The Recharge Ritual: Why Stepping Away Moves Us Forward

In a world addicted to acceleration, taking a break might feel like you’re letting your team down, maybe even being rebellious. But here in Normandy, surrounded by quiet rhythms and unhurried 3-course €15 lunches, I’m reminded that doing less is not just about minimalism. It’s about recovery. It’s about honouring the pause that fuels the next chapter.

We’ve spent a lot of time in this part of the world in the last 13 years. It’s been my “happy place” where we have enjoyed family time as the children have grown amongst the tranquil pace of life. And I’ve been able to work effectively from these surroundings which brings balance when playing a leadership role in a business.

This reflection builds on something I wrote recently about growth through subtraction — “doing less, well.” It isn’t just a productivity mantra. It’s a leadership strategy. When we strip away noise and urgency, we make space for clarity. And clarity isn’t found in dashboards or meetings. It’s found in the silence between moments.

I once read a quote from a former exec who relocated to this region to run a leadership retreat: “There are places that restore you. For me, Normandy is where the noise stops and the thinking starts”.

Recharge isn’t always dramatic. It can be a walk, a proper coffee, a dinner with no digital interference (note: three children aged between 12 and 18 may have expressed differing views in the few days since we arrived!). But it demands one thing: intention. Intentional rest builds resilience. It rebuilds the scaffolding that our ideas, ambitions, and relationships rest on.

So if you’re chasing output and feeling a bit frayed at the edges, ask yourself: when did you last switch off to truly switch on? Here’s to the ritual of retreat — not as escape, but as strategy. Try it, you owe yourself a time to recharge and do the things you love. What might unlock your recharge function?