All-In on Rest, All-In on Work: Six Months In and Still Loving It

Six months ago, I said yes to something I wasn’t sure I’d ever say yes to again—a full-time executive role. After launching my own consulting business in 2021, I thought I’d left traditional roles behind for good. But Certn was different. The mission, the leadership, the team—it just fit. And six months in as Head of People & Culture, I can say this with certainty: I’ve loved (almost) every minute of it.

But let’s not sugarcoat it. I’ve also worked a lot. Not just full-time—more like all-the-time. I’ve been to our UK offices twice, brought my team to an offsite in Portugal that I’ll never forget, attended board meetings in San Francisco and Victoria, and our Q1 business review in Mexico. I’ve invested hours, energy, and heart into this work. And I won’t pretend otherwise.

I don’t believe in preaching work-life balance. Honestly, I think it’s a myth. What I believe in is work-life fit—the idea that your work and life can be integrated in a way that actually works for you. For me, working hard feeds my ambition, my purpose, and my creativity. I don’t mind the 6 a.m. calls or the late-evening catch-ups if it means I get to head out for a walk in the afternoon sun, catch up with a colleague or friend for coffee, or sneak away for a spontaneous lunch with my partner, Amanda. This is the life I’ve built—and I love it.

But even for someone who thrives on being all-in, rest is not optional. It’s essential.

Amanda and I had both been running hard. She’s been working nonstop through eight provincial elections and a federal one since last fall. We needed to get away. So fresh off the red-eye after a board meeting in Victoria, I met her at the airport and we flew straight to Playa del Carmen last week. I booked us into a quiet, adults-only boutique resort where the only negative reviews were “it’s maybe too quiet.” That’s how I knew it was perfect.

I deleted Slack at the airport and locked my phone in the hotel safe. I didn’t stay off completely—checked in with my boys now and then and shared a few beach pics—but for the most part, I unplugged. Hours, and hours of uninterrupted conversation with the person I love most, no emails, no cooking, no pressure—it was exactly what we needed. Not just to recharge, but to remember what being feels like.

This time away reminded me that as leaders, we often talk about performance, hustle, and resilience—but not enough about recovery. High performers aren’t machines. We can go fast and far, but we need space to reset, too. In fact, studies show that the highest-performing individuals and teams build recovery into their rhythm. They don’t rest because they’re tired—they rest so they can sustain.

And rest doesn’t mean laziness or disconnection from ambition. It means giving your mind, body, and heart the fuel to keep going. For me, rest is time with Amanda. It’s locking up the phone. It’s laughter over ceviche and long walks without an agenda. It’s the moment when the noise fades and clarity rushes in.

As a neurodiverse leader, I’ve learned that I have a tendency to hyperfocus. When I’m into a project or an idea, I’m all in. That can be a gift—but it also means I need reminders to step back, to shift focus, to recalibrate. And when I need rest, I want to be all-in in an all-out way.

If you’re like me—driven, passionate, and maybe a little intense—here’s my invitation: stop apologizing for how much you love your work. Stop trying to live someone else’s version of balance. Find your own fit. And when it’s time to rest, rest like your ability to thrive depends on it—because it does.

MM