Burnout Destroys Creativity

Burnout destroys creativity. Woman in straw hat surrounded by plants.

Recommended TED-talk of the Month duration 5 minutes

Early this morning, when I should have been getting out of bed to go and feed the horses, the -3°C reading on the thermometer and crackling frost on the fields was so discouraging that I resisted my coffee cravings to watch one more TED talk: Rahaf Harfoush’s talk “Burnout makes us less creative. “

I am in the process of creating an online course called Burnout to Breakthrough/Road Map to Resilience, so I read everything I can lay my hands on about “burnout.” I actually hadn’t thought about the effect that burnout has on our creativity, but I should have because the more creative we are, the greater our ability to problem-solve. I reflected on my own experience and realised just how detrimental an effect burnout has on my own creativity – when I am stressed, I write to reduce stress, but burnout gives me complete writer’s block.

I thought I would share this talk with you here. It’s excellent, if you have 5 minutes, I recommend you watch it. Twice, if you have time, it makes so much sense. According to Rahaf Harfoush, a digital anthropologist (that sounds like an amazing job,) “Our obsession with productivity — to-do lists, life hacks, morning routines — is making us less productive. We need to redesign our workday around creativity – not just efficiency. She says the average American takes only half of their allocated leave…

Burnout Inhibits Creativity: When Your Inner Fire Burns Out, So Does Your Spark

Burnout doesn’t just make you tired—it murders your creativity, strangles your innovation, and leaves you staring at blank pages, wondering where your brilliance went. As a medical doctor who’s been there, survived it, and now guides others through it on Camino retreats, I’m sharing why your brain stops producing when you’re running on fumes, and more importantly, how to get your creative mojo back. If you’ve ever felt like a shell of your former imaginative self, keep reading.

5 Key Takeaways

  1. Burnout literally rewires your brain’s creative centres: Chronic stress shrinks the prefrontal cortex (your innovation hub) whilst enlarging the amygdala (your fear centre). You’re not lazy—you’re neurologically compromised.
  2. Rest isn’t optional; it’s the prerequisite for creativity: Your best ideas don’t come from pushing harder—they emerge in the spaces between effort. Walking, silence, and doing “nothing” are actually doing everything.
  3. Storytelling rewires burnt-out brains: Sharing narratives in safe circles activates different neural pathways than analytical thinking, offering your exhausted executive functions a genuine break whilst reconnecting you to meaning.
  4. Physical movement unlocks mental movement: Rhythmic walking (especially pilgrimage-style) synchronises both brain hemispheres, creating the conditions where creative insights spontaneously arise.
  5. Community heals what isolation destroyed: Burnout thrives in loneliness. Creativity flourishes in connection. You cannot think your way out of burnout—you must walk, talk, and feel your way through it with others.

Introduction: Empty is Expensive

Burnout doesn’t just steal your energy. It pickpockets your imagination, burgles your curiosity, and leaves you holding an empty bag where your creativity used to live.

I know because I’ve lived it. As a medical doctor, I spent years believing that exhaustion was simply the price of excellence, that running on empty was a badge of honour, and that my worth was measured in productivity. Then one morning, I sat down to write a simple patient letter and couldn’t find the words. Not medical jargon—I had plenty of that. But the connecting tissue, the creative phrasing, the human touch that makes medicine an art as much as a science? Gone.

That’s when I realised: burnout doesn’t just dim your light. It fundamentally alters how your brain processes possibility itself.

The relationship between burnout and creativity isn’t just correlation—it’s causation. When your nervous system is perpetually flooded with cortisol, when your prefrontal cortex is starved of resources because your amygdala is screaming danger signals, when every ounce of cognitive energy is devoted to simply surviving the next email, the next meeting, the next demand… there’s nothing left for imagination.

Creativity requires spaciousness. Burnout is the ultimate space invader.

But here’s the good news I discovered walking the Camino de Santiago: creativity isn’t dead. It’s dormant. And with the right conditions—movement, community, story, and rest—it comes roaring back to life.

Tina’s Story: The Marketing Director Who Lost Her Spark

Tina Pyper arrived at a Camino de Santiago Crossroads Retreat carrying a leather portfolio she never opened and a smartphone she checked every seven minutes. Her fingers twitched constantly, as though typing invisible emails on invisible keyboards. When I asked what brought her to the Camino, she laughed—a brittle, humourless sound like ice cracking.

“I used to be brilliant,” she said, staring at the limestone path stretching ahead. “Now I’m just… functional.”

Tina had spent fifteen years building her reputation as the creative director everyone wanted on their team. The woman who could walk into a room and spin three campaign concepts before coffee arrived. Who dreamed in metaphors and saw connections nobody else noticed. Who made clients weep with the beauty of her brand stories.

Then came the promotion. More responsibility, more budget, more visibility. And with it, more meetings, more stakeholders, more nights working until 2 AM because someone in New York had “just one quick question.” More mornings waking with her heart already racing, mentally triaging the day’s disasters before her feet touched the floor.

The first sign was small: she stopped noticing things. The way autumn light slanted through her office window. The smell of rain on hot pavement. The particular green of new leaves in spring. Details that used to spark ideas now barely registered. Her world had narrowed to screens and deadlines.

Then the ideas stopped coming. She’d sit in brainstorming sessions, her team looking at her expectantly, and find… nothing. Just a vast, echoing blankness where her imagination used to live. She’d panic, reach for old formulas, and regurgitate what worked last year. Nobody complained—her execution was still flawless. But Tina knew. The magic was gone.

“I felt like a fraud,” she told me on our second day walking, her voice barely audible above the crunch of gravel beneath our boots. “Like everyone would eventually realise I was empty inside. Just going through the motions.”

On the third morning, during our storytelling circle, I asked each person to share a childhood memory—nothing work-related, no lessons, just pure recollection. The group sat in the dappled shade of an ancient oak, and when Tina’s turn came, she hesitated so long I thought she might refuse.

Then she began: “I was seven. My grandmother had this garden…”

Her voice changed as she spoke—softened, warmed, came alive. She described the weight of tomatoes in her small palms, sun-warm and heavy. The sharp, green smell of tomato leaves that stuck to her fingers. Her grandmother’s soil-stained hands guiding hers, teaching her to pinch off suckers. The taste of cherry tomatoes eaten straight from the vine, still hot from the sun, bursting sweet and acid on her tongue.

