I’ve not long been home from a week in Gran Canaria, a much needed, and some would say well deserved, break. It was definitely the reset button that I didn’t realise how badly I needed.

When a group of friends said, “Come on holiday with us,” it initially felt like a pity invite (ha!). But honestly, in hindsight, it was a lifeline. After the year I’ve had – multiple bereavements, personal upheavals, professional challenges, and a slow crawl through situations that drained every ounce of energy – getting out of Liverpool and into the sun was the first time I truly exhaled in months.

2025 Has Been Heavy

Let’s be honest: this year has been a lot… Emotionally, mentally, and physically.

It’s the kind of year that chips away at your foundations without you noticing until you’re sitting there thinking,

“Why am I this tired?”

I’ve pushed through because, frankly, that’s what we do; in activism, creative work, community work, life. We push. We survive. But surviving is not the same as living, and the longer you ignore that difference, the heavier everything feels.

Time away from BAU reminded me of that.

The Power of Escaping Your Reality (Just for a Bit)

There is something so healing in stepping out of your usual environment, and, in a strange metaphorical sense, changing the backdrop changes the story, even if only for a bit.

It wasn’t about partying (though there was a fair bit of that), nor was it about running away from problems.

It was about breathing different air, seeing and meeting different people, letting my shoulders drop, and, actually, realising how long they’d been permanently raised – which for me means a hideous posture.

Sometimes you need distance to remember who you are outside of all the crazy.

Moderation, Not Martyrdom

One thing that kept hitting me throughout the trip was how often we treat rest like a luxury, not a necessity. Especially those of us who work in community-facing or emotionally heavy roles, and especially those of us who’ve had a year like mine.

We tell ourselves:

“I’ll slow down soon.”

“I just need to finish this project.”

“I’ll rest when things calm down.”

But things rarely calm down and, unfortunately, life doesn’t hand out convenient pause buttons.

Moderation isn’t necessarily about doing less, but about doing enough without destroying yourself in the process.

The Gift of Being Invited

And honestly? One of the kindest parts of the whole thing was being invited. Being included. Being reminded that I have people around me who want me there, even when I’m not at my brightest or most put-together.

Sometimes the most healing thing isn’t sunshine — it’s being wanted, welcomed, and surrounded by people who help carry the weight without making a fuss about it.

Coming Home with Perspective

I didn’t come back from Gran Canaria a different person…

But I did come back lighter. Clearer. More grounded. More aware of how close I’d been to burning out completely.

Rest isn’t indulgent. Escape isn’t avoidance. Balance isn’t weakness. It’s survival, but the healthy kind.

The kind that lets you come back to your life with a steadier heart and a clearer head.

If you needed a sign to take a break, book the flight, step away, say yes to the invitation… this is it.

You deserve the rest you keep postponing.