Put yourself in the sand — but not your head 😉

While many of you are soon about to head into your summer break, I’ve just returned from mine.

Feet in the sand, body grounded — and most importantly: head not buried in it.
(You know, in German we say „den Kopf in den Sand stecken“ — but no, that’s not what I did.)

Instead, I left LinkedIn and emails aside.
I allowed myself to unplug. To just be.

And, as always, it wasn’t as easy as it sounds.

At the beginning, I struggled to fully arrive.
It felt unfamiliar, almost irritating.
A new voice emerged inside me, whispering:
«Hmm… this isn’t quite working yet. What am I here to learn?»

What I realised is this:
In stepping into my new chapter as a self-employed coach and leader, I had left behind many of the practices and rituals that had supported me so well last year.
I told myself I didn’t need them anymore.
I had arrived. I was doing the work I love.

But I was wrong.

I still need time to slow down before I switch off.
I still need to clear the mental clutter before I can be present.
I still need my small rituals — the ones that help me land, arrive, and let go.

And once I gave myself that — I could really be there.

Be in the moment.
Be with my family.
Be with myself.

There was a lot I got to celebrate in this break, when I came to realise the above:

💛 My husband and I had deep, honest conversations about what we each need in this season of life — and we made conscious and important decisions for the holidays.
👣 I spent quality time with our son, friends, and even reconnected with my leadership peers from the program in Lisbon. That brought a sense of integration.
🌱 Most of all, I felt I was truly living my values: connection, simplicity, authenticity, and presence.

So, if you’re heading into your holiday:
I invite you to check in with yourself:

✨ What do you really need — to rest, to feel joy, to be you?
🧹 What still needs clearing, finishing, or letting go — before you can truly arrive?
🌊 And what practices might help you be instead of do?

It’s not about the perfect vacation.
It’s about creating space — for presence, for softness, for real connection.

It’s worth it. You’re worth it.