I created Living ROI as a passion, to share my experiences and support others who want to live more authentic, joyful and fulfilling lives.
Dear Friends,
Last week I got a message in my bones that I need to take more time off. It was uncannily clear. I waited several days before sharing the plan with my team. I wanted to make sure it was the right direction, and that I had thought it through.
Beginning next week, I will be on sabbatical for three months—which includes putting this newsletter on hold during that time. It is the first time in 40 years that I will not be working for this long. I doubt I would have decided to do it if I hadn’t had a medical crisis a couple months ago. In such a time, one begins to ask themselves, “If not now, then when?”
Working, producing, creating and earning has been a major part of my identity since high school. Who am I when I don’t work? What will I do when I get bored? How will I manage this time?
I am a huge proponent of taking time off. I encourage people to do it all the time. Yet there is a niggle in the back of my mind that my taking time off is risky—mostly to my identity. Will I be seen as a slacker? Or will it look like I don’t care? Will I miss some important opportunity? No, no and no.
I’m trusting the message I’ve gotten from my instincts and my body.
After researching the topic of taking a sabbatical, I am now even more convinced that having time to rest, heal and reflect will positively impact my life, including and especially my work.
The concept of a sabbatical has been around for thousands of years. The word sabbatical comes from the Hebrew word shabbāth, better known as the sabbath. The sabbath usually refers to a day of rest during the week. In the Old Testament, sabbath also refers to an entire year of rest, “[…after six years of sowing the field, pruning the vineyard and gathering the fruit, take a year to rest unto the land.]”
In academia, sabbaticals are tried and true and have shown great benefit. In the business world, the idea has continued to catch on. There are a multitude of articles and studies that demonstrate the value and mechanics of a sabbatical. Here are a few:
- How a Sabbatical can Benefit You—and Your Employer (Financial Times)
- Research Shows the Organizations Benefit When Employees Take Sabbaticals (Harvard Business Review)
- Taking a Sabbatical: What to Know Before You Go (Glassdoor)
I’m taking this time off to not only focus on my health, but also to reflect on my life and open my mind to the bigger world out there. Inevitably I will do a lot of reading and writing. The only clear plan I have at this time is to hike a lot in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
To me, an important value of taking a sabbatical is to model the act of taking a break to my daughters, my team and even some of you who are reading this newsletter. When I’m back, I’d like to create some structure at ROI Communication that supports and encourages other team members who are interested in taking an extended leave.
Taking this time off also means taking a break from activities that I really enjoy, including writing this weekly newsletter. However, I know to get the full benefit of unplugging, I need to set it aside.
I look forward to reconnecting with this community when I resume my weekly writings on Sunday, November 3.
