The Gear Change: Why the In-Between Matters

That strange week between Christmas and New Year’s… Nothing feels urgent, but your brain still wants to go full speed ahead like it’s in the thick of things.

When I was playing or coaching, I called it “The Gear Change.”

During my playing days, it was the two-week break between the end of season and the start of off-season training. We were specifically told not to lift, play volleyball, or worry about what we ate. This was a complete change from what we had been doing for months on end, and it was harder than you might think. But it was needed.

In coaching, it was after the season ended and before the craziness of the recruiting trail and off-season training showed up. I went from months of feeling like there was too much to do, not enough time to do it, and any downtime meant something was behind… to having nothing “urgent” to do. Sure, there were things that could be done (planning, strategizing for the spring season) but none of it needed to be done right now. In fact, a lot of it couldn’t be done right now.

And this isn’t just true for athletes, anyone moving from one big project to the next can experience a gear change.  You finally turn that big project in… and then think, ‘Okay, now what?’

After going through plenty of Gear Changes in my life, I’ve realized something: the transition space matters.

Why It Matters

Here’s the thing, our brains don’t like slowing down. After weeks or months of running at full speed, we get wired for urgency. The constant grind creates a habit loop: check the next task, solve the next problem, win the next point. That cycle gives us little dopamine hits, so when it suddenly stops, it feels wrong. Almost like something is missing.

And for athletes and high achievers, it’s even deeper. Our identity is tied to performance. Doing nothing can feel like losing purpose. So we fight it—our brain says, “Go!” even when our body and emotions are screaming, “Please stop,” or even if there is nothing that needs to be done right now.

But here’s what I’ve learned: that pause isn’t wasted time. It’s essential. Performance science backs this up. Just like muscles need recovery to repair and grow, our minds need downtime to recharge. Without it, decision-making suffers, creativity dries up, and burnout creeps in.

Those in-between moments are where reflection happens. They give us space to ask: What worked? What didn’t? What’s next? That’s strategic thinking, and you can’t do it when you’re stuck in reactive mode. And here’s the bonus, those quiet pauses often spark your best ideas. The ones that seem to come out of nowhere? They usually show up when you finally slow down.

All of this is why the gear change isn’t just a break, it’s the foundation for what comes next. It turns exhaustion into readiness and chaos into clarity.

And when you finally hit the gas again? You’re excited to do it.

That’s the power of the in-between.

Pause, Reflect, Plan

So what do you do with this in-between time? You don’t just sit there feeling guilty for not grinding. You use it with intention, but not too much intention. Remember, it’s a mind break.

Here’s the framework I lean on when the gear shift feels harder than it looks and I need some help to take advantage of it:

Pause

First, give yourself permission to slow down. This isn’t laziness. It’s recovery. Just like your muscles need rest to repair and grow, your mind needs space to recharge. Take the walk. Ride the bike. Put your feet up. Close the laptop. Turn off the email notifications. Hit the brakes before you hit the ground running again.

Reflect

Once you’ve caught your breath, glance back. What worked this past season? What didn’t? Where did you feel strong, and where did you struggle? Reflection turns experience into insight. Without it, you’re just repeating patterns instead of learning from them.

Plan

Finally, shift into forward gear but do it strategically. What’s the focus for the next phase? What’s the one thing that will move the needle? This isn’t about filling your calendar with busy work. It’s about setting priorities that align with your bigger goals so when it’s time to go full speed again, you’re ready.

So if this week feels like a Gear Change, embrace it!  It’s an opportunity to pause, reflect, and recharge and maybe get a really good idea.

And as I wrote this, I couldn’t help but wonder.... maybe this strange week between Christmas and New Year’s is the world’s way of giving us a Gear Change.