The Case for Sabbaticals
Shhh…I’m resting. By the time you read this, I’ll be five days into a mini-sabbatical. I am taking a break from August 1st-September 6th.
Why? Well, because I’m tired. I feel myself on the edge of burnout, and I’ve noticed that I am less creative. I have a nice lull in August that makes it a good time to step away for a little bit to recharge, reset my system, and refill my inspired creativity bucket.
The Durfee Foundation, which funds sabbaticals for non-profit leaders, has found that sabbaticals result in leaders who are better rested and able to return to their work and organization with fresh eyes, new creativity and better balance that lasts.
I know that the more that I rest, the better I am at everything - parenting, coaching, movement visioning; literally EVERYTHING in my life is better with rest. So I’m resting.
But before I did, I had to work through a lot of limiting beliefs. I have a feeling some of you are working through similar limiting beliefs, even if those beliefs are not about sabbaticals. I’m sharing my journey because the self-coaching tools I used to quiet my limiting beliefs help you quiet yours too.
Limiting Belief #1: Who am I to take a mini-sabbatical? It’s so self-indulgent.
Right. Self-indulgent. What comes to mind when you think self-indulgent? Maybe one of the Real Housewives lounging on a divan eating bonbons while ordering a new car because she no longer likes the color of her Bentley?
What do you think about self-indulgent people? Words like self-centered, lazy, uncaring of others might come to mind.
I get it. Those thoughts and images pop up for me too.
And, I know that the reason why they do is because society, the patriarchy, and the Protestant work ethic have been telling us for a very long time that women need to take care of everyone else before themselves, putting yourself first is lazy or a sin, and you can only rest once you reach a certain point - like retirement or death.
By letting the belief that extended time off is self-indulgent hold me back, I’m perpetuating the bad messages that culture gives us. Remembering that helps me realize that it’s okay to be self-indulgent, especially when it comes to caring for myself.
Is it self-indulgent to want to show up refreshed and relaxed with new ideas to contribute to help myself and others thrive? Of course not. In fact, that sounds fabulous!
Sabbaticals in our culture are also highly privileged. Am I able to take a sabbatical because of my privilege? Absolutely. Do I believe the system is broken and everyone should be able to take sabbaticals? Most definitely. Am I actively working to change this system. Yes, very actively.
Every time I think the thought, “this sabbatical is so self-indulgent”, I instead lean into why I am taking time off and what it will allow me to give myself and others. And I remind myself that my life’s work is to help tear down these systems that keep us small. If I’m going to keep doing this work, I have to take excellent care of myself. This helps me ignore all those nasty cultural messages meant to keep me working nonstop.
Limiting Belief #2: I can’t step away. People need me.
People will need me, or think they need me, over the next five weeks. That is certain. And, making that a reason why I can’t step away is a bit ridiculous. Work will always “need” you, or want you to think it needs you. It’s not going to stop (see, Protestant work ethic). We care about our jobs and the people we work with and, as humans, want them to like us and think we do good work. But that has nothing to do with taking a break. If that was the case, we would never sleep, or see our families, or do anything other than work.
I know, sometimes it might feel like that’s all you do, but really you make choices every day to not work. And I would bet that if you set more boundaries around work, you’ll level up. Why?
Because when you set boundaries around your work, around your time away from work, and around other life work (like groceries, cleaning, and shuttling kids), you are better able to focus on that which restores you. Humans are essentially like batteries. We wake up with a certain amount of energy, we use that energy, and we need to rest to recharge our energy. Recharging isn’t related only to sleep, although good sleep is very important; you can recharge by doing things that give you energy. For me that’s being in nature, cooking a delicious meal at a leisurely pace, moving my body, getting lost in a creative project, or trying something new.
Sometimes you need more than a day or a week of those things to fully recharge. It’s like when your phone battery life starts getting shorter - you need to replace it with one that holds more charge. A sabbatical can help you do that, and smaller everyday changes to your routine can as well - taking a walk at lunch, for example, or truly ending your work day at 5:00pm and turning everything off.
Limiting Belief #3: What if I take five weeks and I don’t come back refreshed? What if my mini-sabbatical doesn’t work?!?
Well, yes, this could happen. I applied a tool that I love to this thought called, “And, what else could happen?” Here’s how to use it.
Take the limiting belief: “I could come back not refreshed.”
Then ask yourself, “And, what else could happen?” List as many other things that could happen until you cannot think of anything else. There will be a point where your ideas will slow down and you need to wait a minute for new ideas to surface. Keep going. This is where the gold is.
For example: What else could happen?
I could come back completely refreshed.
I could unleash my creativity
I could have ideas for new programs
I could write amazing things that will help people
I could formulate a grand vision
I could gain new and helpful knowledge reading books
I could see beautiful things in nature
I could engage with my inner wisdom
I could connect more deeply to my spouse and kids
I could cook unhurriedly
I could reignite my spiritual side
I could return radiant
I could level up
I could feel whole
This tool helps to take our brains out of negative thinking. Now when my mind thinks, “but what if it doesn’t work?” it also automatically goes to all of these other things that could happen as well and the thought “what if it doesn’t work?” has less hold on me.
Pretty cool, right? Try it.
These tools apply not just to limiting beliefs about sabbaticals, but to all limiting beliefs. What’s one thing you want to do? What beliefs are holding you back? Try some of these tools and see if you can turn that belief into something that hooks you a bit less.
And if you need help, I’m here…in September.
See you on the other side, refreshed, renewed and recharged!
XO,
Patty