Last week I had the pleasure of spending a few days en famille just outside of Strasbourg. I did something I had never done before: stay all together in one beautiful home. Our home for the week was a very homey chalet managed by Harmony Homes in Saint-Amarin. The home itself was the backdrop to most of our days. Mornings started with coffee overlooking the mountains with my mom before everyone slowly woke up.
The kids spent hours in and out of the heated indoor pool while I alternated between the infrared and traditional saunas, two things that I love so much.
With seven bedrooms, there was enough space for everyone to have their own rhythm, while still feeling cozy enough that the moments we came together like long meals, coffee breaks, evenings on the terrace felt all the more special.
When I left Paris, I felt completely burned out. The trip couldn’t have come at a better time. I wanted to give myself permission to take a break, or at least whatever version of a break was possible (entrepreneurs iykyk).
So I told myself that I wasn’t going to work too much. I packed less than I normally would, closed my laptop for most of the afternoon, and genuinely tried to disconnect.
I wouldn’t describe it as difficult.
It was more like something was missing.
I kept waiting for this feeling of relief everyone talks about.
But instead, I felt restless.
Not anxious.
Not guilty.
Just... not entirely myself.
So I found myself thinking: maybe my goal was never to work less. Maybe my goal is to work more on the things that energize me.
Perhaps my happiest state is creating. Because that’s simply where I feel most like myself.
So, in irony, it took a few days in this home, designed for slowing down, to realize that I don’t actually want to escape work. I want to keep building a life where the work I do feels aligned. So aligned that I don’t crave a break from it.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that this is what balance looks like for me.
Work or no work, I did have to pack light. As many of us are getting ready to escape Paris for the summer, I thought I’d share a few of the essentials that came along for the ride. Whether I am off, working or not.
Adpieau Strength Gel & Volume Cream: I love to use these in between my morning and evening treatment. I showered more than once a day as I was sauna-ing and this is when I made time for this routine. Their stuff really works. More on this tomorrow.
Tronque Scar Concentrate: I had a bit more time to massage this into my skin on my vacation.
Sentara Holistic Gua Sha Peau d’Ange to release tension. Truly the best Gua Sha there ever was.
Higher Dose Magnesium Spray (for sauna)
La Bonne Brosse Mini is always in my bag.
Have a great weekend,
xx,
JJ
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