Before my vacation, I tidy up the closet. And that helps me breathe easier.

Last year at this time I wrote about why summer and vacation are the ideal time to reflect on what has been done and plan for digital transformation -  Digital Disruptor #3
But before that comes one more step: cleaning out the closet. Well, actually the desk and the head. When I do that, it is consequently a good time for "out of the box" thinking - at least for me.

This year was the same, but this time I even cleaned the apartment and did it while my wife was hiking (leading a group) in the hills. When she returned, her feelings were mixed. Very happy, but on the other hand angry at me for doing it myself, instead of taking time for myself.

Why do I do this?

It's not just about physical cleaning - it's about mentally closing a chapter. So I don't carry with me scattered obligations, "still-need-to-do" post-its, and open tabs multiplying faster than spam in my inbox. If I don't do it, it feels like a Damocles sword is constantly hanging above my head, whispering "What did you forget?" And that bugs me.

If I leave something behind, I want to do it consciously. Some of you might relate - a childhood habit: before you leave, you tidy up. So that you return to an orderly space. Apparently, this parental lesson has rooted itself into my professional habits too.

And then vacation begins.

That's when I truly start to relax. Although honestly - the first few days are hard, and yes, the laptop is with me. At least the pace slows down, and there are fewer emails and duties. I usually wake up early because my brain hasn't switched to vacation mode yet. I check in and handle urgent things.

After a few days, when my mind finally says, "Enough, rest, sleep, or at least meditate in the morning breeze," ideas start to flow. I quickly jot them down in my phone notes - sometimes in secret or when my wife allows it, since she insists on a digital detox during vacation. But luckily, the final word is usually mine: "Yes, dear." And she's right - I can't say I disagree, but I need to get to that point in my own head. And that only happens after a few days. Vacation is a retreat. A shift in perspective. And when the desk, the mind, and everything else are cleared, vacation really becomes a space for rest and inspiration. When you unplug--on a beach in the shade of pine trees with a cold beer in hand, or in the mountains watching ravens soar while you gaze into the valley below--that's when the best ideas emerge.

Before we go full speed into post-summer mode, we usually have one more team meetup. I present the plan, we align our compasses so we don't sail in zigzags or get blown off course by every stronger gust of wind--and off we go into autumn. For us, autumn--until the Christmas and New Year holidays--is the most intense part of the year. That's why it's crucial to know where we're headed through stormy weather when even the sea gets rougher. The first task is usually wrapping up summer projects--because at least one always runs into autumn. The ones who realize that summer is an ideal starting point already set the direction, and then the project launches in autumn. This year is no different. We've got three major projects in motion, though planning began in late spring.

In the end, it always comes down to the same thing - not how much we've done, but how we feel when we close the door behind us. If I head into vacation with a sense of closure, having tidied things up - both on my desk and inside myself - then I can truly exhale. And that's when the real thing begins: unplugging and finding inspiration - the best recipe for those "Aha!" moments. They come when you think you're no longer thinking about work. And it's not work - it's an idea, often the answer to something that may have been bothering you for a long time.

What about you? Are you the type who tidies up before vacation - so you can breathe easier? Or do you belong to the "run now, fix later" school of thought?. Both are perfectly valid. The most important thing is to give yourself what you really need - rest, perspective, peace.