Why Time Away Makes Us Better Leaders

Most leaders wait until they’re exhausted to step away.

By then, clarity is cloudy. Patience is thin. Creativity feels out of reach.

We promise ourselves we’ll rest “after this project” or “once things slow down.” And yet, things rarely slow down on their own.

Recently, I took a week off to go to Sedona, Arizona, to celebrate a friend’s birthday with four incredible women—all of whom had never met before. We began as strangers and quickly connected through laughter, meaningful conversation, and shared experiences.

I even traveled without my laptop.

That brought up more resistance—and even some anxiety—than I expected. Working for myself, and being able to work from anywhere, means I technically can stay connected at all times. But I knew that if I was truly going to step away, to rest and recharge, I needed to fully step away.

Once I allowed myself to disconnect, I could feel the shift begin.

New places. New people. New perspectives.

The warm sun and towering red rocks were a stark contrast to winter in New Hampshire. The shift wasn’t just visual. My nervous system settled. My breathing slowed. My thinking became clearer.

That space gave me perspective I didn’t realize I had been missing.

When we remove ourselves from the constant pace of responsibility, something resets. Time away supports mental clarity, emotional steadiness, physical restoration, and spiritual connection. It gives us room to reflect and reconnect with what truly matters.

For high-performing professionals, this isn’t indulgent—it’s strategic.

The best leaders understand the power of the pause. Clarity doesn’t come from pushing harder. Empathy is difficult to access when we’re depleted. Creativity rarely emerges from exhaustion.

Time away fuels perspective, presence, emotional intelligence, and thoughtful decision-making—the very qualities that make leadership effective and sustainable.

Sustainable leadership isn’t about doing more. It’s about managing your energy and capacity so you can lead well for the long haul. It’s about building intentional rhythms of renewal so you don’t have to wait until burnout forces you to stop.

Stepping outside the familiar stretches us. Being in new environments and with new people expands our thinking and strengthens our confidence in navigating uncertainty.

And that expansion changes how we lead.

When we care for ourselves, we return more grounded, more intentional, and more connected to those we serve—and ourselves.

Renewal isn’t separate from leadership. It’s part of it. When we build intentional pauses into our lives, we create the foundation for leadership that is not only effective—but sustainable.

When was the last time you truly stepped away?