The Importance of Space

Let’s be blunt. 2025 has not been my year. Personally, I faced more challenges than I ever thought possible, including multiple health issues. Professionally, my job felt like that classic I Love Lucy episode where Lucy and her friend, Ethel, work at a candy factory, and the conveyor belt just keeps getting faster and faster. As the speed picks up, they start stuffing candy in every pocket and even eating it to keep up. If you’ve seen it, you know the chaos I’m talking about.

Somewhere along the way, I became Lucy. It took a simple, authentic “How are you doing, Lady?” from a colleague and friend to break me. I couldn’t hide how overwhelmed I had become by one word: life. I was exhausted. No amount of sleep or coffee was helping. My friend gave me the tough love I needed and helped me see the word I’d been avoiding: SPACE.

With her support and that of my husband, I spoke to a medical professional. We agreed that for the sake of my mental health, I needed to take two weeks of medical leave and refill my battery. I felt like a failure. I felt weak. I cried A LOT.

After a few days of self reflection, journaling, self love, and rest, I finally felt relief. My brain fog started to clear, my muscles finally started to ease, and my energy returned without supplements or medication. I started to feel like Jena again. After reconnecting with who I am and what I value outside of work, I was able to rejoin my team with a better routine and a fresh perspective.

That pause changed everything.

Here are a few lessons that stayed with me:

1. Space isn’t failure.
   Taking space does not make you weak. It makes you stronger because it helps you step back, breathe, and see the bigger picture. Whether you’re facing a tough project or a personal storm, distance creates clarity.

2. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
   Mindful space allows for reflection and helps separate what truly matters from what’s just noise. Once that clarity hits, it’s amazing how quickly the cup refills.

3. Rest sparks creativity.
   When the brain fog lifted, new ideas and strategies flowed easily. I could see my work with new eyes. Instead of feeling like I was swallowing an apple whole, I could finally break it down into smaller bites and make real progress.

4. Space doesn’t have to be big.
   You don’t need two weeks to feel the difference. Sometimes it’s a quiet cup of tea away from your desk, a short walk, or a good laugh that brings you back yourself.

Taking space isn’t about stopping. It’s about pausing long enough to breathe, to listen, and to remember who you are underneath the noise.