DJ DiDonna defines a sabbatical as "intentional extended leave from your job." DJ is a Harvard Business School senior lecturer and the author of Big Time Off: The Transformative Power of Sabbaticals and How to Take One, out now.

Planning one, on leave, heading back, leaving to build something new, or facing a re-org you didn't ask for? Monique and DJ talk about sabbatical vs. vacation, regret insurance, and what to do if time off finds you first.

Ideas to try

• Journal before, during, and after your time away.
• Spend 30 to 60 minutes alone, no phone, no music, writing what your life wouldn't feel complete without. Then ask: am I making time for this?
• Picture yourself five to ten years from now. What would you regret not doing? What story do you want to tell your grandkids?
• Find someone who has taken extended leave.

Timestamps

• (00:00) - Welcome and DJ's background
• (02:24) - What is a sabbatical, and how is it different from a vacation?
• (03:53) - What does DJ want to debunk about sabbaticals?
• (06:04) - Why is a sabbatical "regret insurance"?
• (09:54) - What are the common catalysts that lead people to step away?
• (11:27) - When time off is forced on you, how do you reframe it?
• (14:40) - Monique's 12 weeks off: was that a sabbatical?
• (18:02) - DJ's answer: functional workaholism and the power of exemplars
• (21:25) - Why do people resist time off for themselves, even when sabbaticals are normalized?
• (24:09) - Can you work on a sabbatical, and what counts as work?
• (27:28) - What if you're driven and need to go now? Do you still need time off?
• (32:13) - Type A and the gift of time: getting out of your head and into your body
• (37:41) - Quiet reflection or community: what did the research find?
• (39:23) - What has evolved in DJ's thinking since writing the book?
• (44:50) - What first steps can people try?

Links

• Get the book, Big Time Off: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1668060892
• DJ DiDonna: https://www.djdidonna.com
• The Sabbatical Project: https://www.thesabbaticalproject.org
• Ask Monique: https://forms.gle/iGZv2bVnhBSXbnbc8
• Connect with Monique on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniqueschafer
• The Great Life Experiment: https://greatlifeexperiment.com/

There's no one right way. Let's experiment together.

"You are too old to hire and too young to retire."

That's the line a friend used with Monique that sparked this week's episode, recorded (as always) from the car. It's a worry a lot of people in their 40s and 50s are starting to have. If you're feeling caught in that in-between - too experienced for more junior roles or ones that consume your whole life, yet you are not ready (or not able) to stop working - then this one's for you.

Monique unpacks where that feeling comes from, why it's more common than you'd think among people with 15-20+ years of experience, and shares one practical exercise you can start today to reconnect with the value you already bring with no resume rewrite required today.

In this episode:

• The real story behind "too old to hire, too young to retire" conversation
• Why feeling stuck hits hardest right when you're most experienced
• How to face the market reality (skills, industries changing) without spiraling
• Why you're not actually "behind" on AI, even though it feels that way
• One tactical daily exercise to reconnect with your value
• Why your soft skills — and being multi-passionate — aren't a liability

If this resonates, share it with a friend who's in the thick of it, and subscribe so you never miss an episode.

PART 3 OF "NAVIGATING CAREER CHANGES": This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the messy middle of career transitions, whether you're contemplating leaving a job or grappling with identity loss after a layoff.

Dr. Fishman, a psychologist and former tech researcher, shares his personal journey of grappling with his identity after being laid off from Facebook and his decision to walk away for another 'successful' career that was no longer fulfilling.

He emphasizes the importance of embracing your emotions without judgment and recognizing that feeling unfulfilled is a common human experience. You’ll discover how to confront your fears about leaving a stable job, and why prioritizing your happiness is crucial not just for you, but for those you care about.

In this enlightening conversation, you’ll gain insights on:

- The psychological implications of career transitions and how they affect your identity.

- Strategies for navigating feelings of grief and loss associated with leaving a job.

- The importance of experiencing joy in the ordinary and redefining what fulfillment looks like.

- How to shift your mindset and recognize that your current life may already hold the happiness you seek.

Dr. Evan Fishman is a psychologist, former Meta researcher, and founder of The Beloved Institute. After years studying motivation—from academia to Silicon Valley—he realized that many of the world's highest achievers weren't searching for another strategy, they were searching for themselves.

Connect with Dr. Evan Fishman

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Connect with Monique Schafer:

LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Website