The comeback after the setback is a delicate thing, isn’t it?

My June was supposed to be a strategic reset—two weeks of intentional vacation to refresh and unwind. Instead, the universe threw in a nasty bout of the flu and other medical curveballs that turned the entire month into a wash. Now that I'm finally surfacing, the temptation is to prove I can make up for lost time. To look at the mountain of tasks—the edits, the emails, the strategy plans—and just start climbing, fast and hard. My 20 years in IT conditioned me for that exact response: identify the problem, deploy all resources, fix it.

But here’s the secret I’m holding onto, especially now: The first resource to manage is your own energy.

Before I open a single client file, I’m blocking out time to move, to stretch, to breathe. This isn't procrastinating; it's prioritizing my recovery. It’s treating myself with the same care I’d give a critical project, because after a month like that, I am one. The work will get done, and it will be better for it.

Don’t just get back to work; make sure you’re bringing your whole, best self back with you.