If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I consider breaks sacred time and space for refueling. For the past few summers, I’ve stepped away from recording new episodes of She Said/She Said Podcast and cut back on content creation.

That space isn’t a luxury: it’s fuel. (A mental shift I had to learn to make!) It’s when I recharge, push myself to think bigger, and let ideas percolate.

Every fall, I work intentionally to carry that clarity into my work, rather than letting it get swept up in the crush of to-dos the minute my out-of-office turns off.

Here are a few things that work for me and might help you, too.

1) Catch Those Vacation Sparks Before They Disappear
You know those brilliant thoughts you had on a walk or while relaxing by the pool? When you step away from routine, you trigger the incubation effect. Your brain quietly works on problems in the background while you’re doing something else. Research shows downtime triggers mind-wandering that can boost creativity when you return to a task.

You might think, “I’ll remember this idea.” But, if you’re anything like me… you won’t.

So capture ideas right away in a place you’ll actually check later. Cognitive scientists call this externalizing memory, essentially offloading ideas so your already busy brain doesn’t have to hold them all.

What to do:

  • Make a quick voice note on your phone.
  • Jot it in your notes app (use a simple tag like “#idea” so that you can search ideas together).
  • When you’re back at a desk, move everything into a single Idea Inbox (notebook or note). Date entries. Schedule a weekly Idea Review to flesh out what’s worth pursuing now vs. saving for later.

Think of it as beachcombing for ideas: gather first, sort later. The raw material you capture in the moment will often hit differently (and better) when you revisit it with fresh eyes.

2) Batch It or Lose It
I used to treat multitasking like a badge of honor. Turns out, it’s more like a slow leak in productivity. Research suggests frequent task-switching can cost a meaningful chunk of productive time — something like 40%! When we’re already stretched thin, that’s a big hit to developing and executing those great ideas.

Batching — the practice of grouping similar tasks — keeps your brain in the same “gear” longer and reduces mental fatigue.

Try this:

  • Theme your day: Morning = communication; Afternoon = admin/deep work.
  • Work in Pomodoro-style blocks (25 minutes on, 5 off). Use a timer.
  • Keep a “Later List” for the random thoughts that pop up so they don’t hijack your focus. The “Later List” is an especially important tool for me!

3) Let Small Wins Snowball
Harvard researchers Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer call this the “Progress Principle”: tiny steps on meaningful work fuel motivation. Why? Dopamine! It’s your brain’s way of saying, “More of this, please.”

How to do it:

  • Pick one or two micro-victories for your first morning back (unpack your bag, send that one important email, write two thank-you notes to summer hosts).
  • Celebrate it. I give myself a big check mark in my notebook, but some folks actually get a benefit from saying “Win!” Do what works for you!
  • Then stack the next smallest step and do that next. Keep stacking small, doable actions to build momentum, instead of jumping to something huge and overwhelming.

4) Keep It to the Big 3
Overwhelm often comes from too many decisions, not just too much to do. The Daily Big 3 helps you focus on what matters most today.

Steps:

  • Brain-dump everything that’s on your mind.
  • Circle your Big 3: the items with the closest deadline, the biggest ripple effect, or the non-negotiables. (Note: I also have a couple of bonus items identified in case I’m really cooking and plow through the top three quickly).
  • Time-block those three in your calendar (or on today’s notebook page).

If you have time/energy to do more — great! You can tackle those bonus items I mentioned above. But by focusing first on the Big 3 keeps you focused and less frazzled.

5) Give Yourself a Buffer
If you can, build in a Buffer Day between vacation and your official “first day back.” It’s a gentle ramp instead of a jarring cliff. Even a half day helps.

Ideas:

  • Restock essentials. I often place a quick pre-arrival grocery/delivery order to correspond with our arrival back.
  • At the very least, make the list in advance so you don’t expend mental energy later. It’s one less thing to think about when you’ll already have so much to do!
  • Take a leisurely walk and look for a few awe moments: sunlight through trees against a beautiful blue sky, the sunrise and its reflection on the water, a garden with your favorite flower.
  • Linger for a few seconds; snap a quick photo to savor later. Researchers call these “awe walks.” They are designed to pull you more fully into the moment and to boost your gratitude.
  • Review your Idea Inbox and set tomorrow’s Big 3.

Why All of This Matters
Breaks aren’t just nice, they’re essential. My summers off from podcasting and heavier content creation refuel my creative tank, keep me grounded, and give me real excitement to dive back in each fall. They’re also why I can show up for you with fresh ideas and renewed energy.

Whether you try one of these habits or all five, the goal is the same: keep that vacation clarity alive long after you’ve unpacked your bags.