Salt Water, Palm Trees, and Owning Your Calendar

There’s something about salt water that heals in ways no conference room or Teams notification ever could. Standing with my hand on a palm tree, the ocean stretched before me, and I felt the rhythm of the waves syncing with my own breath. It wasn’t just a vacation, it was a reminder.

The ocean doesn’t run on Outlook reminders or pings. It doesn’t reschedule because of double-bookings. The tide rolls in and out on its own time, whether we’re ready for it or not. And that’s the point: sometimes we need to step back, zone out, and let the waves remind us that we don’t always have to be “on.”

On this trip, I permitted myself to pause. To reflect. To observe. To soak in the daily sun instead of soaking in endless alerts. The salt water carried away the clutter in my mind, leaving space for gratitude and grace.

That’s why I love tuning into things like Yognation podcasts; they echo the same lesson: slowing down isn’t laziness, it’s self-leadership. It’s the breath that brings clarity.

But here’s the challenge: how do we take that ocean mindset home with us? The answer is time management.

• Schedule pauses like meetings. If you can block time for a customer call, you can block 20 minutes to walk, stretch, or breathe.
• Be ruthless with your “yes.” Every extra commitment steals waves from your own shoreline.
• Own your calendar, don’t let it own you. Tools, pings, and deadlines should support your priorities, not hijack them.

The ocean reminded me that life is bigger than back-to-back meetings. The waves don’t wait, but they also don’t rush. Neither should we.

Next time your day feels like a storm, remember the salt water: let it absorb the negativity, quiet the noise, and reset your rhythm.