Do you ever feel like you return from rest… still tired?

I got home from vacation late Tuesday night after a 9 hour drive. Wednesday and Thursday were full of catch-up—no meetings, but plenty to do. By Friday morning, I felt unsettled. Like I was here but not really here.

It was a reminder that vacations can be wonderful and exhausting at the same time.

Yes, we rest on vacation. Yes, we step away. But we're often still "on"—navigating travel, coordinating people, eating and sleeping differently. It takes energy. And then we come home and flip straight into grocery runs, mountains of laundry, and getting back into the swing of things.

It can be quite jarring.

Most of the time, I plan for this. I build in a transition day—a half-day at least—where I don't try to "get back to normal" right away. Just space to reconnect with myself, Marley my cat and my routine. No expectations. No rushing. But this time, I didn't have that buffer.

There were things that needed attention Wednesday and Thursday. By Friday, my body, brain and spirit were all insisting I pause. That's why I felt so unsettled. I had gone from vacation mode to home mode with no transition or reset.

So I made plans to pause this weekend.

• Friday afternoon: Salt room and sauna time to help me unwind.
• Saturday: Hours in the forest, then lunch by myself—something quiet, something grounding.
• Today: A medical qigong treatment to help reset my system.

Small steps to transition from vacation back into real life—slowly, gently, intentionally. Because when I skip this part, everything feels harder than it needs to.

A reminder to me and you that rest isn't just the vacation we take. It's how we return.

And with the holidays and end of 2025 coming—with all the travel, family gatherings, year-end work pushes, and general busy-ness that this season brings—this feels especially important to remember. Whether it's Thanksgiving travel next month or the stretch between now and the new year, we're heading into a time when transitions happen fast and often. Planning for those transition moments now might be one of the kindest things we can do for ourselves.

This applies beyond travel, too. If you're launching a book (there's a few reading this that are in the midst of book launches!), wrapping up a big project, or finishing a busy work season—the same principle holds. Build in the transition time.

So, I have three invitations for you:

1. Notice when you need transition time: Even if you can't always plan for it in advance, you can recognize the signs when your system is asking for a reset. What do those signs look and feel like? For me, I feel scattered, unfocused, and "off." Your signals might be different, but they're there.
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2. Schedule transition space when you can: Whether it's an hour or two or a full day, put it on the calendar like you would any other important appointment. Look at your calendar for the next couple months. Where are the big transitions? Can you build in buffer time around them now, before the schedule fills up?
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3. Find what helps you reset: Is it forest time, quiet meals, bodywork, journaling, sitting still? Your reset rituals don't have to look like mine. They just have to be yours.

And before you go, a question for you: When you come back from something big—a trip, a busy season, even a long week—how do you ease yourself back in? Do you give yourself space to transition? I'd love to hear what that looks like for you.

If you don't have a regular transition routine but would like to figure one out, reach out. I'd love to brainstorm some ideas with you. Just reply to this email or book a free call.

Sending love and reset vibes, Chris

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​PS. If you are craving a little extra breathing room right now, it's not too late to join the free Silent-ish Email Challenge. I'll guide you through 5 days of simple practices to help you find quiet and stillness in your everyday life. It starts on Monday, October 27.

You can reply to this email with an “I’m In” or click the button below to learn more and sign up there.