Welcome to this week’s edition of Career Catalyst.
"The best way to predict the future is to create it. But you can’t create it if you’re running on empty." – Peter Drucker
Port de Pollença, Mallorca, Spain
As you can see from the photo above - last week I took a break.
I spent a week in Mallorca bumbling around Palma and the rest of the island with my wife.
We had a rough idea of things we would do, but in the end, we didn’t want to cram every day full of sightseeing activities. We wanted to see what would happen.
The plan was not to have a plan.
After a day or two, I realized how sweet this sort of time is. Getting away and taking a break. Spending unstructured time together. Talking about our dreams for the future and how to make them happen.
I believe we all need this kind of downtime. It allows us to escape the cycle of "busyness" and the constant demands of others. It gives us space to reflect on the "why" of our lives. It allows us to dream big. It gives us the chance to course-correct if needed.
If you’re always running, always producing, always pushing forward—at some point, you’ll burn out.
Think of yourself as the goose that lays golden eggs. If you don’t take care of yourself, your ability to create, to think, to lead, and to perform will suffer.
How do you know if you need a break or at least a change? Ask yourself:
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When was the last time I had time to think without distractions?
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Do I often feel overwhelmed or exhausted?
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Am I making decisions reactively rather than proactively?
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Do I feel stuck in a routine that’s draining rather than energizing?
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Have I lost sight of my bigger goals because I’m too caught up in the day-to-day?
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Do I struggle to be present in conversations or feel impatient with those around me?
If you answered “yes” to any of these, it might be time to step back and create space for yourself.
When was the last time you took a break? A real break that gave you space to just exist, to be creative, rather than constantly being busy?
If you haven’t taken one in a while, consider this your invitation. Step away, even briefly. Your future self—and your golden eggs—will thank you.
Thanks for reading. If you have an interesting insight feel free to share it in the comments section.
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