One Thing I’m Learning About Rest and Momentum

I got back from holiday late last night. Well, 4:30 am this morning actually, after a delayed flight (storms over the Swiss Alps). Normally, today would be a video blog publishing day — but instead, here I am with a written version.

And that’s okay.

Because here’s what I’m learning: rest isn’t the opposite of momentum. It’s part of it.

Slowing down takes time

My holiday was in Dubrovnik — often called the jewel of the Adriatic — with its old stone city walls, cobbled streets, and those impossibly beautiful azure-blue waters of the Adriatic.

But here’s the honest bit: it actually took me two or three days to slow down. Not just in how quickly I walked (London habits die hard!), but mentally too. My brain was still scanning for the next task, the next thing to get done.

It was only when I finally decelerated — walking at the pace of the city, sitting by the harbour, watching the water — that I started to feel genuinely rested. Quietly, gently, relaxing into the moment.

And it turns out, there’s science behind this.

Rest isn’t weakness — it’s fuel

For years I believed that stopping meant slipping backwards. That if I wasn’t showing up, creating, or pushing forward, I was falling behind.

But here’s the truth I’m beginning to see: rest doesn’t kill momentum. It fuels it.

Psychologists even have a name for it — the “incubation effect.” When we step away, our brains keep working in the background. That’s why the best ideas often show up on a walk, in the shower, or while staring at the sea.

Rest is not a weakness. It’s a productivity strategy.

What rest really does:

• It gives perspective. When you’re in constant go-mode, everything feels urgent. Step back, and suddenly you can see what really matters.
• It builds trust. Pausing doesn’t make people forget you — if anything, it makes you more relatable. And it strengthens your own trust in yourself: that you don’t have to run on empty to keep things moving.
• It sustains momentum. We fear stopping will break our progress. But the real risk is burnout. Rest allows us to keep going for the long run.

What this means for me (and maybe you too)

So, this week there’s no video. Just this blog. Next week I’ll be back behind the camera, refreshed and re-energised, creating more videos.

And maybe that’s the bigger lesson: you don’t lose momentum when you pause. You lose it when you refuse to.

So if you’re running on empty right now, maybe the most productive thing you can do today is… stop.

✅ Reflection for you: When was the last time you pressed pause — and what changed when you came back?