Why We Can’t Wait for Vacation to stop burnout.

Woman meditates in a grassy field.

A few weeks ago, I did something I haven’t done in a while: I went on a vacation. The kind where you actually step out of your normal routine, away from the endless to-do lists, phone notifications, and decisions that seem small but somehow pile up.

And here’s what surprised me—I didn’t just enjoy the break, I needed it more than I realized. Stepping away from the constant notifications, decisions, and stressors made me realize just how much I’d been running on empty. For a brief moment, all the pressures of building Tulē melted away. What I felt instead was space. It took a change of scenery to hit me: I’d been more burnt out than I wanted to admit.

The Post-Vacation Crash

What was even more eye opening was what happened when I returned. The momentum I had before leaving seemed to vanish. Our project felt overwhelming. Getting back into my old habits like exercise, writing weekly blogs, posting to Instagram, even the day-to-day of my current business, Milestones Movement Therapy, all felt like dragging a heavy weight uphill.

I realized something important: avoiding burnout isn’t just about disconnecting from the daily stressors. It’s about finding balance. If the only way I can truly defeat burnout and recharge is by flying halfway across the world, I’m setting myself up for failure. That’s not sustainable. That’s not balance.

Lessons From a Reset

I’ve been following Ben Lee’s journey with RecenterLife in Costa Rica. Ben quit his corporate job to open a restorative retreat, hotel, and wellness facility in Santa Teresa. He talks about burnout, especially among high performers in corporate and tech, having walked this path himself. His philosophy resonates with me: it’s not just about disconnecting from the chaos, but reconnecting to yourself—your focus, your health, your values.

Vacations can be transformative, but they shouldn’t be the only lifeline. If we have to remove ourselves completely from our environment just to feel human again, maybe the problem isn’t the place, but the way we’re living within it.

The Tulē Solution

This realization has made me even more motivated to bring our project to life. Because here’s the truth: we shouldn’t have to wait until PTO, booked flights, and packed bags to feel renewed.

We need spaces woven into our everyday lives that allow us to slow down, reconnect, and recharge—without leaving our own community. That’s exactly what Tulē will be. A wellness retreat right here in Davis. A place to release stress, restore balance, and find that vacation-like clarity, not once a year, but in the rhythm of your daily life. Whether it’s through a sauna session, a hot soak, a workout, or just being at peace in our lounge—Tulē is being built to help you balance health, wellness, and life in the place you already call home.

Coming Full Circle

It’s been a couple weeks since I returned. And while the post-vacation crash was real, I’ve also felt a new fire in me. A reminder of why I’m building Tulē in the first place—not as an escape, but as a way to integrate wellness into the everyday for our community.

I don’t want you—or me—to need a plane ticket to remember what it feels like to be present. That’s the gift I believe Tulē will bring to our community.

Now it’s your turn to tell me..

Your opinions matter. After all, we are building Tulē for you. I would love to know;

• How do you balance your daily stressors with self care?

• What strategies or techniques have you tried to manage this balance?

• Is there anything you would love to see at Tulē that would improve your life balance?

Let us know your thoughts—your input is shaping the heart of Tulē.

Thanks for walking this journey with us as we build something timeless, beautiful, and most importantly—yours.

Warmly,

Miles G.
Founder, Tulē