How Two Weeks Became Three Months
Today is my last day in Crete. It feels weird.
I came here for two weeks. I thought I needed a break. Time to think. Time to reset.
That was three months ago.
The Plan That Changed Everything
The plan was simple:
- Take two weeks off
- Think about life
- Go back home
- Keep doing what I was doing
Life had other plans.
Two weeks turned into a month. A month turned into three. What started as a thinking break became something much bigger.
It became an exile. But the good kind.
What Happens When You Stay Longer
Funny thing about extended breaks - you don't actually break.
You work. You build. You create.
These three months weren't about lying on beaches (though I did some of that). They were about:
- Getting real work done
- Building new products
- Thinking without noise
- Creating without meetings
Sometimes the best work happens when you're not trying so hard.
The Strange Feeling of Leaving Paradise
Here's what no one tells you about working from paradise:
You miss real life.
I know that sounds crazy. Who misses real life when you're in Crete?
But I do.
I miss:
- The energy of a big city
- Real conversations with real people
- The pressure of deadlines
- The buzz of being around other builders
Paradise is great for thinking. But building needs energy. And energy comes from being around other people who are building too.
Tomorrow Changes Everything
Tomorrow I fly back to Copenhagen. Not to stay - just to pick up my stuff.
My luggage is still there. Packed and ready. It's been sitting there for three months, waiting for me to come back.
But I'm not going back to stay. I'm going to London.
The Job Interview That Could Change It All
In Copenhagen, I have one more job interview. Hopefully the last one.
If it goes well, I get a permanent job in London. The city I've wanted to live in for years.
Then comes the fun part:
- Finding a flat in Shoreditch
- Moving to a new country
- Starting over again
It's scary and exciting at the same time.
Why I'm Ready for the Big City
Three months in Crete taught me something important:
I need the chaos.
I need:
- Traffic and noise
- Deadlines and pressure
- Coffee shops full of people working
- The energy that only comes from a big city
Paradise is perfect for a reset. But life is meant to be lived at full speed.
What These Three Months Gave Me
This wasn't just a long work vacation. It was preparation.
I got:
- Clarity on what I want to build
- New products that actually work
- The mental space to think big
- The energy to take on something new
Sometimes you have to step away to see clearly. These three months showed me exactly what I want.
The Next Chapter Starts Now
As I write this, I can see the Mediterranean Sea from my window. Tomorrow, I'll be looking at Danish clouds.
Next week? Hopefully London fog.
It's been an amazing three months. But I'm ready for what comes next.
Real life is calling. And for the first time in a long time, I can't wait to answer.
What I Learned About Taking Breaks
If you're thinking about taking a break, here's what I learned:
- Two weeks isn't always enough
- Sometimes you need to disappear completely
- Your best ideas come when you're not forcing them
- Paradise is great, but don't stay too long
- Real life has an energy you can't get anywhere else
The break changed everything. Now it's time to use what I learned.
Tomorrow, the real adventure begins.
Sometimes the best way forward is to step completely away. Where would you go for your thinking break?