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What I Learned When My Brain and Body Shut Down

Filed Under: SUCCESS, Tiny Buddha

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” ~Anne Lamott

I used to believe that success meant always being available. Always saying yes. Always responding immediately to emails, Slack pings, texts, whatever was thrown my way. Because if I stopped—even for a second—I might fall behind. And if I wasn’t working harder than everyone else, was I even working hard enough?

For years, that mindset worked. Or so I thought. Every win, every promotion, every new milestone felt like adding fuel to the fire. The more I ‘succeeded’ by society’s standards—the title, the career, the financial stability—the more I pushed myself to do more, to be more.

My perfectionism kicked in, too. I didn’t just want to succeed; I wanted to be perfect at everything—career, leadership, motherhood, marriage, friendships. And I never removed anything from my plate—I just kept stacking it higher.

I climbed the corporate ladder, became the first female VP in a 300-person marketing org at a Fortune 500 company, and checked every success box that should have made me feel accomplished. But instead of feeling fulfilled, I felt… empty. Exhausted. Like I was running on fumes but too scared to stop.

And then one day, my body gave me no choice but to stop. It wasn’t a slow fade or a warning sign I could ignore—it was like someone pulled the plug. I went from a high-functioning overachiever to someone who couldn’t even form a sentence without feeling mentally drained.

Not just stress. Not just exhaustion. A full-body, full-brain shutdown. Emails didn’t make sense. Conversations felt like static. I couldn’t process thoughts.

My brain hit the off switch, and I didn’t know how to turn it back on. I sat at my desk, staring at my screen, and for the first time in my life, I physically couldn’t push through.

That moment scared me more than anything.

Five years before my full breakdown, I had already been on a collision course. In that short span of time, I became a mother, got promoted to director, took on more teams and responsibilities, lost my sister and grandmother, and moved into a new house—which promptly caught fire.

But I still kept pushing, still kept performing, because slowing down wasn’t an option. Until my body made it one.

I remember sitting in my car after work, gripping the steering wheel, staring blankly ahead. I had nothing left.

It wasn’t just exhaustion; it was something deeper, something that made me feel like I had lost control over my own mind and body. I had built my entire identity on being productive, on being the go-to person, the one who always delivered.

But now I had nothing left to give. And I had no idea how to fix it.

What I Learned from My Breaking Point

But how did I get to that point?

How did I go from thriving on the hustle to completely shutting down?

Looking back, the signs were all there—I just ignored them.

The late nights, the skipped meals, the creeping exhaustion I kept brushing off as ‘just part of the job.’ My body had been warning me for years, and I didn’t listen. Until I had no choice.

That breaking point forced me to ask myself something I had spent my whole life avoiding:

What am I chasing, and at what cost?

Here’s what finally made me realize I couldn’t keep going like this (and what I wish I had figured out before I hit rock bottom):

1. Rest isn’t a reward. It’s a requirement.

For the longest time, I thought sleeping more would fix everything. I watched a MasterClass with Dr. Matt Walker (a sleep expert) and learned all about chronotypes—morning larks vs. night owls. I knew I was a morning lark, so I figured, Great, I’ll just get to bed earlier, and that should do it!

Except, it didn’t.

I’d lie there at night, my body still, but my brain running marathons.

  • Did I give my kiddo his medication?
  • Did someone feed the dog?
  • Is my team member feeling better after being out sick?
  • Crap, I forgot to move the laundry. Now I have two choices: leave it and deal with the stink tomorrow, or drag myself out of bed to fix it.

That’s when I realized that rest isn’t just about sleep. It’s about giving your mind and body a real reset.

I found that when I spent time in my garden, I had more patience with others.

I picked up crocheting for the first time in twenty-five years, making beanies like my life depended on it. They were adorable—and it brought me a peace I hadn’t felt in years.

I started playing board games with my kids, laughing around the table instead of rushing them to bed just so I could jump back online and “get ahead.”

For years, I treated parenting like a responsibility (which, to be fair, it is), but I never just let time be. Everything had been a task to complete, a schedule to follow. But slowing down, being present, laughing with my family—THAT felt like true rest.

Rest isn’t just about stopping. It’s about resetting in a way that actually fuels you.

2. Ambition and balance can co-exist.

Let’s be real—I’m still a work in progress when it comes to boundaries. But one of the biggest shifts I made was realizing that everything in life is a season.

