ENTREPRENEURSHIP, LIFE DESIGN
August 27, 2024 | Waning Crescent
This article was originally published on my LinkedIn.
Taking a sabbatical was never part of my grand plan, but life has a funny way of pushing us into opportunities we never knew we needed. After being laid off from a tech company that closed its Canadian office, I found myself with the rare gift of time. Thanks to a generous severance package and some savings, I had the financial cushion to take a year off—a sabbatical that would change my life in more ways than I could have imagined.
At first, the idea of stepping away from work felt foreign, almost reckless. I had always been driven by the need to create, to produce, to stay busy.
Rediscovering My Passions
During my sabbatical, I found myself exploring passions that had long been sidelined. I relaunched an MLM skincare business, not because I had to, but because I wanted to reconnect with my entrepreneurial spirit. This wasn’t about hustling for the sake of hustling; it was about reigniting a spark that had been dimmed by years of prioritizing the ambitions of other companies.
My husband Mark and I also took on the challenge of renovating a tiny home. This project was a revelation for me. As someone who is obsessed with working and creating, usually at a computer, the physicality of renovation work was a welcome change. It allowed me to be creative in a different way, channelling my energy into something tangible and rewarding. There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing the fruits of your labour take shape in your physical space, a satisfaction that sometimes gets lost in the digital domain.
Embracing the World Beyond My Comfort Zone
The highlight of my sabbatical was undoubtedly the six months I spent travelling through Southeast Asia. From Thailand to Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal, and India, every country offered new perspectives and lessons. Living in a Buddhist monastery for a month was a dream come true, and spending weeks in Dharamsala, learning from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, was a profound experience.
Travelling opened my eyes to the fact that the world is so much bigger—and richer—than the narrow confines of my previous life. I learned to let go, to embrace uncertainty, and to go with the flow. The media in North America often paints a picture of the world that’s far from accurate. Seeing things firsthand made me realize how blissfully ignorant I had been.
By the time I reached Goa, India, I had settled into a rhythm of slow living. The heat of the afternoons pushed me into the shade, where I spent time learning web development on WordPress (side note: WordPress and I have a complicated relationship). This wasn’t just about adding a skill to my resume; it was about feeding my curiosity and allowing myself to dive into something new without the pressure of immediate results.
The Evolution of My Life and Work
Returning home after this year-long sabbatical, I found myself changed in ways I hadn’t anticipated. The biggest shift? I no longer wanted to work as much. Instead of jumping back into the 9-to-5 grind, I chose to work just three days a week, using the rest of my time to build a small HR freelancing business on the side.
This decision was guided by the realization that I craved balance more than ever. As much as I loved the comfort and challenge of my new job, I knew that working less and living more was key to maintaining the sense of freedom I had discovered. Yet, even as I settled into this new routine, the desire to create—to be busy—never fully left me. I continued to blog and explore new interests, but eventually, everything slowed down.
Then COVID happened, and while the world paused, I kept going—working in a demanding human resources role. Navigating the complexities of HR during such a turbulent time was taxing and left me questioning my HR career path. Seeking a change, I transitioned to a marketing agency, but after a year, I realized I needed something different. In 2023, I decided to take another sabbatical, one that was less about exploration and more about introspection. This time, I was more committed to creating my own business, living on my own terms, and learning how to work at my own pace. But it wasn’t easy. I had to embrace the things that truly interested me and, perhaps most importantly, learn how to chill.
The Introspective Journey of the Second Sabbatical
The second sabbatical was less about discovering the world and more about rediscovering myself. Having already tasted the freedom of living on my own terms, I was more committed than ever to creating a life that aligned with my values. This time, my focus was on building my own business, cultivating a personal brand, and diving deep into the creator economy.
But as much as I was drawn to the idea of entrepreneurship, I quickly realized that it wasn’t just about working for myself; it was about working at my own pace. For someone who had always been driven by the need to be productive, this was a significant shift. I had to learn to embrace the slower pace, to allow myself to work on things that genuinely interested me, and to resist the urge to fill every moment with “doing.”
During this period, I explored Bullet Journaling (BuJo) and Personal Knowledge Management (PKM), tools that helped me organize my thoughts, track my progress, and stay focused on what truly mattered. These practices became essential in helping me balance my desire for productivity with the need for reflection and rest.
But perhaps the most challenging—and rewarding—lesson of this sabbatical was learning to “chill.” For someone who had always equated busyness with success, it was a radical shift to allow myself to simply be. I had to confront the discomfort of not being constantly busy, to sit with the uncertainty of not having everything figured out, and to embrace the idea that slowing down could be just as valuable as speeding up.
The Power of Sabbaticals in Redefining Success
The benefits of taking a sabbatical go beyond just the opportunity to rest or travel. They allow you to step back, reassess your priorities, and redefine what success looks like for you. For me, these breaks from the traditional work cycle have been periods of intense personal growth and professional evolution. I’ve learned to question my old ways of thinking, to let go of the need for constant productivity, and to embrace a slower, more intentional approach to both life and work.
I was inspired to write this after reading Cal Newport’s Slow Productivity, in which he discusses the benefits of a sabbatical and how sometimes less is more. By slowing down, we give ourselves the space to focus on what truly matters, dive deep into our passions, and create something meaningful. Sabbaticals have given me the courage to take back my own agency and welcome a future that is genuinely aligned with my values and desires.
In a world that often equates busyness with success, taking a sabbatical might just be the most productive thing you can do.
I help women coordinate their business lives with their cycle to optimize their workflow for productivity, efficiency, and synchrony with their natural rhythm. I believe we are here to seek and find our greater purpose and make the most out of this life experience. I hope you join me on this journey!