Our annual Virtual Summit wrapped up yesterday.

To be honest… I’m running on equal parts exhilaration and sheer exhaustion

For the past two months, I’ve been working flat out.

Seven days a week.

All the planning, rehearsals and endless checklists.

And as anyone who’s ever built or launched something knows… that kind of effort takes everything out of you.

Mentally, physically and emotionally.

It’s been incredible to see it all come together, but it also reminded me of something most hard working and driven people tend to forget:

Sometimes You’ve Just Got to Switch Off!

When you’re in “creation mode” – whether it’s a big project, a launch, or even a new idea you’re obsessed with – your nervous system gets flooded with adrenaline and dopamine.

Yes, it feels amazing.

You’re focused, alive, purposeful.

But once the big moment passes, your body doesn’t automatically switch off and keeps running the same high-alert program.

That’s when fatigue, brain fog, or the post-project “crash” creeps in.

Kind of how I feel right now!

And that’s the point where the smartest thing you can do – weirdly – is to stop doing.

Your Brain Needs Idle Time to Process

When you rest, your brain doesn’t shut down, it switches into a different mode called the Default Mode Network (DMN).

This is the system responsible for reflection, memory repair, and creative insight.

In other words, the real breakthroughs often happen after the hard work, when you finally stop focusing so hard.

That’s why great ideas pop up in the shower, during a walk, or when you’re just staring out the window.

Your mind is connecting dots beneath the surface.

Stress Recovery Is a Biological Process

After long periods of intensity, your body needs time to reset its internal chemistry.

When you’re in “go mode,” your sympathetic nervous system (the fight-or-flight system) is dominant.

That’s great for short bursts, but when it runs for weeks or months, it can quietly drain you – increasing cortisol (the stress hormone), lowering immunity, and flattening mood.

To restore balance, you need to activate the parasympathetic nervous system.

This is the “rest and digest” mode.

But you can’t think your way into this state.

Instead you have to feel your way there through breath, stillness, or gentle movement.

Ok, I know it sounds a bit ‘woo-woo’ but it works.

I often use the 4-7-8 breathing pattern. Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7, exhale for 8. Two minutes of this can slow your heart rate, reduce cortisol, and bring your nervous system back to calm.

And so to bed….

If you’ve ever pulled long days and noticed your sleep gets worse – that’s not a coincidence.

Cortisol and adrenaline interfere with the deep stages of rest your body needs to recover.

But once you allow yourself to slow down, your sleep quality rebounds dramatically.

During deep sleep, your brain’s glymphatic system literally washes away the metabolic waste that builds up during high mental effort.

Think of it as your brain’s overnight cleaning crew.

…Take Time To Reflect…

After a big project, there’s a huge temptation to move straight on to the next thing.

But the smart move is to pause and do some mental stock taking.

A Harvard Business School study found that employees who spent just 15 minutes reflecting at the end of each day performed 23% better after 10 days than those who didn’t. That’s huge.

Try this answering these questions at the end of each day:

• What went better than expected?
• What would I do differently next time?
• What am I most proud of?

… But Avoid Slobbing Out!

Total shutdown (bingeing Netflix, scrolling, or zoning out) might feel good in the moment, but it often leaves you groggy.

The best recovery happens through active rest: walking, light exercise, reading, cooking, gardening – anything that gently engages your body without taxing your brain.

What’s more, after intense focus, dopamine levels drop – which is why we tend to feel a bit “flat”.

The quickest way to restore that drive is to introduce novelty.

Try something new…

A short trip, a book outside your usual interests, a recipe you’ve never made.

The brain loves patterns, but it recharges on change.

I’ll be following my own advice over the next few days – no laptop, no meetings, just a bit of time to reflect and recharge.

And when I come back, I’ll bring fresh energy, sharper insights, and some exciting new things to share with you.