I used to overthink every decision. Saying no felt heavy, like I was closing a door forever. But once I started thinking in seasons, everything changed.

  • Instead of “no,” I started saying “not right now.” This made boundaries feel lighter and easier to stick to.
  • I got clear on my non-negotiables. If something filled my cup, it got priority time. If something drained me? It was time to let it go.

For years, I was the kind of leader who said things like “I support your decision” when someone needed time off—but the undertone was always “but we really need you here.” The unspoken pressure to overwork was real.

Now, I build my life around people who encourage me to invest in myself—not just support it, but push me to do it. And that makes all the difference.

3. If stopping feels scary, that’s a sign you need to stop.

I was terrified to slow down. I had built my entire reputation on:

✔ Always being available (Praised!)
✔ Always performing at the top (Praised!)
✔ Living every aspect of hustle culture (Praised!).

It was my identity. So, if I stopped… who even was I?

What if I had worked my butt off for nothing?
What if people stopped seeing me as “successful”—would they think I was a failure?

I’m still in this transition, and honestly, it’s still scary. But leaning into the unknown is part of redefining success. That’s what makes it feel less terrifying.

I used to believe success = status, power, money.
Now, I see success as something bigger—health, joy, presence.

And while I won’t pretend it’s easy, I can tell you this: it’s worth it.

What This Means for You

If you’re reading this, wondering why—despite all your effort—you still feel exhausted, stuck, or empty… I get it. I’ve sat in that same place, running on fumes, convinced that pushing harder was the answer. But it’s not. It never was.

You don’t have to break before you start making changes. Small shifts—pausing, setting boundaries, rethinking what success actually means—can save you from ever reaching that breaking point.

Take the break now. Reclaim your energy now. Redefine success now. Because the life you want isn’t waiting on your next achievement—it’s waiting on you to stop running long enough to actually live it.

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About Kris Licata

Kris Licata is a former corporate leader who knows firsthand how hustle culture disguises itself as ambition. Now, she helps high-achievers break free from burnout and redefine success on their own terms. As the founder of Break & Bloom, she creates experiences that help overachievers reset through creativity, connection, and humor—because success should fuel you, not drain you. Follow her journey and get real, relatable insights at krislicata.com.

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New Study Finds the ‘Optimal’ Length of a Workweek (and It’s Not 40 Hours)

Filed Under: Money.com, SUCCESS

Most employees don’t have much say in the length of their workweek: A full-time position stipulates a certain amount of hours, and that’s how much you have to work. Period.

But how much would people want to work if they could choose their total hours — even knowing that less work means less pay?

In a new working paper shared by the National Bureau of Economic Research, Duke University economists analyzed data from Germany and found that the “optimal” workweek is 37 hours.

The paper draws findings from the German Socio-Economic Panel, a long-running dataset that includes the following question: “If you could choose your own working hours, taking into account that your income would change according to the number of hours: How many hours would you want to work?”

The researchers found that, based on folks’ responses, more than two-thirds of sampled workers can be considered “overworked.” That means their desired hours (37.5 per week on average) exceed actual hours (42.7 per week on average).

The paper also considered a 1991-2008 dataset from the U.K. that asked workers if they’d prefer more or fewer hours, as well as similar (but even older) U.S. government surveys. In these datasets, respondents’ desired hours weren’t recorded. Still, the data suggests that people in the U.K. and Germany share a preference to work fewer hours, “while the U.S. sharply differs, featuring a much larger fraction of workers wishing to increase hours,” the Duke researchers wrote in the paper.

Is a 40-hour workweek too long?

In the U.S., the idea of the 40-hour workweek was cemented in 1940 under revisions to the Fair Labor Standards Act. It requires overtime of at least one and one-half pay for employees who work over 40 hours.

However, under U.S. laws, there are exceptions for “professional” and “administrative” employees, meaning that people earning more than $35,568 annually are not necessarily entitled to overtime pay.

Last year, the Department of Labor enacted a rule expanding overtime pay by increasing that cutoff amount to $58,656, but the policy was later vacated by a judge in Texas. The government’s lawyers filed fresh appeals this month, continuing to fight for what was originally a Biden-era change.

Despite the “norm” of the 40-hour workweek, it’s very common in the U.S. for people to work more than 40 hours per week. Prior studies have shown that Americans have worse work-life balance than workers in some European countries, working 400 hours more per year than Germans, for instance.

