All About Sabbaticals
So you want to take a sabbatical?
Look, I get it. The world is on fire. If you’re stateside in the US it feels like we’re all Chicken Little telling folks, “The sky is falling!” It makes sense that you want to take a break – a big break. Here’s what you need to know:
What is a sabbatical?
So let’s define what a sabbatical actually is. Traditionally the term has been used for tenured professors to take some time off from teaching and research. But here’s how we define a sabbatical:
A sabbatical is an indefinite amount of time (at least a month or more) away from your normal demands. This can be focused on a particular kind of rest or abstaining from a certain activity.
What do you need to take a sabbatical?
Most people need to look at their finances. Can you afford to take extended time away from work? The sabbatical savings formula we use to advise clients is simple, you want to take 80% of your normal monthly expenses and multiply it by the months you plan to take off. Why 80%? Because you’re likely to spend a little less money on certain things to save money.
Sabbatical savings = [(.8*Monthly Expenses)*No. Months Off]
This might be the point where you’re squirming in your seat. Because finances shouldn’t be the reason you do or don’t take a break. So let’s talk about the different kinds of sabbaticals you can employ for your mental wellbeing.
Emergency vs. Planned Sabbaticals
There are emergency sabbaticals and planned sabbaticals. Emergency sabbaticals are pretty self-explanatory. Something has happened that has made the need for time off necessary right at this moment. Extreme burnout, loss of loved ones, health crisis, and many more reasons are all valid for taking this time off. There’s no judgment if this is where you are now. But there are some financial difficulties you may encounter if you take this option.
I’ve been there and I get it. When you gotta go, you gotta go. Just walk into it with your eyes open.
A planned sabbatical can give you the kind of breathing room an emergency one cannot. Because on the other side of it there won’t usually be financial difficulties. But sometimes planning is just not possible. So what if you need something else?
There are a few other kinds of sabbaticals you can take if finances are an issue.
Specific Sabbaticals
In our definition we mentioned that a sabbatical, “can be focused on a particular kind of rest or abstaining from a certain activity.” So you can try a tech sabbatical like our friend Reverend NIcole Havelka and delete some apps. You can read about our change in social media, here.
Or a creative sabbatical where you focus on creative endeavors. Writers, poets, and authors do this often. Or a domestic sabbatical where you take time off from doing the normal domestic management tasks that got you burned out by enlisting the help of community and family. There are so many possibilities available to you. If you’re interested in getting some help planning your sabbatical, sign up for a call.
The Most Important Thing
No matter what kind of sabbatical you’re considering taking, my most important piece of advice is to leave some room in your time off for what rises to the surface. Feelings you’ve possibly suppressed will come up. Questions you may have been avoiding answering about your life and your needs will beg to be answered. Leave some room to be gentle with yourself. Leave some room for change to visit.
If you’re interested in watching the inspiration for this blog post, please catch the live I did with G. Michelle Goodloe, LMSW for her rest instagram live series. You can watch that here or below.
