Maybe it's Time for a Sabbatical

So many of my clients complain about burnout. It seems like a default way of being, especially in American work culture. People are working harder, longer hours, commuting longer distances and taking fewer vacations.

At its extreme it can turn into “workism” which was described in a 2019 article in the Atlantic as “the belief that work is not only necessary to economic production, but also the centerpiece of one’s identity and life’s purpose.” This behavior causes people to treat work like a religion and actually intensifies as people earn more money.

I personally always want my work to be purposeful, but it never feels good when my identity, or worse, my sense of self-worth is completely enmeshed with it. After having achieved a pretty big professional goal at my last job, I was ready to change careers. Before I made the shift, I decided to pause my work for some much needed rest, rejuvenation and a fresh perspective.

I have always found that taking a little time between jobs is a healthy way to reset and prepare for the next venture. This time I took a long time—three months to be exact.

During that time I went on a highly anticipated adventure. I boarded a plane to Amsterdam with a return ticket from Marrakech five weeks later and nothing planned in between. I snaked my way through Europe by train and flew down to Morocco, figuring everything out as I went. It was one the most exhilarating and terrifying things I have done in my life!

I encountered really amazing people and ate interesting food. I got to practice my Spanish and French. I met up with family in Germany. I saw breathtaking sights and took gorgeous photos. I successfully navigated getting lost and numerous other frustrating situations by being aware, asking for help and trusting my instincts.

In case you’re wondering—no, I do not have a trust fund. I did something pretty radical. I quit my job, sold my house and used some of the earnings to fund my time off and invest in my new venture.

Yes, this was a privilege; but it was one that I planned and sacrificed a lot for. I understand that there are many folks who don’t have the option of taking a sabbatical. But there are others who do, but are afraid. Afraid of losing respect, their edge, their role, their next promotion, and so on and so on. 

We all have different values, obligations and life circumstances that drive our decisions about work. I have some big career dreams that I am going to work really hard to achieve. But those aren’t the only dreams that matter to me.

Living a full life including travel and adventure is also important to me. So I created the time and found the resources to take a sabbatical. And it was 100% worth it.

Want to talk about maintaining work/life balance or alignment? Need help strategizing for taking a big break? Let’s talk.