Some other countries have explored shorter work schedules in recent experiments.

Most notably, in April, tens of thousands of government employees in Tokyo are getting an option to work four days per week. Japan’s low fertility rate has been cited as a motivation for the experiment. Some German and Australian companies have also offered four-day workweek options.

While some groups have suggested a four-day workweek in the U.S., the idea is more of a dream than reality, at least for now. According to a new Gallup report, the average full-time worker in the U.S. reported a roughly 43-hour workweek in 2024, down only slightly from 44.1 hours in 2019.

More from Money:

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Americans Work Hundreds of Hours More a Year Than Europeans: Report

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Major Moves: Loewe Appoints Former Proenza Schouler Designers As Creative Directors; Mugler Names A New Designer

Filed Under: Luxury Lifestyle

MARCH 2025: Loewe appoints former Proenza Schouler designers, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, as its creative directors (Photo: Loewe)

With the global economy slowing down, the fashion industry has never been more volatile — and designers have never been more vulnerable. In the past year, the fashion news cycle has seen plenty of creative directors come and go between coveted top spots at the helm of luxury brands. Veteran figures like Hedi Slimane and John Galliano left their roles at Celine and Maison Margiela respectively, with nothing else lined up (as far as we know). There were some exciting changes, too: last December, Matthieu Blazy left Bottega Veneta to join the house of Chanel, ending months of rumours and speculations about who would be Virginie Viard’s successor. Meanwhile, his former role at Bottega Veneta was taken up by Louise Trotter, the former creative director of Carven. 

If 2024 was full of twists and turns in fashion’s so-called “game” of musical chairs, 2025 is already looking to outdo it. Ahead, tune into all the major shifts within the fashion industry and catch up on all the fashion news to know, from creative director appointments to departures. 

Mugler Names A New Creative Director As Casey Cadwallader Exits

MARCH 2025: Mugler appoints Miguel Castro Freitas as creative director (Photo: Robi Rodriguez, courtesy of Mugler)

Hot on the heels of Loewe’s major announcement, Mugler has named its new creative director: Miguel Castro Freitas.

Freitas succeeds Casey Cadwallader, who has helmed Mugler since 2018. During his seven-year tenure, Cadwallader reinvigorated the French fashion brand founded by Thierry Mugler with a fresh energy, offering bodycon styles and cut-out catsuits that were embraced by popstars like BeyoncÊ, Dua Lipa and more. 

Freitas is a relatively behind-the-scenes figure in the fashion industry. Prior to his appointment at Mugler, the Portugal-born designer and Central Saint Martins graduate worked at Lanvin, Dior (first during John Galliano’s tenure, and again under Raf Simons), Dries Van Noten and, most recently, Sportmax, Max Mara’s sister brand.

In a statement, Danièle Lahana-Aidenbaum, the global brand president of Mugler Fashion and Fragrances, said: “Miguel lives and breathes the Mugler spirit. His deep understanding of Mugler’s DNA and his vast creativity and talent made him a natural choice.”

Freitas will join Mugler officially on 1 April. He will present his first Mugler collection during the Spring/Summer 2026 season at Paris Fashion Week this September. ⁠

Loewe Appoints Former Proenza Schouler Designers As Creative Directors

On 24 March, Loewe named not one but two new creative directors: Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, formerly of Proenza Schouler.⁠
⁠
McCollough and Hernandez will take the helm of the Spanish luxury fashion brand from 7 April. The designer duo will oversee all of Loewe’s collections, including womenswear, menswear, leather goods and accessories.

In a joint statement, the designers shared, “We are incredibly honoured to join Loewe, a house whose values and mission align closely with our own. We look forward to working alongside its extraordinary teams and artisans, whose talent—under the exceptional creative direction of Jonathan Anderson—has shaped Loewe into the cultural force it is today.”

The news comes just a week after Jonathan Anderson announced his departure from Loewe, ending his 11-year tenure. McCollough and Hernandez exited Proenza Schouler in January 2025 after an even longer tenure. The pair, who met at Parsons School of Design, founded Proenza Schouler in 2002 and immediately established it as one of New York’s most beloved fashion brands. They went on to win five CFDA awards at their womenswear label.

