Over the summer I took a big chunk of time off. We had the luxury of a 3-week holiday in 3 different places. We explored, we relaxed, we had a lot of fun, and we spent time with my sister and family for the first time in nearly 3 years.

Then when we got back, we took a trip up to Yorkshire. Every time we go, I do the same run to ‘Bird’s Corner’. It’s 2 miles uphill, with the reward of a beautiful view, and a relaxing cruise back down. I always pause at the top. It’s a peaceful place, and gives me a feeling of calm and spaciousness.

In both cases, being away from home created some distance between me and my everyday life, and gave me a very different perspective. I could look at my life from afar, reflect on where I am, where I’ve been, and where I want to go. I could think about what matters most.

This process of ‘zooming out’ is super useful for putting things in perspective. The further away you are from something, the easier it is to see the big picture, the contours, the wood for the trees.

The good news is that you don’t need to be on a beach or up a hill to get a greater sense of perspective. Simply stepping away from your desk / environment / question and taking a break can really help (it’s why that idea or solution so often comes to you in the shower, or while walking the dog).

Even standing up changes your energy.

This was illustrated beautifully in a coaching session earlier today. The client had a question to answer that felt tangled up. How to balance team dynamics in constantly changing circumstances?

We stood up, we pretended to be birds (slightly awkwardly at first, she was up for trying it!), she imagined seeing things from further away and found her answers. It helped to have a bird’s eye view.

What helps you get a bigger perspective?

And how could you zoom out to get it?

Wishing you all a great week,