Why Breaks Heal More Than You Think
There’s something about landing at Broome Airport and witnessing the wide-open landscapes, the colours that shift from deep red pindan (the red, sandy soil of the Kimberly) to turquoise oceans, and the endless sky above it all that creates a spaciousness that you just can’t replicate in the busyness of daily life. It feels like medicine for the soul.
I recently took a much-needed holiday to Broome. It was like a homecoming as I used to live there in 1999 for a 3-month secondment from my job in Perth. This was a chance to exhale – and it reminded me of something I know deep down but sometimes forget: the absolute necessity of taking breaks. Not just the big ones like a holiday, but also the tiny pauses woven into the everyday.
Both matter. Both heal. And both are essential if we want to live with energy, joy, and presence.
The Everyday Pause
In everyday life, it’s easy to fall into the cycle of “go, go, go.” School runs, emails, work deadlines, cooking, cleaning, and family responsibilities, the never ending to do list, often leave little space for us. But the truth is, even the smallest break can reset your body and mind.
Daily pauses without your phone could be as simple as:
Sitting outside with your morning tea and feeling the sun on your skin – hello Vitamin D.
Taking a short walk to clear your head.
A few deep breaths before picking up the kids – a mini reset of roles.
Closing your eyes and stretching for 2 minutes between tasks.
These little pauses soothe your nervous system and remind your body it’s safe to relax. They bring clarity, calm, and often a renewed burst of energy.
On my trip, even though it was a bigger break, I kept these small pauses alive – letting myself sit in silence while watching the ocean, reading a book in the middle of the day, or simply lying on the sand with no agenda. And it was in those little moments that I felt my whole being soften.
The Longer Break
Then there are the big breaks – the ones that take you away from the everyday grind and allow you to completely reset. It was crazy busy before we left Sydney…busy with 1:1 clients in my Maroubra clinic, an elaborate surprise 70th birthday which included my husband’s daughters flying in from Queensland and family gatherings. I held Whispers of Air Women Circle on Thursday night before we flew out to Perth at 6am on the Friday, yep up at 4am!
Once in Perth it was more connecting to friends and parties. Each one wonderful but tiring and constant. Broome gave me the gift of slowing down, of experiencing things I don’t normally make space for, and of remembering what it feels like to truly live in the moment.
Here’s what that looked like for me:
Enjoying meals and drinks, not rushing but really savouring, reminding myself how much joy there is in slowing down around the table.
Sunshine and long walks, letting nature do her healing work while I reconnected to my body and mother earth.
Sleeping in and going to bed early, giving myself full permission to rest without guilt.
Whale watching and kayaking, those planned activities that pulled me into awe, wonder, and play.
Spontaneous adventures, because sometimes the best memories come from the unplanned moments.
Markets and chatting to strangers, making connections with people I’ll probably never see again but who reminded me of the beauty of human interaction.
Quiet time for myself – reading, sunbathing, swimming, resting – tuning into what I needed in the moment rather than what I “should” be doing.
Doing something out of the norm, a nudie beach for a swim and a sunbake – feeling the freedom and exhilaration of total exposure!
Each of these moments was a form of therapy in its own right. They reminded me of the power of play, the magic of spontaneity, the nourishment of connection, and the importance of solitude. They were more than holiday activities – they were lessons in how to live with more presence and joy.
Why This Matters
Here’s the truth: our bodies, minds, and hearts are not built to be in constant “doing” mode. We need rhythm. We are the essence of Yin and Yang; Being and Doing. We need action AND rest, work and play, focus and freedom.
Taking breaks – whether small daily pauses or bigger adventures – restores that rhythm. They help us process emotions, reduce stress, boost creativity, and reconnect with what really matters to us.
And often, it’s in the breaks that we find clarity. That nagging problem suddenly looks simpler. That big decision feels less overwhelming. That constant tension in your body starts to ease.
You gently return home to yourself and even just for a moment the rushing and doing steps aside and you can simply BE.
The Moral of the Story
If there’s one thing my Sydney–Perth–Broome adventure reminded me, it’s this: breaks are not a luxury, they’re essential.
I realised something big while I was away: I am not my business, my home, or even my family. All of those can run beautifully without me. And that’s liberating. It’s not only okay to put my needs first – it’s necessary. To rest. To move. To sleep. To do nothing. Or to do everything. To choose what feels good in the moment.
The key is listening. My body whispers through subtle sensations and feelings, always guiding me towards what I need right now. The real question is: will I make space for stillness so I can truly hear that language? And then, will I honour it – guilt-free, with my authentic self leading the way?
This time away healed me more deeply than I expected because I actually slowed down, stopped, and listened. And then I gave myself exactly what I needed – unapologetically, embracing every part of me and loving each moment.
Our culture often glorifies “pushing through.” Being busy. Achieving more. Juggling everything at once. But here’s the truth: pushing comes at a cost – burnout, exhaustion, disconnection from yourself and the people you love.
When you pause, you don’t fall behind. You return stronger. You come back with more energy, creativity, patience, and love.
So don’t wait until you’re depleted to stop. Gift yourself the small daily pauses and the bigger, soul-nourishing breaks. Your body will thank you. Your mind will thank you. And your spirit? She’ll absolutely shine.
Because life isn’t about how much we get done. It’s about how deeply we feel while we’re living it. Life is meant to be lived from the perspective of “Better Feeling”, not just feeling better.
✨ So today, I invite you: take a pause. Book that trip. Read the book. Sit in the sun. Have the conversation. Try something out of the norm. Because these are not distractions from life – they are life.
From my Heart to Yours
Zoe x