The Power of a Break

For most of 2025, I felt a constant need to do more, go faster, and work harder. I created the brand “Theresa E Radley,” and I needed something to show for it.

I signed up for multiple craft/vendor fairs and promoted “Lunch Break” and my other books as much as I could. I had a constant voice in my head telling me I wasn’t doing enough, even after I set a goal to sell 100 books and surpassed it.

Call it ambition, call it drive, call it motivation. None of that matters if life catches up with you and forces you to take a break.

September was honestly my busiest, most challenging, and best month for my author career. Personally, and professionally, I was on fire. I decided to get serious about my health and participated in a 30-Day Raw Challenge (From A Challenge to A Lifestyle). On top of that, I was healing from some childhood trauma and accepting my disability.

I created an entire event called Her Story: A Night of Women Sharing Their Stories, which allowed eight women to share parts of their stories onstage.  In addition, I had book signings and multiple events.

Not to mention, I am an educator, and September is always a busy month at work, and we were moving into a new space.

By the time October came around, I was exhausted but also motivated. I knew I needed to rest to take a break, but this little voice told me I had to keep going. I was so close to hitting 200 books sold. I needed to feed off this momentum. So, I didn’t do as many events in October as in September, but my day job became very demanding. I kept telling everyone I was fine. I wasn’t.

November brought snow, and I had to miss an event I was looking forward to. I couldn't drive in the weather conditions. I spent that day hanging out with my daughter, playing Monopoly, and watching football. It was a nice little break, but I had to get back in the groove. Between teaching students, writing a novel, attending events, and raising children, my brain had hit its capacity. But I still didn’t say anything.

In addition to the business, I was also dealing with some emotional and personal things. People close to me betrayed my trust and made me question myself so much. All that doubt and insecurity I worked so hard to let go of was right there flashing in my face. My typical response would be to work harder, push through it, but I couldn’t. I didn’t have the energy.

I called my best friend and told her I wasn’t sure I could commit to our annual New Year's Eve trip. New Year's Eve was still weeks away, but the idea of traveling three hours to spend a few days with my best friend and her kids felt like a weight crushing me. This event that I looked forward to every year, which I knew would recharge me as it had in the past, felt too heavy. All I wanted to do was sleep and shut out the world. I was sick and tired and emotionally spent.

She said, “Theresa, you can’t fill anyone’s tank if your tank is empty.” I paused and listened to her. I had to admit she was right. My tank was beyond E. It was like I ran out of gas months ago, and I had just been moving along on fumes.

Right then and there, I committed to taking a real break. December was going to be about filling my cup. I put my business on hold. I promised myself everything could wait until the new year. The only thing I did business-wise was work on my third novel, “Before I Say I Do.” Writing is how I breathe, and I felt I needed to write Mel’s story as parts of her life mirrored mine. I learned a few lessons writing that first draft, but that’s not what this post is about.

I spent so much time with my kids, playing games, catching up on our shows, and getting into the holiday spirit. They showered me with love, hugs, and pure joy. I already had Christmas Eve and the rest of the year scheduled off at work. A week and a half without having to take my kids to school or run off to work. A vacation I needed for so many reasons.

Now, I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t start thinking of all the projects I could get done. But I had to regroup. I took it slowly. I slept in, played Roblox with my kids, and enjoyed the peace. I read a lot. I listened to jazz music, and I journaled.

I hadn’t felt that much peace and joy in a long time, probably never.

As I do every December, I reflect on the year and set goals for the following year. I was shocked to see how much I did in 2025. I could understand why I felt exhausted. As I thought of my goals for 2026, I had a revelation. Goals become tasks, and a need to get them done as quickly as possible. I refused to start 2026 the way I ended 2025.

So, I created a vision board and wrote the word “CONFIDENCE!” With a clear mind, I decided that everything I did in 2026 would be intentional and purposeful, not just because I felt I needed to do something great. But I wanted every decision and action to be made with confidence.

I mapped out my plans for January. I decided to work one month at a time. I have so many projects that I am working on, but none of them feel overwhelming. I realized I don’t have anything to prove. I needed that break to reset, ground myself, and see what was most important.

It doesn’t matter how many books I sell or events I attend or stories I write. What matters is how I show up for my kids, my students, for readers, for women in the community, but most importantly for myself.

I am giving myself and you permission to take breaks when we need them. To recharge and reconnect. We don’t need to do it all at once. We have an entire year, 365 days, to accomplish what we set out to do. Take it month by month, day by day. I can guarantee you that it will be better in the long run.

My ideas are sharper than ever. My motivation is on point. My creativity is at its best. What I have accomplished in the past few days is already setting me up to be more organized and more prepared for 2026.

I am ready. Are you?