As she spoke, I watched the others lean forward. Watched their faces soften. And I watched something shift in Tina’s eyes—a light flickering back on after a long darkness.

“I’d forgotten,” she whispered when she finished. “I’d completely forgotten how that felt. How alive everything was.”

That evening, she borrowed paper from my notebook. Not to make lists or plans—she’d been doing that compulsively since arrival—but to write. Just to see what came. She sat on a stone wall overlooking the valley as the sun set, and her hand moved across the page in a way I recognised: the unselfconscious flow of someone reconnecting with a lost part of themselves.

Later, in our final storytelling circle, she shared what she’d written: a piece about gardens and grandmothers and the particular quality of light through tomato leaves. It wasn’t marketing copy. It wasn’t strategic or targeted or optimised for anything. It was simply beautiful. Several people cried.

“I thought creativity was something I did,” Tina said, her eyes bright with tears and laughter both. “But it’s something I am. I just needed to remember how to be quiet enough to hear it again.”

She left the retreat with her portfolio still unopened and her phone notifications permanently silenced. Six months later, she sent me a message: she’d taken a sabbatical, was consulting part-time, and had started writing again—not for clients, but for herself. “The ideas are back,” she wrote. “Better than before. Because I’m back.”

In my storytelling circles, I’ve witnessed this resurrection countless times. When we create space for people to share without agenda, without performance, without the pressure to be productive—something fundamental shifts. The stories we tell reconnect us to the stories we’re living. And in that reconnection, creativity doesn’t just return. It transforms.

The Neuroscience of Burnout and Creativity: Why Your Brain Can’t Do Both

Let’s talk about what’s actually happening in your brain when burnout and creativity collide. This isn’t woolliness—it’s biology.

Your prefrontal cortex, the sophisticated CEO of your brain, handles executive functions: planning, problem-solving, and creative thinking. It’s where innovation lives, where you make unexpected connections, where your best ideas emerge. But here’s the catch: it’s an energy hog. When resources are scarce, your brain has to make choices.

Enter burnout. Chronic stress floods your system with cortisol, triggering your amygdala—your brain’s alarm system—into overdrive. Your amygdala doesn’t care about your brilliant marketing campaign or your novel’s plot twist. It cares about survival. And when it’s screaming “danger!” your brain diverts resources away from that expensive prefrontal cortex and towards immediate threat response.

Studies using brain imaging have shown that chronic stress literally shrinks the prefrontal cortex whilst enlarging the amygdala. You’re not imagining it—your creative capacity is being structurally diminished.

But there’s more. Creativity requires what neuroscientists call the “default mode network”—the mental state you enter when you’re not focused on external tasks. It’s the wandering mind, the daydreaming state, the shower-thoughts phenomenon. This is where your brain makes those unexpected connections that feel like genius.

Burnout kills the default mode network. When you’re in constant fight-or-flight, your brain never gets to wander. You’re always on task, always vigilant, always scanning for the next threat (email, deadline, criticism). There’s no mental space for the mind to meander, to play, to stumble upon something new.

This is why forcing creativity when you’re burnt out is like trying to grow tomatoes in concrete. It’s not about willpower or discipline. Your brain literally lacks the conditions necessary for creative thought to emerge.

The Creativity-Burnout Cycle

Here’s where it gets particularly cruel: for many professionals—entrepreneurs, leaders, creatives—your creativity is your livelihood. Losing it isn’t just personally devastating; it’s professionally catastrophic. So what do you do? You work harder. You push more. You try to force the ideas to come.

Which, of course, worsens the burnout. Which further inhibits creativity. Which increases panic. Which drives you to work harder still.

I see this cycle constantly in the corporate professionals and entrepreneurs who come to my retreats. They arrive believing they need to “fix” themselves quickly so they can get back to producing. They’re treating their burnout like a software glitch—reboot and resume.

But burnout isn’t a glitch. It’s a message. Your nervous system is essentially staging an intervention, saying: “We cannot continue like this.”

Why Rest Isn’t Enough (But It’s Essential)

“Just rest” sounds simple. And yes, sleep matters enormously—the glymphatic system that clears metabolic waste from your brain works primarily during deep sleep. But here’s what I’ve learned both personally and professionally: passive rest alone doesn’t restore creativity.

You need active recovery. You need experiences that engage your senses, that connect you to something beyond your inbox, that remind your nervous system what safety and pleasure feel like.

This is where walking comes in. Rhythmic bilateral movement—the left-right, left-right of walking—has been shown to integrate both brain hemispheres and reduce amygdala activation. There’s a reason so many philosophers and writers throughout history were dedicated walkers. The physical rhythm creates a mental rhythm. Ideas don’t come from thinking harder; they emerge from the steady pace of feet on earth.

Pilgrimage-style walking—walking with intention but without rigid destination—adds another layer. You’re moving, but you’re not rushing. You’re going somewhere, but you’re fully present to where you are. This paradox is precisely what burnt-out brains need: forward momentum without pressure, purpose without performance.

The Power of Sensory Awakening

Remember Tina’s tomatoes? That wasn’t nostalgia—it was neurological rehabilitation.

Burnout narrows our sensory aperture. We stop noticing. Everything becomes instrumental—this thing to get through to reach that thing. Food becomes fuel. Walks become transportation. Conversations become transactions.

Creativity requires the opposite: a wide-open sensory engagement with the world. When you truly taste your food, feel the sun on your skin, smell the particular scent of pine after rain—you’re not just being mindful. You’re giving your prefrontal cortex novel sensory data to play with. You’re reminding your brain that the world is full of interesting inputs worth paying attention to.

In our Camino retreats, I watch this awakening happen gradually. Day one, people barely notice their surroundings—they’re too busy managing their anxiety about being away from work. By day three, someone stops the group to point out a spider’s web jewelled with dew. By day five, we’re pausing to taste wild blackberries, to press our palms against sun-warmed stone, to listen to the specific quality of birdsong at dusk.

