teshmbaabu

A few months ago, I shared candidly about my experience with burnout. At the time, I was running on fumes, operating at full throttle, yet feeling emptier by the day. The truth is, entrepreneurship often demands more than we admit. We normalize constant firefighting, endless problem-solving, and always being “on,” until the inevitable happens: exhaustion catches up.

Unfortunately for me, burnout catching up was my wake-up call. I knew I couldn’t keep pouring from an empty cup, so I made a bold, uncomfortable choice: I stepped back. The sad reality is that most of us will ignore the warning signs (and this message) until burnout finally hits you – just like I did.

Taking a mini-sabbatical 

For the last three months, I pressed pause. Not to escape entrepreneurship, but to re-evaluate how I wanted to live and work. At first, it felt strange, even selfish. Our culture glorifies hustle, and the idea of taking time off can feel like weakness. But what I realized is this: sometimes the most strategic move you can make is to stop moving.

The sabbatical gave me space to breathe, to reflect, and of course – to scheme a little. Out of that stillness came a lot of enlightenment and clarity.

Enter the 10 days of silence

I chose to end my mini-sabbatical with something that stretched me far beyond my comfort zone: a 10-day Vipassana silent retreat. Ten full days of silence. No phone. No books. No journals. No conversations. Just me, my thoughts, and at least 10 hours of meditation each day. The routine was simple; sleep, eat, meditate, repeat. Yet within that simplicity came some of the most profound realizations – and even long-postponed decisions – of my adult life. So many of the choices we truly need to make get delayed, ignored, or buried under distractions, but in the silence, avoidance isn’t an option.

The first few days were the hardest. My mind raced like a browser with 100 tabs open – emails, responsibilities, everything I should have done, or should be doing. Slowly, though, the noise began to fade. In its place came awareness: a realization of just how much we distract ourselves to avoid sitting with what’s inside us.

It was one of the most challenging experiences of my life – especially mentally. Yet it was precisely this challenge that made the rewards so profound. From those ten days of silence came three powerful gifts:

• Peace – A lightness and calm I haven’t felt in years; honestly, probably not since I was under 18. In those ten days, I realized how often we overcomplicate life, chasing outcomes and stressing over things that, in the grand scheme, matter far less than we think.
• Clarity – A rare feeling of enlightenment and a deeper understanding of what truly matters in both my life and my work. The retreat reminded me that purpose is the compass; when you know what you’re here to do, the noise fades and decision-making becomes aligned and intentional.
• Renewed Energy – The kind that isn’t frantic or adrenaline-fueled, but grounded, steady, and sustainable. True energy comes from focus, from channeling your attention toward what matters most, instead of scattering yourself across endless tasks and distractions.

This experience gave me insights that I hope others can learn from too, whether you’re building a business, navigating life’s complexities, or just feeling stuck.

Reflections for fellow builders (and anyone figuring things out)

Coming out of this journey, a few thoughts stand out:

1. Creativity needs space. If you think about the most creative ideas in your life, the majority probably popped into your mind when you weren’t confined by boundaries, neither externally nor internally. Silence, stillness, and moments away from noise create that fertile space for ideas to emerge. (This was by far the biggest win for me!)
2. Rest is not the opposite of work, it is part of the work. Burnout often disguises itself as productivity. True creativity and resilience come from moments of intentional rest and reflection.
3. Step back to move forward. Progress doesn’t always come from pushing harder. Sometimes it comes from pausing long enough to see the bigger picture, re-evaluate, and reconfigure.
4. Silence is a powerful teacher, if you’re willing to listen. In stillness, uncomfortable truths surface. That’s where real healing and growth begin.
5. Energy management > time management. The goal isn’t to squeeze more into our days, but to show up fully, with focus and presence, for what matters most.

One of the books I read during my sabbatical that reinforced these reflections was The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, which dives deeper into principles of leverage, focus, and long-term thinking. Interestingly, Naval is also a big proponent of meditation – a practice that aligns perfectly with the lessons I was discovering in silence.

Particularly, this retreat reinforced for me Naval’s idea that “99% of effort is wasted; so you should constantly iterate your way to the 1% that really matters.” In the grind, we often pour energy into endless tasks, calls, meetings and firefighting, mistaking motion for progress. But when I slowed down, I could see more clearly which efforts actually compound and which are just noise. The pause didn’t feel like wasted time – it was what allowed me to notice the 1% that truly moves the needle, both in my personal growth and in venture building.

What’s next

I return from this sabbatical feeling lighter, clearer, and deeply energized to keep “cooking”. But this time, I’m committed to building with balance.

To fellow entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone in the thick of the grind: I hope my experience is a reminder that stepping away is not weakness. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do – for yourself, your work, and the people who depend on you – is to occasionally pause and reset, even if it’s just for a few days.

Because when you lead from clarity instead of busyness, everything changes.

A special thanks to my friend and fellow founder/CEO Thomas Njeru for nudging me towards the 10-day silent retreat. One of the best gifts I’ve given myself.