1. Three Years of Self-Employment – Without a Break, but in Balance
It’s been almost three years since I started my own executive search boutique - and I haven’t taken a traditional vacation since. No two weeks of complete offline time, no automatic “out of office.”
And yet, I don’t feel exhausted - quite the opposite.
I feel rested, capable, and content. Not because I work less, but because I live work and rest differently.
2. My Principle: No Separation Between Work and Life
I no longer plan according to the pattern of “work now, live later.”
I work when the energy is there - and take breaks when they’re needed. Sometimes that means full days of interviews, conversations, and analysis. Then again, there are days when I deliberately slow down and only handle the essentials.
I don’t let things pile up - even small tasks are handled immediately. That creates lightness. Nothing accumulates, nothing weighs on me. In this way, recovery becomes something that happens every day - not only on vacation.
3. Two Places, Two Rhythms
I work from both Hamburg and Barcelona - and I’ve come to realize how differently work can feel depending on the environment.
In Spain, recovery comes almost naturally: two hours on the beach in the evening, dinner outside with friends, the light, the warmth - all of it restores energy without any conscious effort to “switch off.”
In Hamburg, the rhythm is more structured - but also clearer and more focused. The combination works perfectly for me: energy and structure, sunshine and concentration.
4. The Past: Working Toward Exhaustion
But I also know the opposite. In an earlier stage of my career, I worked 400 kilometers from where I lived, kept a second apartment, and spent every week on the highway. Remote work wasn’t yet a thing - presence was mandatory.
The weeks were long, the evenings empty. And when the weekend finally came, there was barely enough time to recharge. I waited for my next vacation just to feel like myself again.
Today, I know: I never want to work - or live - like that again.
5. A Lifestyle That’s Not for Everyone – But Worth Reflecting On
I’m aware that my current lifestyle is a privilege. Not everyone can work this flexibly - and not everyone wants to. Those with families, large teams, or jobs that demand fixed routines can’t simply redesign their day-to-day lives.
But regardless of one’s situation, I believe everyone can find ways to stay consistently energized - without relying on the next vacation. Not by working less, but by living more consciously, prioritizing, and letting go.
6. My Recommandation
When was the last time you truly felt rested - not because you had time off, but because you made space for yourself?
What in your daily routine gives you energy - and what drains it?
And how would your ideal rhythm look if you could design it completely yourself?
Work and rest are not opposites. When they align, you don’t need time off - just awareness.
