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Subject: a different kind of sabbatical [examples inside]
Sabbatical (noun)—the act of intentionally stepping away from your business to focus on rest, connection, and creation.
↑ definition of sabbatical, according to me 🤓
If you’ve been around here long, you know that I am obsessed with sabbaticals—for myself, my clients, my friends, and anyone else who will let me soapbox about the power of prolonged rest.
I want to be the Oprah of sabbaticals! You get a sabbatical, and YOU get a sabbatical! Picture me tossing out sabbaticals like candy during my very own Favorite Things episode.
My sabbatical journey started in 2017 following a near-career-ending episode of burnout.
I did zero research into what one was supposed to do on sabbatical. All I knew was I needed to step away before I burned my group practice to the ground and applied for a job at my local bookstore.
That sabbatical was so transformative, I decided to start taking them regularly!
The next few years, my sabbaticals followed a similar pattern.
I would unplug from my business, ask my husband to change my email password so I couldn’t secretly access my inbox in a moment of weakness, and retreat into my bedroom for several weeks of silent solitude.
But this year, I decided to do my sabbatical differently.
For the first time in a decade, I was not dancing with burnout. I didn’t need forced isolation and prolonged sensory deprivation to get myself back to baseline functioning.
There was creative energy humming in my veins. My body was pulling me towards people. For the first time ever, my desire for connection was stronger than my desire for stillness.
So instead of buying a new set of Parachute sheets and burrowing in my bed for 4 weeks, I started saying “Yes!” to every opportunity for connection and creativity that presented itself during my sabbatical month.
Here’s a rundown of what I did during the month of June…
→ traveled to Texas, California, and British Columbia
→ went on lunch dates and to dance classes with friends
→ joined an incredible writing program that kept me creating all month long
→ and capped it off with a psychedelic journey with a few of my favorite people
Yes, that was a lot of people-time for my very introverted self!
But it was exactly what I needed to reconnect to the world beyond the internet.
I needed to take a break from two dimensional Zoom relationships and re-engage with humans in the flesh. I needed space away from the screen to understand the hazards of spending so much time inside of an “online business”. I needed to be reminded that there’s a magical three dimensional world waiting for me to come out and play.
I’m officially back from sabbatical and am happy to report that I am feeling deeply rested and creatively inspired!
Sooo, what does this sabbatical story have to do with YOU?
I wanted you to know that you can sabbatical however you want.
(Pretty sure I just turned sabbatical into a verb… will amend my definition later!)
You can take 4 weeks, 4 months, or 4 days.
You can be quiet and still or boisterous and active.
You can unplug from technology to focus on creativity or you can binge watch all six seasons of Outlander while eating Kettle chips in the bathtub.
Rest is personal… and the type of rest we need personally is constantly evolving!
Last year I needed silence, this year I needed conversation, next year… who knows!
What I do know is that you deserve time away from your business, away from helping others, and away from the noise of the internet.
And yes, I know it’s a privilege to be able to step away for weeks and weeks, but everyone has the ability to step away for just a few days. If only a few days are accessible to you right now, take them. Use that time to nourish yourself with whatever your soul is craving.
Quick question… are you interested in planning a 4-8 week sabbatical in 2023?
I’m toying with the idea of creating a special training that teaches you how to sabbatical so you can pay yourself while you’re gone, keep your business humming along in your absence, and ensure you spend your time away doing things that refuel your soul.
It’s the closest I’ll ever get to my Oprah sabbatical giveaway fantasy!
In the meantime, take a break from the computer to sit and reflect on what kind of rest you need the most right now. Then find a way to give yourself a teensy dose of whatever you need to recharge your spirit. You deserve it.
Talk soon,
Maegan
