For many recruiters, taking a holiday feels really uncomfortable.
The laptop comes “just in case.” Emails get checked by the pool bar. Teams are monitored between trips to the beach. Even when the body is away, the mind is still at work.
The irony is that the very thing many high performers resist is often the thing that improves their performance the most.
I talk about what I call The Recruiter’s Performance Formula.
Energy → Clarity → Confidence → Consistency → Results
Most people start at the bottom. They want better results, so they work harder.
In reality, performance starts at the top.
It starts with energy.
Energy isn’t about drinking more coffee or pushing through another late night. It’s about creating the physical and mental capacity to perform well, day after day.
When your energy is low, everything becomes harder. Decision-making slows. Small problems feel bigger than they are. You become reactive instead of proactive. Conversations with clients lose their spark and business development becomes something you know you should do rather than something you actually enjoy.
When your energy returns, something interesting happens. You gain clarity.
You start seeing solutions instead of problems. Priorities become obvious. The never-ending to-do list suddenly feels manageable rather than overwhelming.
That clarity naturally builds confidence.
You make decisions more quickly. You have better conversations. You stop second-guessing yourself.
Confidence, repeated over time, creates consistency.
And consistency is what produces results.
Not one exceptional day. Not one brilliant month. Consistent results.
That’s why your summer holiday matters.
Not because you deserve a break but because recovery is part of performance, not separate from it.
So if you’re fortunate enough to be taking some time off this summer, give yourself permission to truly switch off. Leave the laptop behind. Silence the notifications. Be present with your family. Go for a walk. Read a book. Sleep.
Because when you come back with more energy, you won’t just feel better.
You’ll think more clearly. Lead with more confidence. Perform more consistently.
And ultimately, you’ll get better results.
Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is stop working.
If you would like to get better results, in work and life drop me an email to [email protected] or check out www.michelleflynncoaching.com.
The photo is from the TRN retreat morning breathwork session, where everyone got the energy for the day ahead.
