The holidays are here.
And somewhere in the back of your mind, there's a voice saying: But what about the product? What about the users? What if something breaks?
I want to give you permission to disappear.
Not forever. Just for a few days.
Your users will survive. Your metrics will still be there when you get back. That bug you've been meaning to fix? It can wait until next week.
The world will not end if you stop checking your dashboard for 72 hours.
I know this is hard to believe. When you're a founder, your product feels like an extension of yourself. Stepping away feels irresponsible. Negligent, even.
But here's what I've learned: The best ideas don't come from grinding. They come from space. From rest. From giving your brain permission to wander somewhere other than your roadmap.
Some of my clearest product insights came after I stopped thinking about the product entirely.
So tonight, tomorrow, this week — let yourself be a person, not just a founder. Eat too much. Watch something pointless. Have a conversation that has nothing to do with your startup.
The work will be there when you return. And you'll be better for having left.
This is Founder FM. Happy holidays.