For the past year and a half, my life has been one big blur of diaper changes, family time, work, and writing. Driving the same stretch of road between my house and daycare and staring at the same computer for hours on end every day made me feel like I was a hamster in a wheel. I was burned-out and feeling distinctly empty.

I needed to get away.

My salvation came in the form of an unexpected work trip to the Galápagos Islands (perks of being an independent contractor for an eco-adventure travel company, yo).

Before I continue, there’s one thing you should know about me: I love to travel. It’s an essential part of who I am. There’s a whole, wide world out there and I only have one lifetime to see it. And I want to see it and experience it all.

I crave experiences that change my perception of the world, allow me to engage with people, learn about geography and history and culture, and appreciate the sheer beauty of our planet.

Travel feeds my soul. And for the past year and a half, I’ve been starving.

My recent trip to the Galápagos happened to dovetail with the completion of a major rewrite on my novel, The Hustler. I’d been cranking it out at warp speed for the past nine months with barely any breaks and I needed some breathing room.

So I saved my manuscript, sent it to a couple of trusty beta readers, packed my bags, kissed my husband and son, and set off for South America.

What did I find when I got there? An exquisite, utterly unique environment unlike anything else on earth. And my own restoration.

The Galápagos, in case you aren’t familiar, is wholly unique. A volcanic island chain 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos is home to creatures that came there millennia ago and evolved to suit their environment. Like the finches, for example.

Sound familiar? Yep, this is where Charles Darwin conceived of his theory of evolution by studying the finches on various islands. What a thrill to see evidence of that theory in person.

The Galápagos is also at the confluence of three ocean currents, so there are creatures from what seems like all of the world. There are penguins from the south, sea lions from the north, and birds, reptiles, and tortoises from mainland South America. And because the islands are so remote and the wildlife evolved largely free from predators, animals there show no fear of humans, only curiosity.

Can you imagine walking among sea lions or colonies of seabirds, and none of the animals are afraid of you? It’s an astounding experience.

And seriously, there’s nothing more restorative to the soul than swimming with mother-freaking sea lions. And penguins. Oh my god, the penguins. So adorable it hurts.

Over the course of a week, I immersed myself in this unique environment, appreciated the beauty of nature, and reveled in the wildlife. When I left, I was refreshed.

Now that I’m home, my life no longer feels like a hamster wheel. Sure, the household chores, work, and family obligations are still there, but my attitude has changed. I’m challenging myself to find the joy in the little moments.

And by taking a break from writing and focusing on me, I’m returning to my projects with a renewed sense of purpose and some much-needed perspective.

Life can be overwhelming sometimes, and we all need to take time for self-care. It won’t always be a trip to the Galápagos (but if you can go, do it!); even if it’s just taking a few hours to do something you love, you need to relax once in awhile and find your slice of wonder in the world.

In other words, don’t do what I did. Don’t wait until your soul is starving before you feed it.