Sharpen your axe: Why you need to take a vacation

For the past four years, it’s been go-go-go with no pit stops. 

In just the last three months, we saw one of our three boys (age 17) fly off to another city for a school program (cue the proud tears), coached our youngest (11) through middle-school entrance exam prep and an interschool competition (hello, brain fatigue), and juggled our second son’s (15) whirlwind of Grade 10 milestones — moving-up ceremonies, practices, excursions, you name it. 

As I write this, we’re prepping for the grade school graduation of our youngest, who is moving up from sixth to seventh grade. 

Oh, and did I mention we’re also building our first home in the province? Casual stuff. Totally relaxing.

Then, finally — finally — I hit the brakes: took a break and found myself on a quiet porch, sipping really good Banaue coffee and watching the morning roll in over Baguio’s (north of Manila, 1,540m above sea level) cool mountain air. 

For once, there were no alarms, no emails, no checklists. Just calm.

Stepping back

Taking a holiday is not running away, or a sign of sloth. 

And in that stillness, something clicked: we all need to step back sometimes. Not because we’re lazy, but because even the strongest engines need a tune-up. Electric vehicles, too, need to recharge.

Even the sharpest axe needs time off from chopping.

And let me tell you, rest? It hits different when you’ve earned it.

For once, I let myself breathe.

Sharpening one's axe

We all need to sharpen our axe.

There’s an old story about two lumberjacks. One chops furiously without rest, while the other takes breaks to sharpen his axe. By the end of the day, the one who paused and prepared had felled more trees. 

The lesson? It’s not just about working hard — it’s about working smart. Vacations aren’t indulgences. They’re maintenance. You can’t be your best self if you’re running on empty.

Taking a vacation isn’t just about you — it’s also about how you show up for others. In a world that’s constantly rushing, running after numbers, pausing to reset allows us to care more deeply for the people around us.

The gift of presence

It’s like the story of Navy SEALs who say they never leave a man behind.

Progress isn’t a solo race. We rise by lifting others. I’m thankful for the mutual-help culture built within our Gulf News team.

Sometimes, the greatest gift we can give is presence — and the best way to do that is by listening. 

Nelson Mandela once said that leadership means speaking last. When we take time to understand before reacting, we open the door to empathy and growth. 

That’s hard to do when we’re in survival mode. Taking a break gives us space to slow down, reflect, and actually hear one another.

It also gives us a moment to look inward. Not all obstacles come from the outside. The story of puerperal fever — when doctors resisted the simple act of washing their hands, costing lives — teaches us that denial and pride can be dangerous. 

Course correction

Owning our actions, even our mistakes, is part of becoming better. Vacations give us the mental clarity to take responsibility and course-correct.

Humility is another powerful takeaway. 

There’s a story about a high-ranking official who, while in office, drank from a ceramic cup. Once retired, he was handed coffee in a styrofoam cup. 

The ceramic wasn’t for him — it was for the position. The lesson? Stay grounded. Be grateful. No matter how high we climb, we are still just people. 

Moments of pause help us remember that.

Empathy makes us human

And in a world ruled by highlight reels and dopamine hits, we need real connection more than ever.

Empathy isn't a luxury — it’s a lifeline. 

It reminds us to relate to people as human beings, not as avatars or followers. We build deeper, safer relationships not through constant hustle, but through care and presence.

The final truth I’ve learned is this: focus on what you want, not what’s in the way.

Like a runner in a marathon, your eyes need to be locked on the finish line, not the obstacles (can be too many to count). 

But you won’t get to your goal if you’re too worn down to keep going.

So take the break.

Drink the coffee. Watch the sunrise.

Sharpen your axe.

You’re not stepping back — you’re stepping up, prepared to move forward with more clarity, strength, and purpose than ever before.