Travel and Perspectives

Going away may completely change your point of view

I had needed a break since 2010. I made the mistake that most entrepreneurs make — not taking breaks. Who needs breaks? Maybe I’ll take one when I die. And that’s how I powered through the next 5 years of my life. Not taking breaks, not going on holidays, not being away.

What ensued were minor episodes of feeling burnt out, and one major one of almost melting down altogether. Yes, you need a kind of insanity to even want to step out and chase your dreams, but at what cost? I’ve read numerous articles by startup superstars on just giving it all you’ve got to chase your dreams, but noone seems to really like talking about rest, or recharging and restoration.

I finally took the bold step of taking a fortnight-long holiday to London before persuing the next stage of my career. It was scary, almost, to unplug from life as I knew it for so long. Afterall, I haven’t taken a break for 5 years — close to 2,000 days! Thinking about it was almost an adventure in itself.

There will probably be a post dedicated to what I’ve reflected upon during my time there, but what I did learn from this trip is a deeper understanding of what I should be doing with my life, how I should be taking care of myself, and how to better cope with the expectations that my home culture and society places one me.

Suffering from an entire week of jetlag and post-holiday blues (cue: wishing I was anywhere else but back home) is another story for another day.