What Would You Do With a Whole Month Off?
For most of my career, I worked 6 days/week. Days blurred into weeks, and weeks into years, as I autopiloted through life. One of the biggest reasons I switched to freelance was to slow my life down.
One of my favourite ways to do that is taking every December off—my annual "sabbatical". Not a vacation, but a reset.
Last December, I flew to Korea to spend time with my 94-year-old grandmother, whom I hadn’t seen in 10 years. I felt sad for the lost time, but better late than never. It's one of the most meaningful things I’ve done in recent memory.
I also spent hours writing, and reflected on how I could grow my travel optometry career. Some of my favourite moments were at Starbucks—coffee in hand, completely absorbed in writing.
In short, that one-month sabbatical reignited my life.
The Benefits of Sabbaticals are Unquestionable
Idea of sabbatical is certainly rare among health care professionals, but its benefits are unquestionable. Sometimes you need to disconnect to come back stronger.
In fact, world's most successful and productive people take sabbaticals:
- Bill Gates – Each year, he takes his famous “Think Week,” isolating himself in a remote cabin for a week. Empty schedule, surrounded by nature, with nothing but books and papers. Gates credits many of Microsoft’s major innovations to these retreats.
- Stefan Sagmeister – A designer who takes a full year off every 7 years. He credits this with keeping his work fresh and avoiding burnout.
- Daniel Day-Lewis – Often takes years off between films to immerse himself in crafts like shoemaking or woodworking, rekindling his creativity before his next acting role.
"There's No Way I Can Do That..."
I know what you’re thinking – "I can’t possibly take a month off…" Our default mode is always go-go-go, and just the thought of a month off might make you queasy.
Fair warning: it is hard to step away from work for a whole month. You're going feel the pull of staying productive (and busy). But what you get in return is invaluable.
And if 1 month feels impossible, start smaller:
- 2-Week Mini-Sabbatical – Step away. Reset.
- 4-Day Reboot – Break your routine and spark new momentum.
- Weekend Reset – Two days to realign.
- Single-Day Retreat – One day to clear your head.
The Possibilities Are Endless
What would you do with a month off?
- Quality time with loved ones? Wellness retreat? Singing lessons?
- Or perhaps it's finally making time for self-care and catching up on sleep.
- Or... do nothing and let your mind rest (when's the last time you've done that?).
When you take a sabbatical, you come back not just rested, but energized with fresh ideas.
Whether it’s a month, a week, or just a single day, give yourself permission to slow down!
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