Sabbaticals for Everyone

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Ken Abrams, One of Thousands of Executive Coaches on Noomii.

There was a time when the word “sabbatical” was associated with professors taking a year off from their teaching duties to do research or write a book.

Today, sabbaticals are for everyone: overworked corporate executives, stressed out entrepreneurs—just about anyone with the ingenuity to make it happen. The time off may help you find intellectual and spiritual renewal, allow you to transition to a new career, reenergize you for the work you already do or give you more time to bond with your family. Your sabbatical is about living deliberately…. It’s about unlocking the part of you that you know is still there, but may have been afraid to acknowledge.”

What Kind of Sabbatical Would You Like?
Get clear about what you really want to do with your time off and plan well so you get all you desire from it.

Creative pursuits. Is it time to finally write that long contemplated novel or take up the piano?

Travel & adventure. How about a 3,000-mile bike trip across the U.S. or walking the Pacific Crest Trail?

Educational. You might study French cuisine in Paris or Spanish poets in Guadalajara. Or stay home and pursue a new field of learning at your local college.

Spiritual. Perhaps it’s an inner journey you’re after, a time of solitude, reflection and rejuvenation more easily found by camping out in the desert.

Contribution. Volunteering for a group like Habitat for Humanity could be a life-changing form of service.

Clearing the clutter. Is the backlog of clutter overwhelming you? How about catching up on the undone projects at home?

Personal health. Maybe it’s time to deal with overdue health issues or get a handle on your diet and exercise.

The Big Buts
Identify the “Big Buts” that typically stop people from taking a sabbatical and offer ways to overcome them.

Money. Get employers to foot the bill, find grants or fellowships, save money beforehand, and minimize or eliminate monthly expenses.

Time. Give up a bonus in exchange for a chunk of time off or plan your sabbatical to coincide with a slow business period or career crossroads.

Objections from family and coworkers. Involve your family in sabbatical planning and be willing to compromise. Minimize the extra work coworkers fear taking on in your absence.

Getting out of your comfort zone, courageously overcoming obstacles, honoring the parts of yourself that need attention and having new experiences are all sure to be highly rewarding and life-changing!

There was a time when the word “sabbatical” was associated with professors taking a year off from their teaching duties to do research or write a book.

Today, sabbaticals are for everyone: overworked corporate executives, stressed out entrepreneurs—just about anyone with the ingenuity to make it happen. The time off may help you find intellectual and spiritual renewal, allow you to transition to a new career, reenergize you for the work you already do or give you more time to bond with your family. Your sabbatical is about living deliberately…. It’s about unlocking the part of you that you know is still there, but may have been afraid to acknowledge.”

What Kind of Sabbatical Would You Like?
Get clear about what you really want to do with your time off and plan well so you get all you desire from it.

Creative pursuits. Is it time to finally write that long contemplated novel or take up the piano?

Travel & adventure. How about a 3,000-mile bike trip across the U.S. or walking the Pacific Crest Trail?

Educational. You might study French cuisine in Paris or Spanish poets in Guadalajara. Or stay home and pursue a new field of learning at your local college.

Spiritual. Perhaps it’s an inner journey you’re after, a time of solitude, reflection and rejuvenation more easily found by camping out in the desert.

Contribution. Volunteering for a group like Habitat for Humanity could be a life-changing form of service.

Clearing the clutter. Is the backlog of clutter overwhelming you? How about catching up on the undone projects at home?

Personal health. Maybe it’s time to deal with overdue health issues or get a handle on your diet and exercise.

The Big Buts
Identify the “Big Buts” that typically stop people from taking a sabbatical and offer ways to overcome them.

Money. Get employers to foot the bill, find grants or fellowships, save money beforehand, and minimize or eliminate monthly expenses.

Time. Give up a bonus in exchange for a chunk of time off or plan your sabbatical to coincide with a slow business period or career crossroads.

Objections from family and coworkers. Involve your family in sabbatical planning and be willing to compromise. Minimize the extra work coworkers fear taking on in your absence.

Getting out of your comfort zone, courageously overcoming obstacles, honoring the parts of yourself that need attention and having new experiences are all sure to be highly rewarding and life-changing!