Pause: Read This Before Your Holiday OOO Starts
This week, I was talking with a client who paused mid-conversation, not to discuss deliverables or deadlines but to check in on me.
We’ve been doing a lot of deep, foundational work together to rebuild the core of an organization that provides critical, direct support. So when I mentioned the administrative tasks I planned to catch up on over the holiday season, she asked me, very directly, “When do you plan to rest?”
That generous question stopped me for a moment.
It got me thinking about the power of rest and the culture of longevity I hope we’ve built for our team, and the systems-level work we try to bring into every partnership. Both may be true, but I also know often, leaders take care of everyone but themselves.
So as the year winds down, it feels important to underscore a truth we treat as optional far too often- sustained impact depends on rest. Not as a cure for burnout after it’s already arrived, but as a foundational part of how effective leaders and organizations operate.
Why Rest Matters
The evidence is clear and well-documented.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that inadequate rest creates cognitive impairments comparable to working under the influence, directly affecting decision-making and problem-solving.
Peer-reviewed studies in the Journal of Applied Psychology and Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes show that rest boosts strategic thinking, creativity, and emotional regulation.
And the data keeps going:
Rest is not a pause in performance; it is a prerequisite for it.
The U.S. Travel Association reports that people who actually use their paid time off are more likely to receive promotions and raises. (Maybe not the gold standard of research, but still interesting!)
Productivity comparisons from the OECD consistently show that countries with more protected vacation time outperform those where rest is deprioritized.
Rest is not only about stepping back. It is also about who you spend that time with.
An analysis in Health Psychology Review identifies social support as one of the strongest predictors of resilience and recovery. Being with the people who restore you materially improves emotional stability, cognitive performance, and long-term well-being. Seems pretty, pretty good.
Looking Toward 2026
The year ahead will bring complexity and change. That is inevitable. But entering that landscape exhausted is not a strategy. Entering it restored, grounded, and supported is. We need you. We need you now, next year, and in the years beyond.
Take the time.
Disconnect where you can.
Prioritize recovery.
Surround yourself with the people who bring you back to center.
Treat rest as part of the work, because it is.
And if we can support you in the new year, reach out anytime.
Well… maybe after we all get some collective rest.