This isn’t frivolous. This is medicine. You’re retraining your nervous system to perceive abundance instead of scarcity, wonder instead of threat. And from that shifted state, creativity doesn’t have to be forced. It simply bubbles up, natural as breathing.

Storytelling Circles: The Unexpected Antidote

One of the most powerful tools I’ve discovered for healing burnout and restoring creativity is also one of the oldest: storytelling in community.

In my storytelling circles, there’s no agenda. No workshopping. No critique. Just humans sharing stories and other humans listening intently. It’s deceptively simple. And profoundly transformative.

Here’s why it works: storytelling engages completely different neural pathways than the analytical, problem-solving thinking that dominates most professional environments. When you tell a story, you’re not in your prefrontal cortex trying to optimise and strategise. You’re in a more embodied, emotional, intuitive space.

Moreover, storytelling is fundamentally creative. Even if you’re sharing something that “really happened,” you’re making creative choices: where to begin, which details matter, how to convey emotion, what the story means. You’re exercising your creativity without the pressure of it having to be “useful.”

And here’s the magic: when you tell your story and someone truly listens—not to respond, not to fix, but simply to receive—something in you relaxes. You remember that you matter beyond your productivity. That your experiences have value beyond their professional utility. That you are interesting simply because you are human.

For women especially—and I see this repeatedly in my circles—this permission to take up space, to be heard without having to prove value, to share without apologising, is revolutionary. So many professional women have internalised the message that their worth equals their output. Storytelling circles disrupt that equation.

One member of my circles, Sarah, shared this insight: “For the first time in years, I experienced something without immediately thinking about how to monetise it or what it could teach me. I just… experienced it. And then I shared it. And people cared. Not because it was useful. Because it was true.”

That shift—from instrumental to intrinsic, from performing to being—is where creativity lives.

Your Body Keeps the Score

There’s a reason burnout recovery requires physical intervention, not just cognitive reframing. Your body has kept meticulous records of every threat, every stressor, every time you overrode your needs for productivity. Those records are stored in your nervous system, your muscles, your fascia.

You cannot think your way out of burnout because burnout isn’t just a thought problem. It’s a whole-body experience of depletion and dysregulation.

This is why our Camino retreats combine walking with mindfulness and meditation practices specifically designed for stress management. We’re not trying to relax your mind whilst your body remains clenched. We’re helping your entire nervous system recalibrate.

The walking provides bilateral stimulation and rhythmic regulation. The mindfulness practices teach interoception—the ability to notice and interpret bodily signals. The meditation cultivates the parasympathetic “rest and digest” response. Together, they create the conditions for genuine recovery.

And here’s what happens when your nervous system finally feels safe: creativity returns. Not as something you have to chase, but as something that simply emerges. Ideas arise on the walk. Insights appear during meditation. Connections spark in conversation.

Because creativity was never gone. It was just waiting for you to come home to yourself.

Further Reading: Three Unconventional Books

1. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

Why this book: Van der Kolk’s groundbreaking work on trauma provides the neurological framework for understanding why burnout can’t be resolved through positive thinking alone. His research on how trauma (and chronic stress) physically reshapes the brain and nervous system validates what burnout sufferers intuitively know: this isn’t “all in your head.” More importantly, his exploration of body-based healing modalities—from theatre to yoga to EMDR—offers concrete pathways to recovery. For creative professionals, his chapter on how trauma silences the “watching” part of the brain (the area that notices and creates meaning) is particularly illuminating.

2. Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Why this book: Estés, a Jungian analyst and storyteller, explores how women’s creative lives are destroyed not by lack of talent but by the systematic severing of their connection to their wild, instinctual selves. Her analysis of fairy tales reveals archetypal patterns of how women lose themselves to overwork, perfectionism, and the demands of others—and how they find their way back through story, ritual, and reconnection to their deeper knowing. For burnt-out professional women who’ve sacrificed their creativity on the altar of success, this book is both mirror and map. It’s not a business book, which is precisely why it’s essential reading for anyone whose business has consumed them.

3. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Why this book: Kimmerer, a botanist and member of the Citizen Potawatha Nation, weaves together indigenous wisdom and scientific knowledge to explore humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Her central thesis—that reciprocity, not extraction, is the basis of sustainable relationship—applies as much to our relationship with our own creative energy as it does to the earth. For those recovering from burnout, her writing models a different way of being: attentive, grateful, reciprocal, and deeply creative. Reading her prose is itself a lesson in how creativity emerges not from forcing but from careful attention to what’s already present. Every page reminds you that abundance, not scarcity, is the truth of things—you just have to slow down enough to notice.

Real Voices: Testimonials from the Path

From a First-Time Camino Walker

“I came to Dr Montagu’s Crossroads Retreat in pieces. I’d spent three years building my startup, convinced that burnout was just weakness I needed to push through. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had an original idea—I was just recycling the same strategies, hoping something would stick. The concept that I needed to stop working to start creating again felt dangerous, even irresponsible.

Walking the Camino changed everything. Not instantly—I spent the first two days mentally composing emails I couldn’t send. But something about the rhythm of walking, the mindfulness practices, the complete absence of wifi and demands… my brain finally exhaled. By day four, I was noticing things: bird patterns, stone walls, the way light moved through leaves. By day six, I was having ideas again. Not forced, not strained. They just… appeared.

The mindfulness and meditation exercises Dr Montagu taught us weren’t fluffy nonsense—they were practical tools for regulating my nervous system. And the storytelling circles showed me that I’d become so focused on strategic messaging I’d forgotten how to simply share a human experience. I left with more than rest. I left with a completely different relationship to my work, my creativity, and my worth as a human beyond what I produce.

Six months later, I’m still walking every morning. My business is thriving—not because I’m working harder, but because I’m finally creative again.” — Emma R., Tech Entrepreneur

From a Storytelling Circle Member

“Joining Dr Montagu’s storytelling circle was terrifying. I’d never travelled alone before, never put myself in a space where I had to speak without a professional reason. As a corporate consultant, I was used to having all the answers, being the expert in the room. The idea of just… sharing a personal story with strangers? Vulnerable doesn’t begin to describe it.

But that vulnerability was exactly what I needed. In the circle, nobody wanted my expertise. They just wanted me. My actual experiences, my real reactions, my honest struggles. For the first time in my professional life, I wasn’t performing. I was just being.