Sidney Toledano, the chief executive of the LVMH Fashion Group, said in a statement, “I have long admired Jack and Lazaro’s work at Proenza Schouler, their eclectic creativity and dedication to craft make them a natural choice to build the next chapter for Loewe.”

Jonathan Anderson Exits Loewe After 11 Years

MARCH 2025: Jonathan Anderson announces that his is leaving Loewe (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Jonathan Anderson has officially announced his exit from Loewe.

The fashion designer shared the news of his departure on Instagram, a few days after Loewe’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection was presented at Paris Fashion Week.

“Eleven years ago, I was given the most incredible opportunity: to write a chapter in a story that is now 179 years old,” wrote Anderson. “They say all good things must come to an end, but I disagree. While my own chapter draws to a close, Loewe’s story will continue for many years to come and I will look on with pride.”

Anderson joined Loewe as creative director in 2013, and he spent the next 11 years shaping the Spanish luxury house with his eccentric vision. At Loewe’s fashion shows for men and women, he often unveiled surreal items that would go viral, like balloon shoes and hoop dresses. He also oversaw the brand’s buzzy collaborations with On, Studio Ghibli and Paula’s Ibiza. 

Anderson also launched the Loewe Craft Prize in 2016. The designer wrote, “We created a platform that genuinely supports and gives visibility to vanishing crafts, young makers, old masters, and new ideas. I would like to thank the (Loewe) Foundation team, the members of the Jury and Expert panel for their time and dedication.”

Reflecting on his legacy at Loewe, Anderson wrote, “Since day one, I envisioned creating a cultural brand. This idea relied heavily on the trust and generosity of the many artists, craftspeople, estates, foundations, museums and galleries who contributed their work. I am sincerely grateful to you all.”

Anderson’s successor at Loewe has not been named. Many fashion insiders speculate that Anderson is headed to Dior (Kim Jones stepped down from his role as creative director of Dior Men in January 2025). The designer will continue to helm his eponymous label, JW Anderson.

Demna Is The New Artistic Director of Gucci

After 10 years at Balenciaga, Demna has been appointed to the role of artistic director at Gucci, one of the biggest fashion houses in the industry. He is expected to join the house early July, after presenting his final couture collection for Balenciaga.

“I am truly excited to join the Gucci family. It is an honour to contribute to a House that I deeply respect and have long admired. I look forward to writing together with Stefano and the whole team a new chapter of Gucci’s amazing story,” the designer said in a statement.

Donatella Versace Steps Down As Creative Director; Dario Vitale Succeeds Her As Chief Creative Officer

MARCH 2025: Dario Vitale is the new chief creative officer of Versace (Photo: Versace/Stef Mitchell)

Over in Milan, Donatella Versace has stepped down as creative director of Versace after 30 years in the role. She will take on the newly created role of chief brand ambassador, while Dario Vitale, who cut his teeth at brands like Miu Miu and Bottega Veneta, has been installed as the brand’s new chief creative officer.

“I am truly honoured to join Versace as the chief creative officer and to be a part of this special and powerful fashion luxury House created by Gianni and Donatella,” Vitale said in a statement. “The House of Versace has a unique heritage that has spanned decades and has shaped the history of fashion. I want to express my sincere thank you to Donatella for her trust in me, and for her tireless dedication to the extraordinary brand that Versace is today. It is a privilege to contribute to the future growth of Versace and its global impact through my vision, expertise and dedication.”

Following the announcement, Donatella shared a heartfelt Instagram post following the news with the caption, “I hope I’ve made you proud so far”, undoubtedly a dedication to her late brother Gianni Versace, who founded the brand in 1978.

Sabato De Sarno Leaves Gucci

FEBRUARY 2025 fashion news: Sabato De Sarno is leaving Dior, three months after exiting Fendi. Read more of the latest fashion news. (Photo: Riccardo Raspa)

Sabato De Sarno is leaving Gucci after two years. The news was announced via a statement from the Italian luxury brand on 6 February.

In that statement, Gucci CEO Stefano Cantino says, “I would like to express my deep gratitude to Sabato for his passion and dedication to Gucci. I sincerely appreciate how he honoured Gucci’s craftsmanship and heritage with such commitment.”

