A Different Kind of Update

This week’s newsletter is short for a reason.

I’m on vacation.

Not the “checking email from the beach” kind.
The real kind.

Which means there are a lot of things I didn’t do.

Things I Did NOT Do This Week

• Take “just a quick call”

• Checked Slack (more than once a day)

• Open SSMS

• Review query plans

• Get this newsletter out on time

• Wake up at 6:00 AM

• Set an alarm (truly, its been over year since I needed an alarm)

• Shave

• Put on company logo wear

• Look at my work calendar

• Explain what a DBA does

• Fix someone else’s emergency

• Feel guilty about any of the above

Nothing broke. The world kept spinning.

That alone is a useful reminder.

A Note for Anyone Between Jobs Right Now

I feel you. If you’re out of work, this time of year can feel especially heavy.

Your days might look like:

• Applying to roles

• Tweaking resumes

• Prepping for interviews

• Waiting for responses

• Second-guessing everything

• Stressing about money, identity, and timing

That is work. And it’s exhausting.

You deserve rest too, even if you can’t take a “real” vacation.

So here’s permission to take one day off.

No applications.
No LinkedIn scrolling.
No interview prep.

Just space. Go breathe.

Ways to Reset Your Head (Even for One Day)

No apps. No subscriptions. No productivity guilt.

• Go for a long walk
  No podcast. No phone. Just movement and daylight.

• Write it all down
  Everything you’re worried about. Close the notebook when you’re done.

• Change your environment
  Library, coffee shop, park, different room. Novelty helps your brain breathe.

• Do something physical but simple
  Yard work, stretching, cleaning the garage, a bike ride. Motion clears noise.

• Disconnect intentionally
  Pick a window (even 4–6 hours) where you’re offline and unreachable.

One calm day won’t fix everything.
But it can lower the noise enough to think clearly again.

The Bottom Line

Rest is not a reward for finishing everything.

Sometimes it’s the thing that lets you keep going.

I’ll be back next week.
Refreshed.
And maybe shaved. But probably not. Its beard season 😊

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Link Party:

Why spending time outdoors reduces stress and improves focus

The Power of Journaling

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