Archives for Planning a Sabbatical
Secrets of Confident and Smart Long-Term Travel
Endings are powerful experiences. As the season of shopping, glittering lights and cookies gains momentum, we are letting go of the final days of 2012. How was it for you? Living the life you want? Too busy for much of anything? Cat got your tongue?
Soon we’ll all receive the greatest gift of all – time. [...]
Oh the Things You’ll Learn! Three Notable Sabbatical Books
We can learn a lot from the story line, “sabbatical idea to departure.” But, the story of what happens next provides the best information to help us to look closer at our own ideas about taking time out from work
Who doesn’t want answers to these questions:
Just how did those teenage daughters like being away [...]
Five Ways Sabbatical-Goers Can Guard Against Identity Theft
This is a guest post from Allie Blankenship, a freelance writer and consulting analyst who is fascinated by business and finance. In her free time, she is teaching herself to code.
In today’s world of electronic communications and banking, identity theft is a real threat. Even more so if you are traveling. So those who are [...]
Where the Spirit Leads, Feet Follow: Walk, Baby, Walk
While extreme sports fuel many, the rest of us are not, nor do we aspire, to be in the club. For a lot of different reasons, we don’t want to go “peak bagging.” We’re not fit enough, strong enough or brave enough. Still we’d like to “live bold” and “dare to do more.”
The urge for [...]
The Purpose-Driven Sabbatical: New Approach to Achieve the Happy Factor
Without purpose, a sabbatical won’t make you happy. I’ve interviewed many individuals who thought all they needed to do was negotiate the time away, arrange for their work to get done, and instruct the tech department to dissolve temporary access to their email. Then, totally disconnected from work life, the grand experience of their sabbatical [...]
Think Small (very small) to Uncover Optimism for Work, a Future Sabbatical and Life
Our local food pantry executive director, Timothy Evans, wrote an eloquent essay, “Who Are You Gonna Listen To?” for the June Manna Food Bank-Pensacola’s newsletter. Evans ponders the obscure economic indicators celebrity economists use to discern the message of the economic recovery he keeps hearing about on broadcast news. He says he’s hardly encouraged since the message of [...]
Get Where You Live Right, You’ll Get Life Right. R-e-a-l-l-y?
A good friend is packing up to move six states to the east – closer to the ocean where it won’t snow. Without a job for over a year, she figures her spirit will get a boost in new surroundings where the sun shines more days than in Cincinnati. In no time she’ll be inspired to tackle a future [...]
When Too Much Thinking about a Sabbatical Bogs You Down
Faced with the decision of moving toward a break in your career involves many moving parts. The negotiation with your boss, the planning and execution, and assuring positive outcomes for you and your company – all deserve to be well thought-out.
But spinning wheels over and over ideas are what some of us are really good [...]
Adventure Philanthropy: The Sabbatical to Challenge You and Do for Others
You’re thinking of negotiating a sabbatical and what you really want to do with your time away is satisfy your need for a first-rate outdoor adventure and physical challenge. But you’re in virgin territory, in a company where no one has ever asked for a sabbatical before …. and not everyone can appreciate your idea [...]
Stand-Out Sabbatical Applications: Key Factors for Success
As more and more organizations investigate the best design for sabbatical programs, the sabbatical-by-application option could be the design that stands out. Already used in many universities, the by-application program means you will be in competition with your peers for the number of sabbatical slots available.
In a competition for a sabbatical, how can you make [...]
The Coolest Email Signature Line Ever
I received an email from Brendan McGovern, CFO of Meetup, and here’s what was below his name:
**SABBATICAL NOTICE**
–
From Feb 4 - May 16, I will be out of the office enjoying Meetup’s sabbatical program. I will be traveling around the world, and per Meetup sabbatical policy, will not be checking email & not working. Sound nice? [...]