De Sarno joined Gucci as its creative director in 2023, succeeding Alessandro Michele. The Italian fashion designer brought a minimalist vision to Gucci’s womenswear and menswear collections, with a focus on wardrobe staples, coats and tailoring. His Gucci campaigns were similarly straightforward, and he made an effort to spotlight emerging models in them. De Sarno also tapped celebrities like Dakota Johnson, Kendall Jenner, Paul Mescal and Debbie Harry to front Gucci’s campaigns.

The 41-year-old designer started his fashion career as an assistant pattern-maker at Prada, and during his early years at Valentino, where he was design director, he focused on designing men’s coats. De Sarno’s tenure at Gucci, which he joined after leaving Valentino, lasted two years.

De Sarno’s successor is yet to be announced. Gucci will present a collection from its in-house design team during its Fall/Winter 2025 fashion show on 25 February, during Milan Fashion Week.

Kim Jones Exits Dior

JANUARY 2025: Kim Jones is leaving Dior, three months after exiting Fendi. Read more of the latest fashion news. (Photo: Instagram / @lewishamilton)

Kim Jones is leaving Dior. The British designer is making his exit mere days after presenting his Dior Men’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection in Paris, which received a standing ovation. In January 2025, Jones was also awarded the Knight of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest civilian honour. ⁠

⁠Jones spent seven years at the helm of Dior, taking over Kris Van Assche in 2018. He drew upon the maison’s rich archives of womenswear and haute couture to create desirable menswear. He also created buzz with a string of collaborations with the likes of Nike, Kaws, Shawn Stussy, Hajime Sorayama, Travis Scott and Lewis Hamilton. ⁠

⁠On top of being recognised at the CFDA and the British Fashion Awards, Jones was also awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2020. The news of Jones’s departure from Dior comes three months after he stepped down at Fendi, where he served as artistic director of haute couture and women’s ready-to-wear. ⁠

In a statement, Jones said, “It was a true honour to have been able to create my collections within the house of Dior, a symbol of absolute excellence. I express my deep gratitude to my studio and the ateliers who have accompanied me on this wonderful journey. They have brought my creations to life. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the artists and friends I have met through my collaborations. Lastly, I feel sincere gratitude towards Bernard and Delphine Arnault, who have given me their full support.”

⁠Dior has yet to announce Jones’s successor. ⁠

Glenn Martens Joins Maison Margiela

JANUARY 2025: Glenn Martens is the new creative director of Maison Margiela (Photo: Instagram / @kylieminogue)

Glenn Martens has been named as the new creative director of Maison Margiela. 

The Belgian designer succeeds John Galliano, who left the Paris-based fashion label in December 2024 after a decade. 

“I have worked with Glenn for years, I have witnessed his talent, and I know what he is capable of,” said Renzo Rosso, chairman of OTB Group, which owns Maison Margiela. The label was founded in 1988 by Belgian designer Martin Margiela, who retired from the fashion industry in 2009.

“After Martin, who gave life to the maison and its unique Artisanal line, and John who made it the most cutting-edge couture house in the world, I am proud to have a third couturier at its helm,” added Rosso. “Glenn, who studied at Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts like Martin, has already shown his prowess and his vision in couture.”

Martens is currently the creative director of Diesel — also owned by OTB Group — and was formerly at the helm of Y/Project. The 41-year-old designer left his role as creative director of Y/Project in September 2024, and the French fashion was shuttered in January 2025. 

The date of Martens’s first fashion show for Maison Margiela is yet to be announced.

The announcement from Maison Margiela and its parent company OTB Group did not specify when Martens would show his first collection for the brand.

This article was first seen on Grazia Singapore.

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The post Major Moves: Loewe Appoints Former Proenza Schouler Designers As Creative Directors; Mugler Names A New Designer appeared first on LUXUO.

Inside a Historic Pacific Heights Manor

Filed Under: Sothebys Realty, SUCCESS

Inside a Historic Pacific Heights Manor

Immortalized in print as “the most iconic mansion in San Francisco,” this regal late-19th-century residence features Georgian glamour, contemporary luxuries, and a wealth of spaces ideal for fabulous fêtes or quiet private moments.

In the late 19th century—a time when women could not own property in San Francisco—Philadelphia art collector Sarah Spooner migrated to the West Coast city undaunted, drawn by its numerous charms. She chose a site then outside the city limits, at the top of a level hill in what today is prestigious Pacific Heights and where the sweeping vista was truly breathtaking.

Continue reading Inside a Historic Pacific Heights Manor at Sotheby´s International Realty | Blog.