You made it: The project is handed in, the out-of-office reply is on. Your suitcase is packed, your inbox (almost) cleared.

You’ve earned this break – in every sense of the word. And yet, now that you have time, something feels off. Your body’s in holiday mode. But your mind? Still stuck in hustle.

Why you struggle to switch off

If you’re a high-achieving woman, a leader, someone who thrives on growth – you’re not alone. Many career-driven women and men report that true rest feels foreign. Even in their most well-deserved holidays. 

Why? Because we’ve been trained to equate our worth with productivity.
To feel valuable only when we’re achieving, delivering, performing. No wonder real rest feels unfamiliar. No wonder switching off is harder than any meeting you’ve just survived.

But think about this:
The very stress you’ve been under makes rest not just important. It makes rest essential. And learning how to actually do nothing might be the most transformative thing you do all summer.

Rest is not a reward. It’s a precondition for sustainable success.

Let’s start with a truth that feels radical in a productivity-obsessed culture:
Rest is not what you earn after you’ve done enough. It’s what allows you to lead, create, and grow at your highest level.

Our brains, brilliant as they are, aren’t designed to be “on” 24/7. Neurologically, we need downtime to consolidate memories, process emotions, and replenish our capacity to focus. Without rest, even simple tasks become harder. Our creativity drops. Our mood tanks. Decision fatigue creeps in.

In short: Without real recovery, we’re not high performers – we’re just tired.

So what counts as real rest?

Scrolling LinkedIn in a sun lounger is not rest. Bingeing a leadership podcast while checking emails is not rest. Even lying on a beach – if your mind is replaying next quarter’s projects – is not rest.

Real rest is something else entirely:

It’s being present.
It’s giving your mind permission to wander without direction.
It’s doing something so simple, so delightfully unproductive, that your nervous system finally lets go.

The neuroscience behind mental recovery

Neuroscience backs this up: the default mode network – your brain’s backstage team – only activates when you’re not focused on any task.

This is the space where creativity brews, emotional clarity surfaces and strategic insights arise. The kind no meeting could deliver.

As a woman (or man) in business, you need this mental space not despite your ambition, but because of it.

Want a happy brain? Here are 3 things to stop doing on your vacation

If you want to return recharged, there are a few things you should not do. It may be a little difficult in the first days, but it gets easier day by day. Fore sure. And yes, I know what I’m talking about. I used to pack a To-Do relaxation list for my holidays with a lot of lovely things – until they became just another performance of productivity.

1. Don’t check work emails “just in case.”
   Even if you’re just “quickly checking.” Your brain doesn’t know the difference between real work and anticipated work – it stays in alert mode either way.
2. Don’t over-structure your time off.
   A hyper-planned itinerary is just a to-do list with prettier views. Leave space for spontaneity.
3. Don’t try to be “productive” about relaxing.
   Meditation apps, yoga routines, journaling prompts – they can all be beautiful. But only if they feel nourishing, not like another item on the list.

Instead, try these science-backed – and pleasantly simple – ways to truly recharge:

1. Let your thoughts drift. No podcast and no agenda. Just you and a park bench.
2. Engage your senses. Swim. Smell fresh fruit. Feel the sun on your skin. Sensory input grounds us in the now.
3. Nap guilt-free. Science says even 10–20 minutes improves mood, memory, and focus. CEOs nap. So can you.
4. Move slowly. Not for calories or for steps. Just to feel alive in your body.
5. Stare into space. Yes, literally. Looking at distant horizons relaxes the eyes and the nervous system.

But what if rest feels still restless?

There’s the rub.
Many of us are so wired for “go” that “stop” feels like failure. If you’re used to solving, leading, achieving – doing nothing can feel uncomfortable.

But that discomfort isn’t failure. It’s your nervous system recalibrating. It’s the noise leaving your body.

Internalise: Rest isn’t the opposite of growth. It’s part of it!

When you rest well, you return different: Clearer. Calmer. More creative. Ready to lead again – from a place of inner steadiness.

And that’s not indulgence. That’s leadership.

So just try to start with one micro-moment of real rest: One walk without purpose. One hour with your phone off. One deep exhale with no goal. Let the summer air do its magic. And you’ll automatically make space for new success.

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