how to design a sabbatical

what to do when you no longer have to do anything?

Yesterday, The Every published my essay, How to Design a Sabbatical and I wanted to share this with you. Since I started writing about my sabbatical, I’ve gotten a lot of questions about my journey:

“Are you sure this is the right decision?”

“Won’t you get bored?”

“Tech companies are laying thousands off…what if you don’t get another job?”

“What do your [immigrant] parents think?”

I understand the anxiety behind these questions. Trust me, I’ve debated those questions with myself to unfruitful exhaustion.

I know some of you reading this feel supremely stuck at work - feeling various combinations of apathy, discontent, burnout, and stress. You’re tired of pretending to work and acting busy all day. Or you’re tired of running your body’s battery to the ground for “no point”. I know because you tell me in the comments, the replies, and our offline conversations.

My goal is not to convince you that a sabbatical is for everyone — it isn’t — you know your obligations better than me. Nor, that it’s easy to do — I tried the counter-top pills before opting for open-heart surgery. But it could be more accessible than you think. And if you do choose to do so, this is my guide for what to expect.

In the piece, I emphasize the emotional journey - the preparation, the advice to reject, traps to avoid, the need to rest and heal, the necessary introspection to invite inwards, and the sense of adventure to cultivate. And finally, how to land the plane when the time comes.

I hope the essay helps you find your own answers to the questions you ponder.

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🙋🏽‍♂️PS - I poured a lot into this essay to blend the serious matter with a decent helping of playful imagery and practical advice. I’d really appreciate it if you shared this with one friend “going through it at work”. Here’s the essay again.

🕺🏽PPS - Don’t worry, you’re still going to get a travel essay from me this week 😉.