Claim your Island of Recreation
A sacred space alongside the hustle of the everyday
Somewhere along the way, we traded our crayons for calendars, our play for productivity, and our wonder for work. While our phones may be switched to DND mode, our minds and bodies are still racing, still bracing for the next task.
In a conversation that stayed with us, Simon Sommer, CEO of the Jacobs Foundation, introduced the idea of creating our own ‘Islands of recreation’—sacred spaces in our day, untouched by deadlines, unbothered by efficiency.
For Simon, that island is music.
"You need these islands of recreation to sing. Wednesday nights are holy. My assistant knows—there is no business trip on Wednesday night, full stop. Why did I only arrive here on Thursday? Because I had a rehearsal on Wednesday night.”
Music matters to him, so he creates time for it. No justifications. No productivity hacks hidden there. Just a non-negotiable commitment and the simple act of doing something because it feels good.
So, what are your everyday Bahamas and Andamans? Does your island host spaces for heart-to-heart conversations? A retreat for your hobbies or passion projects? A quiet spot for meditation and reflection? Or perhaps a playground for movement, music, or pure silliness? Whatever it is, it matters to you—not because they should, but because they do.
Think of it as your personal island. No travel agent sending you the best deal to maximize your experience. No grand vacation plans doomed to die in a WhatsApp group.
Your island doesn’t demand an escape from the hustle—it simply asks for space alongside it. A call to reclaim moments of joy and meaning. And if you need a place to start, map out your own island of recreation by using this Canva template. Your island, your rules!
The best part? This island can exist. Right here. In the middle of your day. In fact, let’s start now—put on this song and sway a little!
En route to the island,
Team Project FUEL
PS: We interviewed Simon as part of our effort in designing the First Aid Kit for Innovators in partnership with HundrED. You can explore all the modules here—free of cost!