The Daily Sabbatical
I’ve been fortunate to have worked and spent time with a variety of thought leaders: Walt Mossberg, Walter Isaacson, Dan Pink, Marshall Goldsmith, David Maister, et. al. Nearly all of them have talked of “sabbaticals” to recharge the batteries, work on the next book, relieve stress, and so forth.
What strikes me is that most people can’t afford to simply take six months off and hunker down on the Amalfi Coast or sail to Bora Bora. However, it’s also not what I’d recommend, even if you could do it (and I’ve spent extensive time in both of those wonderful places).
I try to stop any kind of work by 2 pm. In the summer, I hit the pool with the dogs. During other times of the year, I might take a drive, play with the dogs, have a cigar, read, play some games, or just sit and think. That’s my daily sabbatical. There are times I can’t do it—calls to Australia or a West Coast obligation—but I can usually adhere to that schedule when I’m not traveling.
If a “work day” is 9 to 5, that’s 15 hours a week, or almost a two-day sabbatical weekly. That’s about 8 days a month, nearly 100 days a year. You may decide to work a “full day” but never work on Friday or Monday, or take Wednesday afternoons off. It doesn’t matter.
The point is that you can recharge, reengage, create, and innovate regulary, because you’re taking a daily or weekly sabbatical. There’s no reason not to do this, as an entrepreneur.
Unless, of course, you left the corporate world to go out on your own and now you have a worse boss.
© Alan Weiss 2013
Note: I’m introducing a new personal development video series, The Daily Sabbatical, in 2014. Watch for it or drop a line if you’d like to receive information: [email protected].
