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August 25, 2011
The Sabbatical Success Secret
 “I’ve taken sabbaticals where I’ve returned a better employee, leader, wife and mother,” says Rita Foley. Not only does Foley know about the benefits of sabbaticals from experience, she’s also co-author of Reboot Your Life: Energize Your Career and Life by Taking a Break.
Foley has used "reboot breaks” to come back refreshed to her current job and to change careers. “Taking a sabbatical [can] reprioritize what is important to you,” says Foley.
Experts agree, citing the experiences of others who used their sabbatical to find a career they can be passionate about, a new perspective on their current career and better Life/Work balance.
Foley's top tips? Plan well in advance (at least a year), create a sabbatical savings fund by asking friends and family to contribute to it in lieu of gifts for
birthdays or holidays, and write a detailed plan for your boss, including how your work will be covered and by whom.
In her research, Foley found that more than 100 organizations offer fully paid-for sabbaticals. In fact, “21 of Fortune’s 2011 ‘Top Companies to Work For’ offer fully paid-for sabbaticals,” she says. Researchers add that a sabbatical can give women the opportunity to go back for that MBA or advance their academic career.
Those who’ve done it say travel in general expands your experiences and perspective. And Foley’s ‘reboot break’ impacts her everyday life. “I started playing tennis on my sabbatical. When I returned, I asked my secretary not to schedule appointments on Fridays before 10 a.m.,” so she can play regularly.
Bonus PINK Link: Get more tips for taking a reboot break in our online exclusive.
By Malee Moua
"Change is often rejuvenating, invigorating, fun and necessary." Lynn Povich
*Supporting images from FreeDigitalPhotos.net, scottchan, thephotoholic and Ambro.
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Comments
Use it wisely
Know why you need a sabbatical - are you just burned out by a temporary situation at work or you work in an environment where burning out employees is a way of running business. And then use your sabbatical not only to recharge but to think about how you got to the point of needing a radical sabbatical in the first place and how you are going to avoid or delay getting to this point again. This could very well mean changing jobs or even carriers. Call me a socialist, but after working 12-14 hrs a day, every day for as long as I did, I just don’t think I should live to work. Correction: I don’t want to.
I took a sabbatical a few years ago with no plans other than just to get the heck out of there for at least a short while. It was great to rest and travel but I could have used that time more wisely and decide on a change in either my work and stress management strategy or a change of company. And then I went right back into the hamster wheel just to burn out again a year later and ultimately quit during the 8th month of pregnancy – that’s how badly I wanted to get out of there. Looking back, I did it all to myself – all by my silly, inexperienced, unseasoned self.
So ask for a sabbatical – believe me, they will give it to you if you work so hard that you got yourself to a point of needing one. And use your time to think about if it’s all worth it. And it very well may be, but then there must be a way of managing your work and stress in a better way.
If you just need a long vacay, then ignore all of the above and plan your break for the shoulder-season when prices and tourist traffic are low in Europe and pick a country there where they don’t frown upon drinking before noon
sabbaticals
I loved Rita Foley's comments and perspective, it's given me something to really consider.
The Sabbatical Success Secret
Wow...in this economy I find this article extremely off the mark. Few individuals can risk taking a year away from their firms and anticipate having the same position when they return.
Rebooting NOW!
Nice tips! I took a step of faith and quit my corporate IT job 2 years ago to go on sabbatical. It has been a blast! Initially, I did not know exactly how things would turn out. But, a few days after leaving work, I was on a plane to Italy. Since then, I have had experiences such as seeing the end of the Trans-Siberian Railroad in Siberia, gazing in awe at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, climbing the Great Wall in China, Japan (narrowly escaping the earthquake), staring into the face of an active volcano in Nicaragua, cruising to Turkey (being in the place where Paul preached in Ephesus was epic), trying to understand the Panama Canal lock system, getting surprised with a huge bouquet of flowers from an admirer on the boardwalk in Italy, and relaxing on the beautiful beaches of Colombia.
My sabbatical has been a time of tremendous growth. The time away from the normal 8- 5 has not only been about my sabbatical. It has been about the experience.
Rebooting is worth it!
~Angela
sabbaticalscapes.com
Rebooting NOW!
Nice tips! I took a step of faith and quit my corporate IT job 2 years ago to go on sabbatical. It has been a blast! Initially, I did not know exactly how things would turn out. But, a few days after leaving work, I was on a plane to Italy. Since then, I have had experiences such as seeing the end of the Trans-Siberian Railroad in Siberia, gazing in awe at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, climbing the Great Wall in China, Japan (narrowly escaping the earthquake), staring into the face of an active volcano in Nicaragua, cruising to Turkey (being in the place where Paul preached in Ephesus was epic), trying to understand the Panama Canal lock system, getting surprised with a huge bouquet of flowers from an admirer on the boardwalk in Italy, and relaxing on the beautiful beaches of Colombia.
My sabbatical has been a time of tremendous growth. The time away from the normal 8- 5 has not only been about my sabbatical. It has been about the experience.
Rebooting is worth it!
~Angela
sabbaticalscapes.com
"Unemployment" vs. "Sabbatical"
This article was enlightening to me! I just came off of a 7 month period of unemployment where I was blessed to have no financial worries and could take the time I needed to find the right job, not just any job. I turned down opportunities, I built a network in a new city, I gained friends and relationships I might never have made if I'd gone straight into one job from the next. I kept calling it "unemployment" - but I realize now it really was the opportunity for me to take a sabbatical, figure out what I wanted, and come back to the working world strong and better for it!
Your article shows you have a
Your article shows you have a lot of background in this topic. Can you direct me to other articles about this? I will recommend this article to my friends as well. Thanks
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