I’m On Sabbatical – Don’t You Want To Come Too?
by Ruth Ann Harnisch on 01/02/10 at 1:46 pm
Apparently sabbaticals are the new black.
When I mentioned I’m on one, some people began telling me of their fabulous sabbaticals, and nearly everybody else told me how much they want one.
So take one! Why not, even if you can only stay for a minute?
Yesterday, I told you the most important step in getting to take a sabbatical: plan for it. Schedule it, make appropriate arrangements, and take it. Commit to doing the difficult work of letting go of something in order to create the time and space for your sabbatical. Within appropriate boundaries for you, quit, postpone, say no to, delegate, share, or in some other way offload an activity that would prevent you from taking the time.
Maybe today you could choose a specific period of time you will call your sabbatical. It could be a number of minutes per day, or a day, or whatever would work for you. Commit to that time. What would you do if you were taking a whole year? Start doing that. Or do something else. Or do absolutely nothing.
If you commit to your sabbatical as I committed to mine, honor the time by making note of it. By the end of the year, you may find that you gave yourself a surprisingly long sabbatical!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to doing nothing. I’m not very good at it yet so I need to keep practicing.
5 Comments
Michael Markiewicz
Jan 2nd, 2010
I like this idea. One minute sabbatical that longer and longer each time you take one. This is not so hard after all.
Kim Spencer
Jan 2nd, 2010
ok, am heading out of the house right now for today's Sabbatical Minute (plus some) – thanks for the inspiration, and Happy New Year to you and Bill!
Michael Markiewicz
Jan 2nd, 2010
I LOVE this idea. One minute sabbaticals that get longer and longer each time. This is not so hard after all.
Glenda Copeland
Jan 4th, 2010
Great idea — think I'll take this as my New Year's Resolution. Take a 7 by 7 Sabbatical – 7 minutes 7 days a week to just focus on something totally outside the routine and of special interest to me at that moment! Thanks for the inspiration. Keep me posted on how it's going for you.
Elizabeth Pagano
Jan 5th, 2010
Hi, Ruth Ann. I received your blog in my Google Alerts this morning, and I’m so happy that I did. You probably don’t remember me, but I’m a former newspaper reporter at the Nashville Banner. You had left by the time I started (just after graduating from Vanderbilt), but I recall your visits every now and then to the newsroom. People spoke so highly of you!
For the past few years, I’ve dedicated myself to the concept of sabbaticals and to ensuring that they become a part of the way we work in America. My mother and I run http://www.yourSABBATICAL.com, a research and consulting firm. Our work has been recognized with a “Moving into the Future” award from The Conference Board.
I would love to speak with you and discuss any meaningful ways we can support one another. I can be reached at epagano@yoursabbatical.com.
Keep up the great writing…and enjoy your sabbatical!
Elizabeth Pagano
Leave a Comment