We’ve all heard some version of the same advice before – take a break, you’ll come back stronger.
And I do believe that’s true. But only if we’re talking about the long run.
In the short run, there are a few realities that nobody really talks about.
The first is that you will lose momentum.
When I came back from my vacation, the numbers reflected it immediately. The channel had slowed down. Newsletter growth had stalled. Website traffic wasn’t moving the way it used to. None of this was shocking, but it was a reminder that momentum is a real thing. When you stop pushing, things slow down.
The second thing I noticed was that you have to rebuild the habit.
Before the break, recording videos had become second nature. I would switch on the camera and start talking. After a few weeks away, it felt unfamiliar again. Not difficult, just strange. Almost like I was getting started for the first time.
The third lesson was around teams.
While you’re away, your team continues to move. Priorities change, new discussions happen, and people find their own rhythm. When you come back, there is always a period of realignment before everyone starts moving together again. It’s not a bad thing, it’s simply the cost of stepping away.
And finally, something I wasn’t expecting.
New ideas suddenly become much more attractive.
The project you’ve been working on for months starts feeling boring. The new idea feels exciting. The new opportunity looks bigger. The temptation to switch becomes surprisingly strong because you’ve lost the emotional connection that came from working on something every day.
I’m not sharing any of this to discourage you from taking a break.
In fact, I think breaks are necessary.
But I do think it’s useful to know what to expect when you return. Not so you can avoid these things, but so you don’t mistake them for failure.
One thought that helped me through all this was something I’ve realized over the past year.
We live in an attention economy, and it’s very easy to think people will forget you if you disappear for a while.
The funny thing is, they do.
But they also forget your mistakes.
That post you were embarrassed to publish. The video that flopped. The launch that didn’t work. Most people move on far quicker than we imagine.
There’s something freeing about that realization.
So if you need a break, take it.
Just don’t be surprised if the first few weeks after coming back are spent rebuilding momentum rather than enjoying it.
See you guys next week.
– Lakshmanan