Career Burnout, Taking a Sabbatical, and Loving Your Life Again!

It’s midnight and you have finally put your head on your pillow. As you start to count sheep, the millions of unchecked items on your to-do list float by and you realize you forgot to do something.

Many times in our lives, especially during transitions or when we have a lot on our plates, we realize too late that we might just be doing too much. It isn’t easy to say no and saying yes can quickly add up to needing 32 hours in each day. Suddenly this feeling of exhaustion begins to negatively impact us mentally and even physically.

In the last year, 70% of people experienced burnout at work. 

‍Let that sit with you for a moment. 

‍That’s pretty huge. That’s 70% of people feeling exhausted, negative, and ineffective at work, not to mention the myriad of other symptoms associated with burnout. And that’s 70% of people navigating their recovery from burnout alongside the other daily pressures of their work and personal life.

‍Clearly, proper support for burnout recovery (and preventing employee burnout in the first place) is needed. And while taking time off work will address the symptoms of workplace burnout, it won’t solve the root cause of the problem.

Listen to my podcast with My LML Tribe Member and great friend, Heather Young, and her windy (but AMAZING) path to walking away from burnout and carving out a new path!

How long does burnout recovery take?

‍On average it takes three months to a year to fully recover from burnout. But just as the symptoms vary from person to person, so does the length of time it takes to recover depending on the level of burnout. In the most severe cases, research suggests that recovery from burnout can take up to three years.

Sometimes taking back control of your life starts with rediscovering what makes you tick, learning to take care of yourself, or making time for the people and things that you love. Here are five powerful tips that illustrate what’s possible:

1. Be disciplined about your ‘me’ time.
2. Don’t be afraid to flout convention.
3. Treat yourself as well as you would treat your friend or guest.
4. Learn how to say ‘no’.
5. Make a habit of trying new things.
6. Embrace what your life is trying to teach you.

What is a sabbatical?

A sabbatical is an extended leave of absence from work to accomplish a goal, travel, or fulfill another desire. Many higher-education and institutional careers, such as academics and science, commonly offer sabbaticals for employees. These professionals sometimes receive a paid sabbatical. This is not the case for so many other careers, so the decision to take a sabbatical looks much different and can be more challenging.

Reflecting on whether you can benefit from a sabbatical and if you can support yourself while taking one can help you decide if it’s a good choice for you. And if you listen to the Love Middle Life podcast with Lori Saitz about the sabbatical life, she will tell you that there probably isn’t a perfect time to take a sabbatical, and you can talk yourself out of the idea before you really drill down to overriding all of the reasons not to take a break. She will say that sometimes you have to jump off the cliff without being able to see the ground or knowing what might happen on the way down, like she did! (You can read more about Lori and her sabbatical life at zenrabbit.com.)

Here are some examples of questions you can ask yourself when determining whether to take a sabbatical:

• Is taking a sabbatical an option for me in my current position?
• Can I accomplish my goals by just taking a week or two off from work instead?
• Why do I want to take a sabbatical?
• How long of a sabbatical do I want to take and does my company support this type of leave of absence?
• Will taking a sabbatical affect my career progress?
• Can I support myself for the length of the sabbatical?

This article from Indeed outlines in more detail the ins and outs of contemplating, planning, and taking a sabbatical and gives five ideas for sabbaticals:

5 ideas for sabbaticals

The type of sabbatical someone takes depends on their unique passions and desires.

1. Travel

Visiting new places and learning about different cultures can offer an educational experience that makes you a better team player when you return to your job. Travel can help you problem-solve using different perspectives, as well as help you recharge and de-stress from your day-to-day work life. You can also enjoy some leisurely travel or visit family and friends in other places.

2. Volunteer your time

Applying your skill set to a good cause is a great use of a sabbatical. You can serve as a mentor to a non-profit community, or you may exercise career skills you don’t use in your everyday job. In addition, you can simply enjoy the change of pace and gratification that comes with helping a worthy cause.

3. Indulge in creative projects

You can use your time off to pursue creative projects that you otherwise don’t have time to indulge in. Some common projects include writing a novel or memoir, sculpting or painting, woodworking, quilting or sewing. You may even put your efforts toward creating a podcast or other creative outlets. Getting in touch with your creative side can help you bring a new perspective to your current role or reduce any feelings of burnout.

4. Engage in meaningful rest

Sometimes the best use of a sabbatical is to rest and adopt healthy routines that you can maintain when you return to work. Having the time to get enough sleep and exercise every day can benefit your well-being. Plus, your time off can give you a chance to slow down, cook healthy meals and adopt a meditation practice that can benefit you long after the sabbatical ends.

5. Pursue a new career path

If you’re thinking of changing careers, or even starting up a business of your own, then a sabbatical may offer a great first step. The time off can allow you to learn new skills, take classes or further your education to make a career change. If you have the benefit of a paid sabbatical, you can use this time to explore other career paths and passions without financial strain or losses.

You will definitely want to live in the moment during your sabbatical, but you should also consider ways to plan for your return home. Maybe you want to apply to certain positions, or maybe you are fortunate enough to return to the position from which you took a break. Or maybe you come home with a clearer idea of what to do with your life, or maybe with an idea for starting a business of your own.

When you return from your sabbatical, keep that same sense of discovery that you had during your time off. That sense of discovery will offer you insight and opportunities that make your work back home that much richer.

Here are some resources for living your best life!

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Time to Thrive: 101 Inspiring Stories about Growth, Wisdom, and Dreams (Amazon, $14.95)

Radical Sabbatical: A Hilarious Journey From a Stifling Rut to a Life Without Boundaries (Amazon, $16.99)

zenrabbit.com and Lori Saitz