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For many professional women, summer holidays are a precious opportunity to recharge both mind and career.

While you're relaxing, this article invites you to reflect on your goals and solidify new ideas.

Personally, I’ve always seen the summer break as a creative space, unplugging helps my mind rest and return with fresh energy and new solutions.

As Sofia von Celsing, executive coach and leadership trainer, suggests, using time off to be truly present allows us to:

"Recharge and train our executive functions at the same time."

At the same time, career experts highlight that reading personal growth content on the beach can nourish leadership without giving up relaxation.

Recharging Leadership on Holiday

To balance rest and ambition, start by setting clear priorities: make a list of your most important commitments, personal or professional, and let go of what’s nonessential. Draw sharp boundaries between work and leisure, such as setting working hours even in the summer.

And most importantly: disconnect for real. Switching off email and your phone after work hours lets you reconnect with hobbies or nature. By doing this, you can truly regenerate during your time off and return to your projects with more energy and creativity.

• Define your summer priorities: focus only on what energises you, drop the rest.

• Set clear boundaries: let clients and colleagues know your availability, and don’t check your inbox outside of that window.

• Disconnect completely: leave the laptop behind and let yourself enjoy your passions, fully present in the moment.

Beach Reads for a Stimulated Mind

Whether it’s the beach or your backyard, summer is the perfect time to combine relaxation with learning. Bringing inspiring books on holiday helps keep your mind engaged, even while you rest.

For example, The Guardian recommends thought-provoking summer reads that encourage reflection on work and life. Here are three worth packing:

• Designing Your Life - Bill Burnett & Dave Evans: a design-thinking approach to creating a meaningful life and career, full of practical exercises.

• How to Have a Good Day - Caroline Webb: rooted in behavioural science, this book offers practical tools to manage emotions, productivity, and relationships at work.

• Four Thousand Weeks - Oliver Burkeman: a deep and philosophical reflection on time management, encouraging us to live every moment consciously.

Podcasts to Accompany Your Summer Strolls

In moments of relaxation, a good podcast can offer both inspiration and practical advice. Our very own podcast, Panelle Talks, is designed to support women in their professional growth, perfect for listening under the sun.

Here are two episodes we recommend:

• S1 Ep 10 Unilever: Wellness and Working Women

Claire Hennah, CCO of Unilever Beauty & Wellbeing, reflects on 20+ years in leadership at brands like Dove and L'Oréal. She shares how to balance a high-level career with chronic illness, highlighting authenticity, resilience and the importance of personal wellbeing. Inspiring and intimate, this episode invites introspection, ideal for recharging your energy and redefining your work-life balance under the summer sun.

• S1 Ep 8 ServiceNow: Cultivating Courage and Curiosity

Jayney Howson, SVP Learning & Development at ServiceNow, explores how leaders can create growth-oriented, resilient environments. She uses the metaphor of a tree, growing through storms and sunshine alike, to encourage courage, curiosity and reflection. The tone is contemplative and motivating, making it perfect for relaxed summer listening that nurtures your spirit and ambition.

Another valuable resource is FeedSpot, which curates and highlights podcasts tailored for career-driven women.

Among the most noteworthy are Leading Women in Tech and Influence & Impact - two series that explore topics such as female leadership, empowerment, and professional growth, offering both practical insights and everyday inspiration.

Mindfulness & Summer Wellbeing

Finally, bringing mindfulness into your summer helps reduce stress and restore mental clarity. As von Celsing reminds us, the challenge is to "slow down" and use time off to train presence and strengthen executive function. Try these easy, holiday-friendly practices:

• Mindful walking: walk barefoot on sand or grass, noticing every physical sensation beneath your feet.

• The 3-3-3 grounding technique: name 3 things you see, 3 sounds you hear, and 3 tactile sensations you feel — to bring your mind back to the present.

• Deep breathing: take a few minutes to simply follow your breath, slowly inhaling and exhaling to calm body and mind.

Slowing Down Doesn’t Mean Stopping

Summer can become the most fertile time of the year - the space to listen to yourself, reconnect with your purpose, and return with a clearer and more powerful vision.

Whether you’re reading by the sea, listening to a podcast on a peaceful walk, or simply breathing between one thought and the next, remember: nurturing yourself is the first step to leading others with strength.

Under the sun, leadership regenerates.

And come September it won’t be a return, it’ll be a relaunch.