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It’s difficult to set aside our identity and our egos, and go exploring.
Even those who enter the sabbatical in a positive headspace are surprised with how difficult extended leave can be.
What you do, and how much of it, is crucial, and varies from person to person, depending on their objectives, season of life, and constraints.
Every sabbatical is different, but…
Our relationship to work is broken, but we’ve adapted to survive—and thrive—in a state we term “Functional Workaholism.” It’s not healthy or sustainable, and constrains our ability to see the bigger picture about our lives, and what’s truly important. Listen to an interview about functional workaholism or read more.
Common pitfalls preventing restoration:
“You don’t get perspective by going to the same job for years. You get perspective by going and doing different things and getting that sense of wonder, putting yourself out of your comfort zone, and going and living in a strange place and seeing a life that’s very different.”
The process of exploration for its own sake has become foreign to us. We are so wrapped up in our workplace identities that we forget what it is to experience the world as a child does— with wonder, fascination, and a deep sense of infinite possibility.
Common pitfalls preventing exploration:
Overplanning and rigid goals— if you’re “doing” versus “being”, you might as well still be at work.
Insufficient restoration time— take the tie to free yourself from your workplace mindset to get the most of your exploration time.
Your sabbatical is likely to provoke profound personal insights and personal growth. You’ll need time and space to integrate your newfound sense of purpose and identity with the older paradigms you brought along for the ride.
Common pitfalls preventing integration:
Re-entering “work mode” too soon— We have learned to dismiss rest and reflection as laziness or pointless navel gazing. In fact, rest and reflection are essential to your personal growth.
Lack of support and isolation— Your confidence will benefit from the help of a coach or a support network to give you feedback and provide accountability.
“I’m just not the same person I was six months ago. I may not know for sure what I’m gonna do for the rest of my life, but I feel more capable and responsible to create the life that I want.”
When you’re taking a leap of faith, you need guidance in order to take the first step.
Our trained coaches can help you demystify the process and lead you to the right path for your sabbatical journey.
Hear from other sabbatical takers who survived to tell the tale. Find stories that inspire you—or share yours with others.
A supportive community of fellow sabbatical-takers to provide inspiration, companionship, and change the narrative around time off.
When you’re taking a leap of faith, you need guidance in order to take the first step.
Our trained coaches can help you demystify the process and lead you to the right path for your sabbatical journey.
