"Rest to Recharge: Might Doing ‘Nothing’ Be the Most Productive Thing We Can Do This Summer?”

I’m not going to write about public speaking coaching/pitch techniques today, client relationship coaching, leadership, crisis, communication, soft skills, MC Coaching and hosting, or new tech. I’m going to do the opposite.

As I glance at the date on my Mac, I realise with some disbelief that it's already July 30th. The summer has crept up quietly, almost unnoticed. I live just northwest of Paris, and here, the next three weeks are about to slow right down — as they do every year. And it's not just a French tradition; in many cultures, including China, the value of taking time off during summer is well recognised.

But for freelancers and small business owners like me, it takes a leap of faith to “down tools” and not actively push forward. There’s that constant pressure to “keep up.” Especially when you're working across time zones and with cultures that don’t take much of a summer break, the urge to stay visible, productive — relevant — is real. I mean, look at me: I’m writing an article telling you to rest… instead of resting.

In 2025, doing nothing feels risky

We're so conditioned to perform that even resting feels like slacking off. But what if stepping back was exactly what your creativity, leadership, and long-term output needed? What if doing nothing was the best strategy? It takes a leap of faith by having faith in the certainty of our efforts. increasing the certainty of a prosperous future by giving ourselves the license to pause.

Rest isn’t lazy-it’s strategic.

Studies in both neuroscience and psychology have shown rest is essential for our cognitive function, emotional stability and mental health. Not resting will increase cortisol levels, and the idea of starting the autumn with a half-full or even an empty cup does not seem to me at the time of writing to be a good idea.

“You can’t pour from an empty cup “ according to Norm Kelly, a retired Canadian politician.

So for those of you running on fumes, trust in yourself that you will hit the ground running end of summer, trust in the universe that taking a balanced approach will reward you in the long run. It might be the best investment you make all year.

So, how do we know we need the rest? Here’s a checklist of ‘I need to check out’ symptoms:

How Do You Know It’s Time to Rest?

Here’s a quick self-check:

• You’re struggling to concentrate

• You’re easily distracted

• You’re reactive instead of intentional

• Work hasn’t been fun lately

• You’re not sleeping well

  
  

If you checked 4 or 5 of these… yep. Time to check out.

What Does 'Doing Nothing' Actually Mean?

Let’s be clear — I don’t mean lying in bed for three weeks. Resting strategically means refocusing energy away from work and toward the parts of life that don’t get much attention during the year.

You’ve probably heard this advice:

• Detox

• Change your diet

• Get outdoors

• Soak in 10 minutes of sunshine

• Go swimming, hiking, running

All good things. But really, the message is this:

Do anything, anything at all, except work. Read books. Take the long walks. Doze off. Take a different kind of risk with reward and rest. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

As for me, it’s time to dive back into that detective novel about the policewoman solving crimes with her AI chatbot.

Happy summer. See you in September.