Despite numerous stories extolling the profound rewards of taking time away, it’s an idea that is not being as heartily embraced as it might be. In fact, many people find the thought downright terrifying.
Because the notion of regular sabbaticals throughout our lifetime has been so ignored in recent times, there’s some confusion over what constitutes a true sabbatical. My definition of sabbatical is time away with a purpose. The purpose of such a time is not to abandon your life, but to enrich it.
In the original concept, first defined in the Old Testament book of Hebrews, a sabbatical was to be taken by everyone, every seven years. During this year off, fields were to lie fallow, debts were to be forgiven, relationships were to be repaired and introspection was encouraged.
Over time, of course, the notion disappeared and today many people don’t even observe a weekly Sabbath, much less consider an entire year of restoration.
Whether you’re in a year divisible by seven or not, here are several signs that it is the perfect time to consider a sabbatical of your own:
° You can’t remember the last time you had a new idea you were excited about.
° You’ve reached all of your goals.
° You’ve reached none of your goals.
° Your kids think you’re a nerd and you suspect they’re right.
° You have a nagging suspicion that you’d be really good at something if you only had time to learn how to do it.
° You get wistful every time a plane flies overhead.
° Nobody ever asks you what’s new.
° A long-term relationship or career has come to an end.
° You’re ready to find a new hometown.
° You’re tired of being an armchair traveler and want to see distant lands for yourself.
° You feel drawn to donate your time and talents to a humanitarian cause.
° You need time to do research or start a long-term project.
° Your soul is weary.
If you agreed with any of these, it’s time to let go of excuses and get going. As architect Sarah Susanka reminds us, “What I discovered is that when you make the time and the space for what you long to do, everything else shifts to accommodate it. It never works the other way around. If you wait until there’s time to do what you want to do, you’ll be waiting until your eighty-fifth birthday.”
Hi,
I definitely agree. Taking a year out in the best thing you can do for all of the above reasons. It’s amazing how much more productive you are, how much more you learn, how much more you can do and how enriching life becomes. I think what you said about a sabbatical being “time away with a purpose”. Yes! Clearly define what you want out of it. Chances are you’ll reach that goal a lot quicker and you’ll move on to more and more goals. I set out last year to rediscover what I was truly passionate about. I’ve completed about 4 online training programs to teach myself about how to run an online business, read dozens of books. Now I have a business, a website that I taught myself how to do, I have 2 coaching programs nearly ready to go, an online video tutorial underway and just started on another project for my business last night. All this within 1 year! I am truly amazed at what you can achieve when you commit yourself to a decision. Loved this article!
Well, we are working on something like this. We are moving to Ajijic, Mexico. On the tentative date of April 15, 2013, we will pack up our 2 cars with what we feel we most want, need and can carry in our 2 cars and drive to Ajijic. 2 cats as well. Bob is a software developer and is working on Apps. Me? I plan to pet sit, make cheeses & yogurt and sell them in the organic market there. I’d like to garden too and sell produce. Also, did I mention that I’m a beekeeper? I won’t be taking my 2 hives initially. I will either bring them later or start over there. I really want to continue beekeeping. It touches something deep inside me. Most of our stuff is going into storage for now…after we purge & purge and sort. Lots to figure out on many levels. I need to work on my Spanish too. We have friends in Ajijic that have been there 10 years and love it and it’s a huge expatriate community. And we both wonder just what the He!! we are thinking at times too. I’m 47 and he’s 46. It will be an adventure and it feels like we are jumping off the proverbial cliff too! Btw, I just grabbed a copy of the Revised Making A Living W/O a Job and am happy to have it!
Kathy Stanford
Celina, TX
Thanks so much for sharing your adventure, Kathy. Would love it if you kept in touch as it all unfolds. Buon viaggio!
Hi Barbara,
i am about quitting my job and i just discovered your blog. i will like to find out if you ship out your books to Nigeria as i would like to buy a copy?
if no, how can i get hold of your book please?
Cheers.
lola from Nigeria.
Iola,
Yes, indeed, I could send you a copy. If you go to http://joyfullyjobless.com you will find a book page and, I believe, you can order from there. If you can download books on a digital reader, it’s also available in that format from Amazon.