Picture this. You’re on a sun lounger, a book in one hand, something cold in the other, with the rhythmic sound of waves or cicadas in the background. The temperature is perfect, your phone is on silent, and for once there’s no one asking you to “just sign this off quickly.” You can feel your shoulders drop a little further with every passing minute.
And yet – like a stray lilo drifting into view – thoughts about your business keep floating into your mind.
You might try to bat them away. After all, you’re meant to be on holiday (and isn’t that what the mindfulness guidance tells you to do??). But here’s the thing: those thoughts aren’t the same as the frantic, reactive chatter of a Tuesday morning at your desk. They’re softer. Bigger picture. Often more creative. And that’s because when we step away from the day-to-day, our brains finally have the breathing space to do some of their best work.
Why rest works harder than you think
We’re conditioned to believe that productivity equals activity. If we’re not sending emails, chairing meetings, or crossing things off the to-do list, we’re somehow slacking. But science tells a different story.
When we’re not laser-focused on a specific task, our brain’s “default mode network” comes online. This is the part that helps us connect seemingly unrelated dots, imagine new possibilities, and see challenges in a fresh light. That’s why some of your most brilliant ideas have probably appeared in the shower, during a long run, or while you’re pottering about in the garden.
On holiday, you’re giving that network the perfect conditions to operate: no deadlines, fewer distractions, and ideally, a bit of sunshine. You’re relaxed enough to see the wood for the trees — which is precisely when the strategic stuff bubbles up.
The poolside problem list
Time away has a knack for revealing what’s really niggling you about your business. Maybe you suddenly realise you’ve been carrying the weight of one underperforming hire for far too long. Or perhaps you see, with fresh eyes, that a convoluted process is wasting your team’s time.
The trick is not to go into full “solution mode” while you’re meant to be unwinding. Instead, keep a small notebook or use the Notes app on your phone to capture the thought. Just a few bullet points will do — enough to jog your memory later. This approach means you can acknowledge the idea without letting it drag you back into work mode.
Over the course of a week away, you may spot patterns in these notes. If the same issue surfaces three times while you’re floating in the pool, it’s probably something worth addressing when you’re home.
Strategic thinking beats firefighting
At home, it’s easy to slip into firefighting mode. You’re dealing with whatever’s loudest or most urgent. But on holiday, you’ve accidentally put yourself into strategy mode.
Instead of “How do I get through today?” you start thinking “Where do I want to be next year?” You might notice bottlenecks to growth — often involving you personally — or start imagining what the team could achieve if you stepped back from certain operational tasks.
This is gold dust for any founder. It’s almost impossible to create that kind of headspace in the middle of your usual schedule, no matter how many productivity hacks you try.
The “don’t-do” list
One of the most powerful outputs from a holiday is not another long to-do list, but a “don’t -do” list. This can be surprisingly liberating.
Think about:
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The meeting that adds nothing to anyone’s week.
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The client who drains your energy and your team’s morale.
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The side project that’s been limping along, consuming time without real return.
Holidays give you clarity about what really matters. Use that perspective to edit ruthlessly. Sometimes, growth isn’t about adding more — it’s about stripping away the things that slow you down.
Bringing it back to shore
The genius of doing nothing doesn’t just happen on holiday — it’s in what you choose to do differently afterwards. That’s the real trick.
Before the tide of emails washes away your poolside clarity, block out an hour in your first week back. Revisit your notes. Look for the issues or ideas that came up more than once. Decide which are worth acting on now, which can wait, and — importantly — which can be delegated entirely.
Turn one or two of your clearest holiday insights into concrete next steps. For example, if you realised your onboarding process is clunky, book time in September to review it with your team. If you spotted a dependency on a single team member, plan how you can cross-train others.
A word on balance
Rest doesn’t just give you better ideas — it models healthy behaviour for your team. If they see you taking genuine breaks, they’re more likely to believe it’s okay for them to do the same. This can make a tangible difference to morale, energy and retention.
And while you might not be able to live life permanently on a sun lounger, you can recreate moments of that headspace throughout the year. Protect thinking time in your diary. Step away from the screen. Give yourself room to pause before deciding.
Because while you’ll be back at your desk soon enough, a little of that poolside perspective can — and should — stay with you.
📩 Drop us a line or book a call here to discuss how we can help lift somethings off your plate.
You can find us a line at hello@thehrhub.co.uk or call 0203 627 7048
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