What it Takes to Take a Break | Episode 308

There’s a small problem with taking a carefully planned podcast break: apparently you have to do a whole lot of work first. You were on break from Getting to Good Enough in August. We were not. We recorded and edited and scheduled episodes so Shannon can actually disappear for more than three weeks in September—without a computer—while Janine gets to enjoy a break from podcasting in the comfort of her apartment. From there, we wander through northern lights, unexpectedly expensive rustic accommodations, strategically scheduling the relaxing part of a vacation at the end, and the very sensible idea of leaving a bit of time to catch up before returning to real life. It leads to the less relaxing question: what happens when you step away from something long enough that you worry you’ll forget how to do it? What We Talk About: 01:57 Why planned breaks were part of bringing the podcast back 02:43 Staying off the hamster wheel—and keeping the podcast fun 03:30 What an actual vacation looks like when you’re self-employed 04:46 Doing a lot of work now so you can really stop working later 05:20 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, northern lights, and some pricey “roughing it” 07:49 Ending a trip somewhere relaxing so you don’t need a vacation after your vacation 13:26 The slightly unnerving side of stepping away for a while 14:42 Writing things down so Future You doesn’t have to remember everything Key Takeaways: • A real break sometimes requires a very busy stretch beforehand. • “We only do it if it’s fun” is still a useful measure for the podcast—and one reason taking breaks matters. • A buffer around a break helps: time to settle into being away, and time to settle back in when you return. • Worrying about what might happen while you’re gone doesn’t necessarily mean the break is a bad idea. • Writing down a process is useful before you need the instructions—and checking the instructions while you’re doing the thing is the best reality check. The Bottom Line: Taking a break sounds restful. Preparing to take one? Not necessarily. But we keep coming back to the same thing that has guided the podcast since 2018: if it stops being fun, something needs to change. This time, the change is a planned break, some real time away, and a little room around the edges for reentry. There are still nerves about stepping away, but there are also notes, backup plans, and some real-time documentation. And if Shannon almost forgot the tagline before the break even started, perhaps updating those podcast instructions really is a good idea. Want More Like This? Episode 100: Our 100th Episode! Episode 150: Creating Helpful Work Boundaries Episode 183: Taking a Break Subscribe for more conversations about letting go of perfectionism so you can do more of what you love.