It’s not an issue that’s often addressed in one discussion at the same time, but support fatigue is a real issue. Having been rallied to lend support to local businesses in Singapore, particularly the F&B industry, when does it cross the line of caring too much to the point of burnout? First of all, what is support fatigue?
It works similarly to compassion fatigue, which caregivers often face when trying to express sympathy and empathy for those they look after. At some point, their mental health is affected and can it can reach a boundary that spills over to burnout. Think of it as emotional burnout, essentially. Now, apply this to our pandemic and the constant reminder for all of us to do our part to #supportlocal, especially with the F&B scene.
It’s certainly an issue that’s sensitive for some, but it needs to be addressed—especially for those who are currently experiencing an inner dilemma of whether to care about their own livelihood or extend help to struggling businesses. This choice to focus on one’s welfare—be it financial or mental health—can be written off as “selfish” but are we really self-centred if we choose to direct our energies on saving money and spending more time at home with the family during a pandemic?
Are we then not being compassionate for not wanting to fork out a lil’ to keep these F&B businesses running? What are your thoughts on the issue? Are you experiencing fatigue from social pressures to do your part in supporting local businesses? If you’d like to chime in on our conversation, which can be listened to on any of these platforms—Podbean, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts—we’d love for you to share your opinions with us.
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