1st for Women says the shift goes deeper than advertising.

“We’re seeing the impact of the work we’ve done, which is why we were named the Ask Afrika Orange Index® Top Short-term Insurer for 2025/2026,” says Mulligan.

“But while our brand is evolving, one thing isn’t changing at all: our commitment to a future free from gender-based violence. Through the 1st for Women Foundation, we’ve raised over R100 million and helped keep more than 100,000 women safe. We fund prevention programmes, education, and support services – from legal assistance to counseling – because real change starts with awareness and action.

“That work sits at the heart of who we are: When a woman chooses us, she becomes an activist – her premiums don’t just protect what matters to her, she’s also helping build a safer South Africa.”

Mulligan concludes; The “Her first, then her every thing” campaign is a declaration that we see her. We cover everything she values after putting her first. We’re saying: ‘We got her because we get her’.”