What surprised me was how this transformed my confidence about travelling alone. When you’ve sat in a circle and shared something true and been met with genuine attention and care—not judgement, not critique, just presence—something shifts. You realise you’re not as fragile as you thought. That connection is possible even with strangers. That you have intrinsic worth beyond your utility.

Now I travel alone regularly. And I’ve started writing again—not reports, but actual creative writing. The circle didn’t just help me overcome travel anxiety. It helped me remember I’m more than my job title. That the stories I have to tell matter simply because they’re mine.” — Patricia L., Strategy Consultant

FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered

Q: Can’t I just take a holiday and recover from burnout that way?

No, and here’s why: burnout isn’t simple exhaustion that resets with time off. It’s a profound dysregulation of your nervous system that requires active intervention. A typical holiday—especially one where you’re still checking emails, planning the itinerary, managing logistics—keeps you in the same hypervigilant state. Recovery requires experiences that fundamentally shift your nervous system from sympathetic (fight-or-flight) to parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) activation. The combination of pilgrimage-style walking, mindfulness practices, storytelling, and genuine disconnection creates conditions a beach holiday simply cannot.

Q: How do I know if I’m burnt out or just tired?

Fatigue responds to rest. Burnout doesn’t. If you’re burnt out, you’ll notice: emotional exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix, cynicism or detachment from work you once cared about, reduced sense of accomplishment despite working harder, inability to concentrate or create, physical symptoms like insomnia or tension, and feeling trapped with no way out. Most tellingly, if creative tasks that used to energise you now feel impossible, you’re likely beyond simple tiredness into genuine burnout territory.

Q: I can’t afford to take time off work. What then?

I understand this fear intimately—I felt it myself as a doctor. But here’s the harder truth: if you don’t take time off to recover now, burnout will eventually take the choice away from you through illness, breakdown, or such profound performance decline you’re forced to stop. Burnout is expensive—to your health, your relationships, your career longevity, and yes, your creativity. The question isn’t whether you can afford time off; it’s whether you can afford not to recover. Even a long weekend retreat can provide the reset that prevents months of dysfunction.

Q: Does walking really make that much difference to creativity?

Yes, and the research backs this up. Stanford University studies found that walking increases creative output by an average of 60%. The bilateral movement synchronises both brain hemispheres, reduces amygdala activation, and allows the default mode network to engage—precisely the conditions creativity requires. But not all walking is equal: walking in nature, at a comfortable pace, without screens or podcasts, provides maximum benefit. The Camino’s pilgrimage context adds another dimension: you’re walking with intention but without the pressure of productivity, which is exactly the paradox burnt-out brains need.

Q: I’m not naturally creative. Is this still relevant to me?

Absolutely. Creativity isn’t just for artists—it’s fundamental to problem-solving, strategic thinking, relationship-building, and finding meaning in your life. If you’re an entrepreneur, you need creativity to innovate and adapt. If you’re a leader, you need it to inspire and navigate complexity. And as a human, you need it to craft a life worth living. Burnout steals creativity from everyone, regardless of job title. And everyone, regardless of profession, deserves to get it back.

Conclusion: The Fire You Tend, Not the One You Smother

Burnout doesn’t just inhibit creativity—it fundamentally severs your connection to the part of yourself that imagines, innovates, and dreams. But here’s what I’ve learned from walking hundreds of kilometres on the Camino, from sharing stories in circles, from guiding others through recovery, and from my own journey back from the edge: creativity isn’t something you lost. It’s something that’s been waiting, patiently, for you to create the conditions where it can return.

You cannot force creativity any more than you can force a seed to grow by shouting at it. But you can tend the soil. You can provide water, sunlight, and space. You can remove the rocks choking its roots. You can wait, with faith, for the green shoots to emerge.

That’s what genuine recovery from burnout looks like: not a quick fix, but a fundamental reorientation towards what makes you human. Rest, yes. But also movement. Connection. Story. Sensation. Beauty. The permission to exist beyond your productivity.

Your creativity isn’t gone. It’s dormant. And winter, as any gardener knows, is not death—it’s preparation for spring.

The fire that creates, that imagines, that makes meaning from chaos? It’s still in you. It’s just waiting for you to stop adding fuel to the wrong flames—the flames of pressure, perfectionism, and endless productivity—and instead tend the quiet ember of your essential self.

That ember is enough. Given the right conditions, it will become a blaze again.

But first, you must stop. You must walk. You must remember. You must come home to yourself.

And then? Then the creating thing happens on its own.

Begin Your Journey Back to Yourself

If these words resonated in your chest like a bell that’s been silent too long, perhaps it’s time to consider something radical: actually stopping.

Not collapsing. Not failing. Stopping with intention.

My Camino de Santiago Crossroads Retreats in the beautiful south-west of France aren’t your typical hiking holidays. They’re carefully designed recovery experiences for burnt-out professionals and entrepreneurs who’ve forgotten they’re human beings, not human doings.

Picture this: walking ancient pilgrimage paths through landscapes that have witnessed countless journeys of transformation. Not the full Camino—these are carefully curated sections chosen for their beauty, significance, and capacity to restore. The rolling hills of Gers, the medieval villages where time moves differently, the paths through oak forests where the only sound is your footsteps and birdsong.

Each day combines mindful walking with meditation and mindfulness practices specifically designed for stress management—not the kind that feels like another task on your to-do list, but embodied practices that help your nervous system remember what safety feels like. We move slowly enough to actually notice things: the quality of light, the scent of wild herbs, the feeling of your feet on earth.

In our evening storytelling circles, you’ll discover what happens when you share your experience without having to prove anything, fix anything, or turn it into a professional development opportunity. Just stories. Just listening. Just the profound recognition that your life—exactly as it is, with all its contradictions and complexities—matters.

These retreats are small by design. Intimate enough that you’re genuinely seen, large enough that you’re not carrying the social weight of one-on-one intensity. You’ll walk with others who understand what it means to have given everything to your work and found yourself empty. And you’ll discover that you’re not alone in this—not in the struggle, and not in the journey back.

