I’m back!

Thank you to everyone who texted, commented, or shared thoughts on my six-month recap. I’m grateful for each of you.

Last week I spent time with my mom, dad, and brother’s family in Atlanta. It was a wonderful break catching up, watching my kids deepen their bond with their cousins, and stepping away from the usual day-to-day pressure.

That time gave me space to reflect on the future of this newsletter. Here’s where I landed. I’m keeping it going weekly. I love the process, I always learn something new, and consistency leads to growth. I may skip a week here and there, but that’s okay. I’m not going to put unnecessary pressure on myself.

At the heart of this I still get huge energy from helping others reach their career goals. That’s my mission: helping people and companies reach their full potential. And this newsletter is my favorite outlet for doing that outside of work.

One thing I haven’t enjoyed? The self-promotion treadmill, constantly posting on LinkedIn and asking for subscribers. It’s draining. So I’ve decided to care less about subscriber growth and focus on delivering (hopefully) high-quality content. If you want to tell a coworker, friend, or family member about The Clear-Eyed View I’d love it. But if not, no worries. You’re welcome to keep riding for free 😉 .

As for today’s topic, after my first week off, I couldn’t help but reflect on the power of taking breaks. Every time I do, I’m reminded just how much they’re worth it.

One Break Away From Your Best Idea

A few weeks ago, I did something I rarely do, and I’ve been missing out.

I had a light afternoon of meetings and decided to shut down early to head to the local park with my family. I was excited and anxious.

My heart wanted to be with my family. My overachieving brain wanted to power through my inbox, tackle next week’s deadlines, and clear my to-do list. Part of me believed that working longer would help me get more done. That’s what hard work means, right?

But something interesting happened.

As we wandered through the park, I felt the tension start to loosen. I let go of the unread emails, the to-do list, the difficult conversations waiting for me. I saw things more clearly. I cared a little less. I was more present.

And while I was collecting rocks for my kids to toss into a stream, a bigger boulder shifted in my mind. I suddenly saw a solution to a problem I’d been wrestling with all week, an approach I hadn’t even considered. I quickly jotted it down on my phone and went back to being present, even if my brain was still buzzing.

Later that night, after the kids went to bed, I spent 15 minutes fleshing out the idea. It turned into a real solution, one that saved me time, reduced stress, and helped move things forward at work.

Turns out, this isn’t random. It’s science.

Neuroscience shows that when we ease the pressure and allow our minds to wander, we unlock creativity and problem-solving. Taking breaks doesn’t just help us feel better; it helps us think better.

But here’s the hard truth. Most of us know this… and we still don’t do it.

So, how do you carve out meaningful breaks without letting work fall apart? Here are three practices that help me.