I just got back from two incredible weeks in Europe.
Slovakia. Hungary. Greece. Amsterdam.
It was everything I hoped it would be, sunshine, adventure, incredible food, family, belly laughs, long walks, late nights, and the kind of memories you wish you could bottle up forever.
But there was one thing I wasn’t expecting…
I got really… dumb.
Not “I forgot my passport” dumb (thankfully). More like, “What day is it?” “Where did I put my sunglasses?” “Wait… what were we talking about?” kind of dumb.
Honestly, my brain packed its bags before I did.
Around day three, it simply looked at me and said, “We’re closed. Please come back after vacation.”
And the best part?
I didn’t care.
As someone who spends most of her days coaching, speaking, creating content, running a business, managing accounts, and being a mom to three girls, my brain is usually operating at approximately 4,372 tabs open.
It’s constantly planning.
Problem-solving.
Remembering.
Scheduling.
Helping.
Leading.
It’s exhausting.
So when I finally gave it permission to stop… it stopped.
Completely.
Apparently, This Is What Wellness Actually Looks Like
We often think wellness is green smoothies, workouts, supplements, and getting eight hours of sleep.
Those things matter.
But there’s another kind of wellness that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough.
The wellness of not having to think.
For two weeks, nobody needed me to solve a problem.
No emails.
No deadlines.
No endless notifications.
No checking my calendar every fifteen minutes.
The biggest decision I had to make most days was…
“Where to next, and what pastry are we having for breakfast?”
My Nervous System Finally Exhaled
Here’s what fascinated me.
What felt like becoming less productive was actually my nervous system moving out of survival mode.
When we’re constantly producing, planning, and juggling responsibilities, our brains stay in a high-alert state. It’s efficient, but it’s also exhausting.
Travel interrupts that pattern.
Every new street.
Every different language.
Every sunset.
Every café.
Every unfamiliar view.
Instead of scanning for problems, your brain starts looking for experiences.
And that’s incredibly healing.
Research shows that new environments stimulate different neural pathways while reducing the repetitive stress loops our brains get stuck in at home. Add sunshine, movement, meaningful connection, laughter, and quality sleep, and you’ve created the perfect recipe for recovery.
No wonder I forgot what day it was.
My brain had more important things to do…
Like admire the blue water in Greece. And take in the incredible architecture of Budapest.
My Body Was Recalibrating Too
It wasn’t just my mind that changed.
I slept deeper.
I laughed more.
I walked for hours without calling it cardio.
I ate slowly instead of standing over the kitchen counter.
I wasn’t constantly thinking about the next thing.
For the first time in a long time…
I was simply where my feet were.
That’s something we’re not very good at anymore.
We’re always mentally living two meetings ahead, three errands ahead, or six months into the future.
But travel has this beautiful way of pulling you back into the present.
And the body loves the present.
When stress hormones begin to settle, digestion improves. Sleep becomes more restorative. Energy feels steadier. Your muscles relax. Your breathing slows.
It’s almost like your body whispers,
“Finally… I thought you’d never give me a break.”
Coming Home Was a Reality Check
Then I came home.
Within about 24 hours, my brain remembered who she was.
Bills.
Laundry.
Emails.
Calendars.
Groceries.
Work.
The tabs reopened one by one.
But something felt different.
I realized just how loud my everyday life had become.
Because once you’ve experienced true mental quiet, you can’t ignore how much noise you’ve been carrying.
Here’s What I’m Taking With Me
This trip reminded me that wellness isn’t always about adding more habits.
Sometimes it’s about removing the pressure.
Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do isn’t another workout.
It’s watching a sunset.
Laughing until your stomach hurts.
Getting lost in a city you’ve never visited.
Sharing meals that last three hours.
Putting your phone away.
Letting your brain wander instead of making it perform.
As high-achieving women, we wear our busy schedules like a badge of honour.
We celebrate productivity.
We reward hustle.
We convince ourselves we’ll rest once everything is done.
Spoiler alert…
Everything is never done.
Your brain wasn’t designed to operate at full speed every single day.
It needs seasons of recovery just as much as your body does.
So yes…
For two weeks, I became a little forgetful.
A little slower.
A little less efficient.
And honestly?
I’ve never felt healthier.
Turns out, my brain needed a holiday too.
Maybe yours does as well.
**Full Disclosure: This did not apply to my 22 year old daughter. She was my travel guide, my problem solver, and overall navigator. Her brain went into detail mode and it was fueled with direction and adventure!