Boot Camp: Kick-Start Your Sabbatical Planning
Planning a year sabbatical can be an exciting time, but it can also be a daunting task, especially for a business owner like Karen Bloom. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of her company, as well as her 60th birthday, Karen plans to take a sabbatical in the year 2012. In order to [...]
Sacrificing Your Life for the Kids? Forever?
I believe in being the best mom or dad you can be, just not at the expense of living the life you want for yourself. Asked when one plans to accomplish some of the things that he/she has identified on the “dream list,” here are familiar responses:
Just as soon as the kids get a [...]
Trapped in Darkness: How Can It Change Your Life?
Not one of us would trade places with the 33 Chilean miners pulled to safety yesterday after 69 days trapped in a mine. And maybe that’s too bad. According to media reports, many of those men will begin to live their lives very differently.
Their group “career break” has allowed them an enviable perspective. After [...]
Out-of-the-Dollhouse Thinking: First Step for Your Best Career Sabbatical
Sabbaticals and career breaks are amazing experiences – or can be. But sometimes listening to individuals express their ideas about what they’d like to do is as exciting as exploring competing healthcare plans. Why? The ideas are vague, not aligned to specific personal or career goals and reflect small-inside-the-box thinking.
Here’s what people have said when asked what they [...]
How a Frog Turned a Princess into a High Performance Decision Maker
Ever mull over a decision until it was too late to get it right? Or spend a lot of energy agonizing on what to do in a dilemma? Are you such a slow decision maker that life is passing you by as you ponder about a career break, finding work you love or seeking a [...]
What Can You Buy That Will Make You Long-Term Happy? Here You Go.
A raft of new research suggests spending money on an experience will make you happier than those new shoes or a Borsalino Super Fino Montecristi Men’s Fedora ($950).
“We’re moving from a conspicuous consumption – which is ‘buy without regard’ – to a ‘calculated consumption,’” says Marshal Cohen, an analyst at the NPD Group, a retailing [...]
I’m Eating, Praying and Loving What’s Coming … and You Will, Too!
I’m disappointed. I expected the reviews on the new movie, Eat, Pray, Love, to be better. They’re not so hot.
“… be warned that you are diving into a movie with the spiritual and emotional depth of a birdbath.” – St. Louis Suburban Journal.
“A bloated monster of a movie. … gargantuan running time.” – Cinema [...]
The Visual Sabbatical: Making Your Plans to “See” Versus “Do”
Forget the backpack and walking sticks. Ditch the health goals. To set your eyes on a place or thing is all it takes for an extraordinary sabbatical experience.
People returning from a career break often talk about the impact of the expereince by describing something they saw, not something they did.
What they carry back into the real world [...]
There is Only One Life You Can Call Your Own
Last month I spent a week on a walking tour in the Northern Lakes District of England with poet, David Whyte. In community with 21 others, I experienced the pastures and mountains, villages, locals, cuisine, pubs and sheep (lots of sheep) of the region. The treks were challenging; so is life. No matter your age, title, or size of [...]
Making your Sabbatical Memorable: Start Now
Sabbaticals should be designed as memorable journeys. Start now by carving out 15 minutes of silence.
You might have a 3-, 4-, or 10-week break from your career that’s either being offered up by your employer or one that you’re doing on your own. Picture that time filled with nothing as of yet. Now, think of the [...]
Sabbatical Summit: Reality or Fantasy?
When yourSABBATICAL offered me a guest blog spot, I happily took the leap. This is one of my favorite sites and subjects—and my soul grins knowing that other wandering, kindred spirits are out there. Are you one too?
If so, then please plan ahead to join us at the First Annual Sabbatical Summit, a overdue gathering [...]
Five Excellent Practices for Your Career Break or Sabbatical Mindset
Inspired by a fifth-century conversation between Zi Zhang and Confucius about the practices of wise rulers in The Analects, here are five excellent practices for those taking time out from jobs and careers. Even those who have no sabbatical in sight can cultivate a sabbatical mindset using these best practices.
Practice the arts of attention and [...]