Why I Hit Pause
Life wasn’t falling apart. If anything, it was fine, great even! Business was growing, nothing was on fire, and from the outside, things looked solid. But as always happens when you lose control of the reins, the flip side meant days were bleeding into nights, work happened in bed, in the bath, mid-walks. I was always reachable, always plugged in.
My motto was that ‘luck will find you, but it has to find you working’. But that’s what I realised, I’d swapped long-term for lucky. Winds of fortune had carried the business forward, but I’d never really steered the ship. Because steering meant taking ownership. And taking ownership meant taking risks… like setting a mission and possibly not hitting it.
But here’s what changed: I defined the mission. I’ve always been interested in the odd ways we treat inheritance in western societies, and I wanted to do something a little different and bust a few myths: Hand my daughter £3m, ideally long before I die. I’d made a solid start, but I knew the rest wouldn’t happen by blind luck, no matter how hard I worked it. It needed me to take hold of the rudder. It needed discipline. A serious reset.
So, I booked a solo workation to Marbella, not to escape, but to reclaim control.
When Only a Workation Can Do the Work
This wasn’t about sipping cocktails and answering Slack messages in the sun. It was about emptiness. Space. Stillness. And delineation of what I do when – every hour, intent-driven, not just head down working.
Turns out, the word vacation comes from the Latin vacāre, meaning “to be empty” or “to be free.” And that’s exactly what I needed: freedom from pressure that kept me stuck in cycles I never chose.
If I’d tried to “reset” at home, I’d have been doing laundry on day two and checking my inbox before breakfast.. Opening my laptop. Doing bits of work just to get them out of my mind. A workation permitted me to pause properly.
And something as simple as coming back to a reset room every day, away from associations, was fundamental to stopping things creeping back in. It may feel like a small thing, but when everything around you is clean and calm, it becomes a lot easier to clean and calm your mind.
The Mission: Full Control, Full Value
This wasn’t a vacation. It wasn’t an escape. It was a return to the driver’s seat.
The goal was simple: Cut the noise. Rebuild the rhythm. Live with purpose.
Someone once said that happiness is driven by perceived control and perceived progress. I wasn’t chasing perfection. I didn’t think I could control everything. I mean, I can’t even control when I fall asleep sometimes. But I could design my days with purpose. Fence in the things that flow easily. Create space for the things that don’t.
And that became the mantra:
- “You need & want to do this.”
- “Just persevere and remove self-destruction.”
- “Create routine and actions you are proud of.”
The Structure: Reclaiming Time, Hour by Hour
I split my day into six distinct phases. Each had a clear intention. No blurry lines. No wasted space.
a. Set It Up (7:00 – 10:30 AM)
Discipline and momentum.
Hydrate → Stretch → Bible → Pray
Gym session, swim, high-quality breakfast
Set the tone. Set the standard.
b. Upload (10:30 – 1:30 PM)
Inspiration in, distractions out.
Long walk in the sun. Podcasts. Audiobooks.
Let the mind learn, not scroll.
c. Reward (1:30 – 3:30 PM)
Joy and freedom.
Hop on the moped, explore. Get lost (on purpose).
Silence, sunlight, scenery. Play = Power.
d. Express (3:30 – 5:30 PM)
Creative output.
Sit. Think. Write. Reflect.
Don’t consume—create.
e. Reinforce (5:30 – 7:00 PM)
Strengthen the foundations.
Kettlebell workouts. Recovery swims.
Discipline, again. Bookend the day strong.
f. Chill (7:00 – 10:30 PM)
Wind down, fully.
Box breathing on the beach. Dinner. Green tea.
Music. Journaling. Sleep by 11.
Marbella: More Than a Backdrop
Marbella wasn’t just a pretty setting. It was a catalyst!
The absence of triggers. The long walks and longer silences. The permission to sit and read. Cool pool resets after hot workouts. The environment mirrored the intention; it was clean, clear, and uncluttered. Minimal wardrobe. Maximum intent.
Takeaways: What 10 Days of Intentional Living Taught Me
- Control isn’t restrictive, it’s expansive.
When I structured my days, I didn’t feel boxed in. I felt freed up. - Structure creates space.
You want time to relax? Design it in. Protect it. Then really relax. - Fun, focus, and freedom can coexist.
You don’t have to choose. You just have to plan for all three. - Parenting, purpose, and personal growth aren’t in conflict.
They’re part of the same engine. And when one thrives, the others do too.
Final Thought: You Can Do This Too
You don’t need Marbella. You need intention. You need a pause button. A new plan. And the guts to say, “I want more control. I want more value. I want to feel like this life is mine.”
Don’t wait for burnout. Don’t wait for the wheels to fall off. You don’t need a breakdown to earn a breakthrough.
You’ve got one life.
Full control. Full value. That’s the real flex.
Author: David Thomas is the Founder of Everywhere Brand, a global strategy studio helping ambitious leaders build brands that move culture. With a sharp eye for clarity and a deep love of storytelling, he crafts bold narratives that make brands unforgettable.