The south-west of France offers spaciousness. The villages are quiet. The paths are uncrowded. The pace of life itself is different here—slower, richer, more sensual. The food is extraordinary (because recovery also requires pleasure). The sunlight has a particular golden quality that makes everything feel like a painting.

But more than the location or the practices, what makes these retreats transformative is this: they’re led by someone who’s been where you are. I understand the particular exhaustion of high-functioning professionals. I know what it’s like to believe rest is weakness and pushing through is strength. I’ve experienced firsthand what happens when your body finally forces you to stop. And I’ve found my way back—not to who I was before, but to someone more whole, more creative, more alive.

You don’t need to walk the full Camino to experience transformation. You just need to begin. To take a few days away from the noise and remember what your own voice sounds like. To walk without destination and discover that you have everything you need already within you.

Your stories matter.

LifeQuake Vignettes

What Life Lessons Can You Learn While Walking the Camino de Santiago? – a free guide filled with 10 not just “quaint anecdotes” or Instagram-worthy moments (though there are plenty of those) but real transformations from real people who walked this insight-giving trail – Subscribe to my monthly newsletter to Download the Guide

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“I am an experienced medical doctor – MBChB, MRCGP, NLP master pract cert, Transformational Life Coach (dip.) Life Story Coach (cert.) Stress Counselling (cert.) Med Hypnotherapy (dip.) and EAGALA (cert.) I may have an impressive number of letters after my name, and more than three decades of professional experience, but what qualifies me to excel at what I do is my intuitive understanding of my clients’ difficulties and my extensive personal experience of managing major life changes using strategies I developed over many years.” Dr M Montagu

Mindful Travel: Making the most of your next Travel Opportunity

Exploring nature with a mindful travel approach.

Sitting at home, during the pandemic, thinking of all the places I wish I could travel to, I amuse myself by making lists of the places I would like to visit, as soon as it is possible again.

I think about mindful travelling rather a lot (no doubt because I desperately yearn to escape the lockdown.) My dearest wish is to go to the beach, only 90 minutes from here, and watch the sun go down over the sea.

Whenever I get the chance to go to the beach again, I intend to make the most of the experience by travelling mindfully, a subject that I find myself blogging about frequently since the pandemic started.

What is Mindful Travel?

Mindful travel is the practice of being fully present and intentional while journeying, focusing on appreciating each moment, engaging deeply with one’s surroundings, and cultivating awareness of the impact on both self and environment. It involves slowing down, observing details with curiosity, feeling gratitude for experiences, and making choices that promote sustainable and respectful interactions with local cultures and ecosystems.

  • Mindful travel means paying attention to the present moment during travel, noticing sights, sounds, flavours, and sensations without judgment or distraction.
  • It encourages reflection, self-discovery, and learning by immersing in the local culture and landscape rather than rushing through itineraries or seeking constant entertainment.
  • Mindful travel often emphasises actions that are purposeful, such as sustainable choices, supporting local communities, and respecting traditions and the environment.

Update at the end of 2025

How we missed travelling during those long, quiet months of the pandemic. The hum of airports, the clink of coffee cups in little cafés, the thrill of waking up somewhere unfamiliar—all suddenly replaced by stillness and the same four walls. We missed the feeling of possibility that lives inside a packed bag, the way new landscapes stretch the mind and soften the heart. More than anything, we missed the way travel makes us feel alive—curious, open, and connected. When the world paused, we realised that it wasn’t just about seeing new places—it was about rediscovering parts of ourselves that only awaken when we step beyond the known.

Now that we can travel again, every journey feels like a gift we no longer take for granted. The simple act of stepping onto a train, breathing in the air of a new place, or sharing a smile with a stranger feels almost sacred. We travel more slowly now, more mindfully—lingering longer, listening deeper, savouring the quiet moments between destinations. It’s not about collecting stamps in a passport anymore; it’s about collecting moments that make us feel whole. Each trip reminds us how resilient and wonder-filled the world truly is—and how, in finding new paths, we often find our way back to ourselves.

How I am going to make the most of my first chance to travel again:

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1) I will plan my trip carefully – I have nothing against leaving for unexplored shore at the drop of a hat, but since I have loads of time, I will research my destination in detail, to find out more about the people who live there and to get a feeling for the geography of the place so that I will lose less time getting my bearings. A quick Google search will reveal the destination’s top attractions and its must-sees. From these I will choose one or two, to visit in-depth, and I will research these in detail.

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2) To get a feeling for the place I want to travel to, I will read some books and blog posts, watch a couple of documentaries and even, if I have time, a few films set in the region which will strengthen my connection with the people living there, and give me a deeper appreciation of their culture. A few words of the local language will come in handy too.

3) To make the most of the experience, I will decide beforehand what I want to get from my trip. I know myself. Going to all the big tourist attractions just for a photo opportunity is not my thing. I love sitting at a café with a coffee in front of me and watching the world go by. I love talking to people about what is important to them, whether they are locals or fellow travellers. I love exploring vintage markets and shops. I love running, early in the morning, through a sleeping city, or on a deserted beach. So I will plan my trip to ensure that I can do as many of these things as possible.

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4) I will make the trip there part of my travel experience. I will choose travel options less damaging to the environment when possible, by taking the train instead of a plane, for example, and use local communal transport once I get there. Whenever I can, I’ll walk – it’s good exercise and gives me time to take in the sights. I will aim to stay off the beaten path so that I will experience the emotions that travel is meant to be about: discovering, exploring and navigating unknown territory.  I would like to visit less famous sites and support those communities that need it more.

5) If at all possible, I choose to travel in the off-season when there are fewer people about because the other thing I love is to wander aimlessly, on foot, and explore the place I am visiting in my own time. What greater travel luxury is there than that? Staying in an impersonal hotel occasionally appeals to me when I am looking for anonymity, but I by far prefer to stay in a local guesthouse, where I can talk to the owners about their region and maybe even make a new friend or two. They will also be able to direct me to interesting (to me) local events, festivals and concerts. Getting involved in local activities will enable me to connect with the local community, learn from its people and make my trip unique and unforgettable.

