How a holiday can kickstart your next step

Did you know that the mood boost from a holiday can last up to 43 days after you return? That extended glow isn’t magic. It’s what happens when you finally step off the hamster‑wheel and give yourself permission to rest, reflect, and reset.

When school’s out and the summer holidays begin, many of us trade our daily routine for new scenery. Whether you’re poolside, on a staycation, or halfway across the world, those first few days free from “must‑do” lists do more than help you unwind. They give your brain the space it desperately needs to surface what really matters. While that's great --- what happens when September and October rolls around? Old patterns emerge, insecurities resurface and you're back to square one.

Imagine instead taking a deliberate pause. You notice a pattern: every annual review has you second‑guessing your worth. Or every project kickoff has you terrified of presenting your ideas. In that gap between stimulus and reaction lies your power. Coaching creates that gap. It helps you unpack where the fear came from: perhaps a childhood lesson in playing it safe, a critique you never forgot, passed over for a promotion.

One client I worked with recently had taken an early summer break. A fortnight before she went away, a dream job landed on LinkedIn. But she didn't apply. Something was holding her back. So what was that? It bugged her during her holiday - with time to reflect, she couldn't quite put her finger on it. During our session, she traced her hesitation back to a single comment she’d received from a boss in a previous job: a throwaway remark stored deep within, never giving herself the chance to a) assess whether it was true and b) unpack the intention behind it. Once she questioned both during our coaching, everything shifted.

Suddenly this comment was worthless. First, we found it to be false. By unwrapping that remark with cold, hard facts - her performance reviews, her successful projects, the candid feedback from trusted peers - it became clear it had no basis in reality. Second, when we explored intention, she realised the comment wasn’t meant to undermine her; it was a poorly phrased attempt at constructive feedback by someone else’s standards, not hers. Once she saw that, the comment lost its power and she reclaimed her confidence.

With that barrier gone, she drafted and submitted an application for another role she had wanted, fully owning her skills and potential. A few weeks later, she celebrated an offer, all because she paused, examined a lingering fear, and chose a new narrative.

This holiday period is the perfect laboratory for your own self‑experiment. As you sip that cocktail by the sea or watch your kids build sandcastles, ask yourself: what have I been avoiding out of fear? What conversation, career step, or bold idea have I postponed until “conditions are perfect”? And most importantly: what might happen if I treated that fear as data, not destiny?

If you’re ready to use this summer’s pause for more than a tan - if you want to turn downtime into real insight - let’s talk. I guide leaders and professionals through exactly this process, turning whispered doubts into clear direction. Contact me now and let's unlock your potential.

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