My Six-Week Break: A Journey to Balance and Renewal

I finally decided it was time to hit the pause button and I went on an extended six-week break.

For the past 11 years I worked without taking any real break in between jobs. I remember once, I finished one job on Monday and started a new job on Tuesday. So much for mastering the life-work balance, right?

In the past, I was all about climbing the career ladder as quickly as possible. However, something changed in the last three years. My perspective on my career and life-work balance changed, my priorities began to shift, and I started to place greater emphasis on my own well-being.

Initially, it was a bit uncomfortable. Letting go and allowing myself to relax didn’t come naturally.

Finding Solace and Exploring Reading Again

One of the first things I did was to start my daily walks, something I missed doing back in Dubai. The extreme heat with temperature around 40C and high humidity there meant I spent most of my time indoors. So, reconnecting with nature was something I looked forward to the most.

There are numerous health benefits of daily walks: improved joint health, stress reduction, enhanced mood, or increased mindfulness to name a few. For me personally, walks in nature provide a break from the mental demands of daily life allowing me to recharge and become more creative. Also, going for a walk was something I did since I was a kid.

I grew up next to a massive 600-hectare Silesian Park, and I love going back to walk the old paths. Interestingly enough, only this time around I got interested in how this park came to live. I thought it was a forest once that had been modernized to become a park. However, the reality is quite astonishing. About 75% of the park’s area was originally comprised of post-mining waste, heaps, sinkholes, swamps, and landfills. The decision to transform this into a park was made in December 1950.

Back then, it was a pioneering project in Europe and from the very beginning, the construction was a massive social campaign. The park as I know it was built over the span of 25 years and included: zoo, planetarium, stadium, amusement park, narrow-gauge railway, swimming pool complex, cable car, rosarium, exhibition hall, ethnographic park. To this day, most of the attractions continue to bring joy to the visitors.

Another great way to decrease stress levels is reading. I knew this extended break was the perfect opportunity to read more, but staying away from self-development and business-related books, something that I read on a daily basis, required a conscious effort. To keep myself from falling into my habits, I went to the public library to pick up a few mystery novels.

Rediscovering the Joy of Social Connections and Climbing Mountains

During this time, I reconnected with friends and took the opportunity to travel, exploring both Turkey and the breathtaking Polish mountains. Climbing Zar Mountain, which stands at 761 meters above sea level, brought back memories of my school days when I explored this part of Poland. Despite initial doubts about my abilities, I climbed the mountain.

I was very proud of myself since a cable car was available and for a small fee, I could have been on top of the mountain in a few minutes without any effort at all. However, the reward of stunning views of mountains and lakes tasted so much better.

The Art of “Doing Nothing”

Over those six weeks, I read 11 books and walked over 250 kilometers.

Did I occasionally feel the urge to be productive? Yes, especially at the beginning when “doing nothing” seemed strange. However, as time went on, I noticed that allowing my mind to wander had its benefits. I became more creative, and new ideas started bubbling to the surface. Towards the end of the break, I was excited to return to my routine, ready to work on the fresh ideas that had emerged during my time off.

In retrospect, I’m glad I gave myself the gift of time. Why? Because even though it wasn’t a dramatic transformation, I returned refreshed and energized. Before my extended break, taking action felt like a struggle and required extra effort. Now that I am back, I’m enthusiastic about working on my new projects.

Lessons Learned from my Extended Break

Lesson 1: Prioritising well-being matters

Looking after your well-being is important, especially in the world often driven by career ambitions. Taking a break allowed me not only to recharge, but also to step back to reassess my priorities and redefine my life-work balance.

Lesson 2: Embracing change can be uncomfortable

My initial discomfort when letting go of my day-to-day routine was challenging but rewarding. Taking an extended break led me to a more fulfilling life.

Lesson 3: Creativity thrives with mindful pause

Allowing my mind to wander and relax led to fresh ideas and increased creativity. I learnt the importance of balance between periods of focused work and mindful pause.

The biggest lesson for me is that sometimes, stepping back can be the best way to move forward.

Have you ever taken an extended break from work or your regular routine to address life-work balance? What was your experience like, and what valuable lessons did you learn during your time off?