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6) I rarely buy souvenirs. I prefer to buy something that I will use once I get home. If I do buy something, it will be from a local producer or artist. Instead of buying several small things, I will often buy one item, even if it is a bit more expensive, and if possible, chat to the person who made/produced it. If it is a vintage item, I will want to know its origin. I want to support the local producers and artisans and they can only survive if we put our money where our values are.

7) I will keep a travel journal. This is something I so far have not been able to do. I might start a travel journal with good intentions, but I get so involved in my experiences that I have soon forgotten this noble intention of mine. It’s difficult enough for me to remember to take a couple of pictures. Travelling, while being fully present has got a lot going for it, but now, on the other side of 50, I feel the need to commemorate my travel experiences so that I can fondly look back on them during any future lockdowns. Making a few notes each day also allows me to process the experience, so I think putting aside 30 minutes every morning to remember and reflect on the previous day’s events would be of great benefit and might even give me a few surprising insights about myself.

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8) As I mentioned, remembering to take pictures does not come naturally to me, but I do tend to waste time on my phone. Won’t be doing that next time I travel. I might take a couple of pictures, less so of the places I visit than of the people I meet, but otherwise, my phone will rest undisturbed in my rucksack until I get back to my lodgings in the evenings. I am going to aim for a digital detox, on my next holiday. Texts and e-mails will have to wait till the next morning when I usually answer them at home because I tend to stick to certain of my routines while travelling. Having said that, sharing my travelling experiences with the people I care about greatly enriches travelling for me, so I will get up a bit earlier every day to connect to friends and family. And to Facebook. And Pinterest, probably, for last-minute research. And I’ll post a couple of photos on Instagram. But that will be all. So if you need me urgently while I’m travelling, phone me and leave a message if I don’t answer.

9) While travelling back, I will make time to reflect on what I have learned about the places I visited and the people I met, as well as what I discovered about myself. I will adjust the way I do things accordingly. Maybe I took a watercolour painting class and discovered a hidden talent, so I’ll look around for lessons where I live. Maybe I discovered I like a dish that I never thought I would like, or I made a friend that I want to stay in contact with or I made a travelling mistake that I never intend to make again. All these valuable lessons I will consciously incorporate into my life once back home.

These will be my guidelines, whenever I get the opportunity to travel again. I call them mindful guidelines, not rules because I want to remain flexible while travelling so that I can focus on the experience, rather than the objectives I have created for myself.

Choosing to come to one of my retreats here in the south of France would be a great idea if you would like to put your own guidelines of making the most of your next travel opportunity into practice.

Mindful Travel FAQs

1. What is mindful travel?

Mindful travel is the practice of being fully present and intentional during your journeys. It means travelling with awareness, respect for local cultures and environments, and a focus on meaningful experiences rather than just ticking off tourist attractions. Mindful travelers pay attention to their impact on destinations, engage deeply with local communities, and approach travel as an opportunity for personal growth and connection.

2. How is mindful travel different from regular tourism?

While traditional tourism often emphasises seeing as many sights as possible in a short time, mindful travel prioritises quality over quantity. It involves slower-paced itineraries, deeper engagement with local culture, conscious choices about where your money goes, and consideration of your environmental and social impact. Mindful travellers seek authentic experiences and meaningful connections rather than superficial encounters.

3. What are some practical ways to practice mindfulness while travelling?

Start each day with intention-setting or meditation, even just for five minutes. Put away your phone regularly to fully absorb your surroundings. Engage all your senses—notice smells, sounds, textures, and tastes. Take time to journal about your experiences. Practice gratitude for the opportunity to travel. Walk slowly through neighbourhoods, sit in local cafés to observe daily life, and have genuine conversations with locals rather than rushing from landmark to landmark.

4. How can I reduce my environmental impact as a mindful traveller?

Choose slower, lower-carbon transportation options when possible, such as trains over flights. Stay longer in fewer places rather than hopping between many destinations. Support accommodations with eco-certifications or sustainable practices. Bring reusable water bottles, bags, and utensils. Respect wildlife by maintaining distance and never supporting exploitative animal tourism. Offset your carbon emissions, reduce water usage, and leave no trace in natural areas.

5. What does it mean to travel respectfully and ethically?

Respectful travel means honouring local customs, dress codes, and social norms. It involves learning basic phrases in the local language, asking permission before photographing people, and understanding cultural sensitivities. Ethical travel includes supporting locally-owned businesses, paying fair prices for goods and services, avoiding exploitative tourism (like orphanage tourism or unethical animal encounters), and ensuring your presence benefits rather than burdens local communities.

6. How can I have more authentic cultural experiences?

Stay in locally-owned accommodations, eat at neighborhood restaurants frequented by residents, and shop at local markets. Take classes taught by locals—cooking, crafts, or language lessons. Use local guides who can provide insider perspectives. Attend community events, festivals, or performances. Be genuinely curious and ask questions with humility. Most importantly, approach cultural differences with openness rather than judgment.

7. Can I practice mindful travel on a budget?

Absolutely. Mindful travel isn’t about luxury—it’s about intention. Budget-friendly mindful practices include staying in homestays or guesthouses to connect with locals, walking or cycling instead of taking taxis, cooking your own meals with local ingredients, and choosing free activities like hiking, beach visits, or exploring neighbourhoods. In fact, travelling more slowly and simply often aligns perfectly with mindful principles and saves money.

8. How do I balance taking photos with being present?

Set boundaries for device usage—perhaps designate specific photo times or limit yourself to a certain number of pictures per day. When you arrive somewhere beautiful, spend the first few minutes simply experiencing it without your camera. Practice taking mental snapshots by consciously absorbing details. When you do take photos, do so intentionally rather than compulsively. Remember that the goal is to enhance memories, not replace the actual experience.

9. What should I do if I feel overwhelmed or exhausted while travelling?

Listen to your body and mind. It’s okay to slow down, skip an activity, or spend a day resting. Build downtime into your itinerary from the start. Find quiet spaces like parks, gardens, or cafés where you can recharge. Maintain routines that ground you, such as morning meditation, exercise, or journaling. Remember that rest is part of the journey, not a waste of time. Mindful travel means honouring your needs rather than pushing through exhaustion.

