For years, I lived in the scribbles.

In 2021, I was promoted to VP of Sales—a big shiny title that, on paper, looked like the dream. In reality? It was like being handed two full-time jobs and told to make it work. We had a plan (don’t we always?): build a team, share the load, and let others step up. That plan never got approved. Instead, I inherited what was described as a “slight problem child.” Spoiler alert: that child was less of a toddler tantrum and more of a full-blown horror movie villain.

Suddenly, I was working 14-hour days, barely holding it together. I wasn’t excelling. I was just… surviving. Plates started to drop, and for someone who prided themselves on being capable, that was a hard pill to swallow. My mind became so full—so completely stuffed with pressure, decisions, and deadlines—that there was no room left for actual thinking. Or feeling. Or breathing.

And then came the panic attack.

I didn’t even believe those could happen to me. But there I was, floored—by something I couldn’t control and didn’t understand.

Work signed me off for a month. And with their blessing, I did something that might sound counterintuitive: I booked a solo trip.

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Not Transformational—But Essential

I chose an easy destination. Spain. Somewhere I’d grown up, felt safe, and didn’t need to overthink. I made no plans—just zigzagged down the country, letting the days unfold however they wanted to.

That trip didn’t “change my life.” It wasn’t a dramatic reinvention. But it was a pause. A breath. A reminder that my brain didn’t have to run at 140mph all the time. I discovered hidden gems. I fell in love with Córdoba. I met kind strangers and let go of expectations.

In hindsight, it was my first real taste of mindfulness. I didn’t call it that then—but I wasn’t racing, planning, or proving. I was just… being. For once.

And that was enough.

The Real Shift Came Later

The real transformation? That happened the year after, when I travelled to Sierra Leone.

Unlike Spain, Sierra Leone wasn’t “easy.” It challenged me. It grounded me. It made me see the world—and my place in it—differently. I connected with locals whose stories cut through the noise in my head. I witnessed joy, struggle, resilience, and community in ways that shook me awake.

Later that year, I explored small-town America for work. Very different vibe—equally eye-opening. I met people whose beliefs were wildly different from mine, heard perspectives I’d never considered, and found myself both bewildered and entertained by some of the most creative conspiracy theories I’ve ever heard (seriously… someone get these people a Netflix series).

But here’s the thing: whether I was watching waves crash in Freetown or debating aliens over coffee in Ohio, I was present. I was curious. I was learning.

That’s the power of transformational travel. It doesn’t always look dramatic. But it shifts something inside you. It makes space.

Am I Mindful Now? Kind of. And That’s Okay.

Do I have it all figured out? Not even close.

I still catch myself spiralling because I “don’t have enough blogs in the pipeline” or I haven’t updated my website’s SEO. But my partner often reminds me: it doesn’t matter.

What matters is this: every day, I get better at listening to myself.

My business runs even when I take time off. My creativity flows better when I don’t force it. And when I do feel it? I can knock out more quality work in one inspired afternoon than in a week of pushing through.

I’m mindful of what my body and mind need. I’m no longer chained to back-to-back meetings. I don’t need to apologise for changing plans. Some days I sleep in. Some days I work until 2am. Some days I walk away from spreadsheets to walk under trees instead.

And it works.

What Helped Me Find Mindfulness (And Might Help You Too)

Want to go from mind full to mindful? Here’s what helped me:

• Travelling slower and without a checklist
  I spent three weeks in Arusha last year, living like a local. No agenda, no rush. It was the start of my post-corporate recovery.
• Practising gratitude
  Not in a forced, journal-every-night way. Just noticing the little joys. A good meal. A kind stranger. A pinky-orange sky.
• Listening to my needs
  If I’m not in the mood for writing, I don’t force it. If I need movement, I walk. If I need stillness, I stop.
• Stepping out of my comfort zone
  Solo travel did that. So did starting my own business. So does living a life that doesn’t always make sense to others.

From Chaos to Clarity

I still have chaotic days. But they’re no longer my default.

Transformational travel didn’t erase my anxiety or hand me a perfect life. It gave me something more powerful: perspective. Space to think. A renewed connection to what matters—and permission to let go of what doesn’t.

If your mind feels tangled, overstuffed, and on the brink… maybe it’s not another productivity hack you need. Maybe it’s a pause. A shift. A slow, imperfect journey into being.

Ready to go from mind full to mindful?

Join me on a trip that’s more than just a holiday. It’s a chance to reconnect—with yourself, with others, and with the kind of presence that makes life richer.