Shifting Gears

Good morning!

I hope this finds you well.

Welcome to another edition of The Matt Viera Newsletter.

The newsletter with the goal to inspire you to invest in life experiences.

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Today is my first official day of summer vacation.

And I'll be honest, I'm a bit out of sorts.

It's the first time in a long time I've woken up and realized I have nothing to do.

No schedule. No obligations. No urgent emails to answer.

And as freeing as that sounds, it's also jarring.

When I first started out in my current career 14 years ago, a friend gave me some advice I've never forgotten:

"Make sure you have something planned for the first day of summer vacation. It helps you shift from a work mindset to a non-work mindset."

I've tried to follow that advice every year.

In fact, the last time I really nailed it was back in 2016 when I rented a car and drove across the country to Montana.

It was the perfect way to disconnect.

This year, as soon as I walked out of the office yesterday, I picked up my RV and headed into nature.

That's where I'm writing this from now.

Still, despite being surrounded by trees, silence, and nothing but time, I was up early.

I felt like I had a million things to do when, in reality, I don't.

I've been moving non-stop these past few days: preparing for my upcoming adventures, celebrating the start of summer, and trying to wrap up loose ends.

So much so that I didn't make the time to write this article in advance (which is why it wasn't in your inbox at 7 a.m. like usual).

I considered skipping it and publishing it tomorrow instead.

But I've never missed a deadline, and I'm not about to start now (I rather be late).

So here I am.

Writing this on day one of summer vacation, slightly unmoored, adjusting to a new rhythm that doesn't require productivity or structure.

It'll take me a few days to fully unwind, but I know I'll get there.

When I return to the office on September 2, I'll experience this same transition in reverse: shifting from a non-work mindset back into a structured one.

It's a cycle I'm familiar with.

And it never gets any less strange.

What's the point of all this?

The point is to remind you that most of us live in extremes.

We're either in full-throttle work mode or thoroughly checked out.

However, the truth is that it's essential to expect those in-between moments when we're shifting gears.

If we don't give those transitions the attention they deserve, we rob ourselves of the chance to be fully present.

We either drag our stress into our rest or we lose momentum when it's time to re-engage.

Whether you're shifting into rest or returning to routine, don't expect to feel immediately comfortable. Our minds and bodies need time to adjust. And that's okay.

The important thing is to be aware of and expect the transition.

Give yourself permission to ease into it.

Expecting, understanding, and respecting the transition helps you get more out of both sides.

Especially when it's time to relax.

I will not publish this newsletter next Tuesday, July 8, 2025. I’m driving back to the city this coming Friday and then turning around and flying to Italy on Sunday. Not only will have I have to contend with a cultural transition, but I’ll also have to contend with jet lag.

This newsletter will return to your inbox on July 15, 2025.

From Italy.

I leave you with my current out-of-office automatic email reply:

"Thank you for your email. I am currently traveling extensively outside of the state and outside of the country (which includes off-grid destinations). I will not have access to this email until I return to office (and civilization). The earliest I can reply to your email is September 2, 2025."

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