Adam Grant, author and organizational psychologist at Wharton (the business school of the University of Pennsylvania), had this to say recently on social media:

Relaxing is not the only way to recharge. Finding meaning is a source of fuel.

A restorative break doesn't just avoid tasks that burn you out. It includes people and projects that fire you up.

Detaching from stress prevents exhaustion. Attaching to purpose elevates energy.

This rang true for me. Just eight days after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, I started writing this daily blog. It gave me a purpose that helped to alleviate the stress of facing a life-threatening illness and a place to focus my energy. Through my writing, I could share my fears, process my worries and hang on to every glimmer of hope.

Blogging about my cancer treatments also gave me a job when I no longer had a job, having stepped away from my stressful role as head of health communications for the Government of Canada.

Finding energy through purpose—to use Grant's words—comes naturally to me. I come from a family of "Workahollingtons" (a term my daughter coined). In addition to our work, we have side hustles, projects and hobbies. We rarely stop. Perhaps our engagement in leisure activities that others might consider work is our way of finding purpose and meaning in order to detach from everyday stresses.