10. How can mindful travel practices benefit me beyond the trip?

Mindful travel cultivates skills that enhance daily life: presence, adaptability, cultural sensitivity, gratitude, and the ability to find joy in simple moments. It often reduces anxiety by teaching you to focus on the present rather than worrying about the future. The practice of slowing down and noticing details can carry over into your routine at home. Many travellers find that mindful approaches to exploring the world help them appreciate their own communities more deeply and live more intentionally overall.

5 Essential Books on Mindful Travel

1. “The Art of Travel” by Alain de Botton

A philosophical exploration of why we travel and what we seek from our journeys. De Botton weaves together personal travel experiences with insights from writers, artists, and thinkers throughout history. This book encourages readers to look beyond the surface of destinations and examine the deeper motivations and meanings behind travel, making it perfect for anyone wanting to approach their journeys more thoughtfully.

2. “Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel” by Rolf Potts

While focused on extended travel, this book’s philosophy applies to any journey length. Potts emphasises simplicity, presence, and the importance of experiences over itineraries. He challenges conventional notions of success and encourages readers to prioritise time and experience over material wealth. It’s an inspiring guide to travelling with intention and embracing the transformative aspects of being on the road.

3. “The Snow Leopard” by Peter Matthiessen

A beautifully written account of Matthiessen’s trek through the Himalayas that blends travel narrative with Zen philosophy and personal reflection. As he searches for the elusive snow leopard, the journey becomes a meditation on grief, impermanence, and spiritual awakening. This classic demonstrates how travel can be a vehicle for profound inner exploration and mindfulness practice.

4. “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek” by Annie Dillard

Though not about traveling far from home, this Pulitzer Prize-winning book exemplifies mindful observation and deep attention to one’s surroundings. Dillard spends a year exploring the area around Tinker Creek in Virginia, noticing the extraordinary in the ordinary. It’s a masterclass in how to truly see and experience a place, offering lessons that transform how you approach any destination.

5. “A Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country” by Helen Russell

A humorous yet insightful account of an outsider’s immersion into Danish culture and the concept of “hygge.” Russell’s journey illustrates the value of slow travel, cultural integration, and learning from different ways of life. The book shows how mindful engagement with a culture—rather than surface-level tourism—can lead to genuine understanding and personal growth.

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LifeQuake Vignettes

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Author Bio: Dr Margaretha Montagu – described as a “game changer”, “gifted healer”, “guiding light” and “life-enriching author” – is an experienced medical doctor, a certified NLP practitioner, a medical hypnotherapist, an equine-assisted psychotherapist (EAGALAcertified) and a transformational retreat leader who guides her clients through life transitions – virtually, or with the assistance of her Friesian and Falabella horses, at their home in the southwest of France.

Solo Slow Travel: Best Option for Introverts

Solo Slow Travel: Best Option for Introverts

What is Slow Travel?

As the third wave of the pandemic starts to flatten here in France, I come across more and more articles about Solo Slow Travel.

Slow travel is a mindset that encourages travellers to take their time, savouring the experience of a place rather than rushing through a packed itinerary. It emphasises connecting with local culture, engaging deeply with the environment, and embracing the journey as much as the destination. This approach often involves staying in one location for an extended period, reducing the stress of constant movement, and allowing for a more meaningful connection with people, customs, and the natural surroundings. The benefits of slow travel include fostering a deeper sense of relaxation, reducing travel fatigue, and promoting sustainability by minimising frequent transportation and supporting local economies. Additionally, it allows travellers to cultivate mindfulness, making the experience more enriching and fulfilling.

Slow travel has evolved from being a quiet, niche idea to a well-studied and well-loved approach to exploring the world. Researchers have looked at it from every angle—psychological, social, economic, and environmental—and the evidence is pretty compelling. Whether through systematic literature reviews, conceptual models, or on-the-ground studies, slow travel keeps showing up as a powerful way to boost personal well-being, support local communities, and travel more sustainably.

Why Slow Travel Matters

People who travel slowly tend to experience more self-discovery, revitalisation, and overall satisfaction than those who rush from one tourist hotspot to another. When we stay longer in one place and take the time to really connect—with locals, with the landscape, and with the rhythm of daily life—we don’t just see a destination; we experience it.

Studies even suggest that this kind of travel can sharpen our minds. Travellers who take extended trips—like long cruises or month-long stays—often report improved memory and clearer reasoning afterwards.

There’s also an economic ripple effect. Slow travellers usually spend more in local communities—about 60% more, in fact—because they tend to eat at neighbourhood cafés, stay in small guesthouses, and buy from local artisans rather than big chains.

From an environmental point of view, slow travel helps reduce our carbon footprint. By choosing sustainable transport options and staying longer in each place, we naturally counter the negative effects of overtourism.

What Drives the Desire to Travel Slowly

Why do some people choose to travel this way? Research points to a mix of personal and social factors. Intrinsic motivation—like the desire for meaningful experiences and authentic connections—plays a huge role. So does cultural curiosity and, increasingly, a concern for the environment. When travellers care deeply about sustainability, they’re more likely to embrace slow travel, which in turn helps shape positive, eco-conscious travel norms and even enhances a destination’s reputation.

Of course, researchers note that there’s still work to be done. There’s a need for clearer, unified definitions of what “slow travel” really means and more long-term comparative studies. But despite these gaps, the evidence consistently highlights how powerful slow travel can be—for our personal well-being and for sustainable destination development.

Defining the Movement

At its core, slow travel is all about taking your time. It means longer stays, slower modes of transportation, and genuine engagement with the places you visit. And it’s not just a niche movement anymore. Global travel data—like average trip lengths and traveller surveys—show a clear trend toward slower, more mindful travel, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic started.

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Solo Slow Travel in the Southwest of France

I have been asking myself what Solo Slow travel would mean for people who come to the south of France on a residential retreat. As I understand it, Slow Travel is the opposite of the Monday-Amsterdam, Tuesday-Paris, and Wednesday-Lisbon trips that were so popular in the past. The idea is that less is more and that quality is better than quantity. A Slow Travel trip is meant to educate and have an emotional impact, in the present moment and for the future, while remaining sustainable for local communities and the environment.

Slow travel allows us to relax and reflect, to connect with and integrate our experiences.

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It seems to me that Slow Travel to a retreat here in the southwest of France has to begin with the trip here, by making the trip part of the retreat experience by travelling slower, maybe by taking the train instead of taking the plane, by stopping on the way to investigate a famous city, like Bordeaux or Toulouse, by using travel time to educate oneself about this region and by talking to other travellers, etc.

At the moment, my Camino de Santiago Crossroads retreats are the most popular, possibly because they represent the slow travel idea so perfectly:

  • walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela always has an emotional impact, no one who walks the Camino comes away unchanged.
  • Gascony, the region in France where the retreats are held is the perfect host for slow travel. To discover why, Click Here.
  • during the walk, there is ample time for interaction with other pilgrims and for supporting small local businesses on the way.
  • staying in one place during the whole retreat, you’ll get more of an opportunity to interact with local people in a meaningful way.
  • it’s not only healthier for the environment (my take on sustainable tourism,) it’s also healthier for you.

Slow travel is less stressful, which is the whole objective of going on a retreat, so take your time to travel here and make the most of each moment you are here, even if it is just relaxing in a deckchair while watching the sun go down with a glass of local Rosé, is not only of benefit to you but also to the local community.

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As for myself, I have always preferred Slow Travel to rushing around and seeing as many different places in as short a time as possible. I am still, after 11 years of living in this part of France, slowly travelling through my glorious region. When I drive here, I stop frequently to admire the majestic Pyrennées mountain range, explore a small farmer’s market, or check on a friend who lives in the middle of nowhere, on the way to a favourite restaurant. Here you’ll find me discussing the menu for 15 minutes or longer with the chef, asking about his family and his business, and then indulging in a lunch that takes…as long as it takes. After the meal, I linger to watch the world go by…

Solo Slow Travel – I highly recommend it.

The Bottom Line

The research is unanimous: slow travel benefits everyone involved. It nourishes travelers on a psychological and emotional level, strengthens communities economically, and supports the planet environmentally. In many ways, it’s becoming a model for what sustainable tourism should look like in the years ahead.

FAQ

There’s something quietly magical about walking the Camino at a slower pace. It’s not just travel — it’s a gentle exhale. A way to step out of the noise of everyday life and into a rhythm that lets you actually feel where you are. Slow travel on the Camino isn’t about how many kilometres you cover or how many landmarks you tick off a list. It’s about the morning light spilling over the path, the conversations with strangers who feel like old friends, the scent of wildflowers, the weight of your backpack easing as your heart lightens. It’s about allowing the journey to unfold — and letting it change you in ways you didn’t expect.

1. What does “slow travel” mean on the Camino?

On the Camino, slow travel isn’t just about walking at a gentle pace — it’s about giving yourself the gift of time. Instead of rushing to “get somewhere,” you allow each step, each village, and each conversation to become part of your story. It’s travel that’s felt, not just seen.

2. How is this different from a regular holiday?

Most holidays are about cramming in as much as possible — landmarks, tours, restaurants, photos. A Camino walking retreat is the opposite. It invites you to unplug, breathe, and simply be present. You’re not racing to a finish line; you’re arriving to yourself, one step at a time.

3. Do I need weeks or months to travel slowly on the Camino?

Not at all. Even a few days can be deeply meaningful when you approach the journey with presence. My retreats are designed so that in just five days, you can drop into a slower rhythm, connect with nature, and walk away feeling more grounded and alive.

4. What are the benefits of walking the Camino slowly?

So many. People often talk about how the Camino:

  • Clears their mind and calms their nervous system
  • Helps them reconnect with themselves during life transitions
  • Boosts their mental clarity and emotional resilience
  • Inspires a sense of belonging — with nature, others, and something bigger
  • Feels more like a soulful reset than a holiday

5. How does slow travel help the environment here?

Walking is one of the most sustainable ways to travel. By choosing to explore on foot, stay in local accommodations, and linger in villages instead of rushing through, you help keep the Camino’s natural and cultural heritage alive. Every slower step leaves a lighter footprint.

6. Is the Camino only for solo travellers?

Absolutely not. Many people walk alone, yes — but plenty come with a partner, a friend, or even a small group. What makes slow travel on the Camino special is the shared humanity you encounter along the way. Whether you crave quiet solitude or gentle connection, there’s space for both.

7. What kind of transportation fits the spirit of the Camino?

Your feet are your main mode of transport. But trains, local buses, and the occasional taxi help keep things flexible. The idea isn’t to rush from point A to B — it’s to let the journey unfold at its own pace.

8. Can I still travel slowly if I only have a short holiday?

Yes — in fact, that’s what my retreats are designed for. Instead of trying to walk the entire Camino in record time, you can sink into one beautiful stretch, fully experience it, and return home feeling rested and inspired rather than exhausted.

9. Does this kind of travel really make a difference to local communities?

It does — in a big way. When you walk slowly, stay in family-run gîtes, eat at local cafés, and linger in village shops, your presence supports the people who keep this route vibrant and alive. Slow travellers contribute around 60% more to local economies than fast-moving tourists.

10. How do I begin my slow travel journey on the Camino?

Start with a simple intention: to walk, breathe, and be present. You don’t need to plan every detail or prove anything. Just bring your curiosity, your walking shoes, and an open heart. The Camino has a way of meeting you exactly where you are — and gently guiding you toward where you need to be.

If you would like to read more about Slow Travel, here is the Slow Travel Guide Book

LifeQuake Vignettes

What Life Lessons Can You Learn While Walking the Camino de Santiago? – a free guide filled with 10 not just “quaint anecdotes” or Instagram-worthy moments (though there are plenty of those) but real transformations from real people who walked this insight-giving trail – Subscribe to my monthly newsletter to Download the Guide

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“I am an experienced medical doctor – MBChB, MRCGP, NLP master pract cert, Transformational Life Coach (dip.) Life Story Coach (cert.) Stress Counselling (cert.) Med Hypnotherapy (dip.) and EAGALA (cert.) I may have an impressive number of letters after my name, and more than three decades of professional experience, but what qualifies me to excel at what I do is my intuitive understanding of my clients’ difficulties and my extensive personal experience of managing major life changes using strategies I developed over many years.” Dr M Montagu

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