The concept of taking extended time off seems almost foreign. Yet, I’ve come to realize that true success isn’t just measured by business achievements but by wholeness in all areas of life. After building six multimillion-dollar companies, including a couple that reached eight figures, I made a decision that surprised many in my circle—I decided to take a sabbatical.
This wasn’t an easy choice. Few people in my network have formally taken an extended leave from their work. The pressure to keep pushing, to maintain momentum, to stay relevant—these forces work against the very idea of pausing. But sometimes, the most counterintuitive move is precisely what we need.
The Biblical Wisdom of Rest
My decision was partly inspired by an ancient principle found in biblical teachings—the concept that every seven years, you’re supposed to take a year off. This sabbatical year wasn’t just a nice suggestion; it was built into the fabric of a sustainable life rhythm. The ancients understood something we modern achievers often forget: continuous production without restoration leads to depletion, not prosperity.
Think about it—even the most high-performing machines need maintenance. Yet we expect our minds, bodies, and spirits to operate continuously without proper rest. This isn’t just unsustainable; it’s unwise.
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Success Without Rest Isn’t Success
What prompted my sabbatical was a painful realization: despite my business accomplishments, I wasn’t winning in all areas of my life. Financial success and professional recognition are only fragments of a truly successful life. What about relationships? Physical health? Spiritual well-being?
I discovered I wasn’t even resting during vacations. My mind remained tethered to work, problems to solve, opportunities to capture. This constant mental engagement prevented true restoration. A vacation without mental rest is just a change of scenery, not a restorative break.
To become the healthiest version of myself, I needed to genuinely slow down not just for a weekend or even a two-week vacation, but for an extended period that would allow deep restoration.
The Three Dimensions of Sabbatical Evaluation
A sabbatical isn’t merely about absence from work—it’s about presence with yourself. During this time, I’m focusing on three critical areas of evaluation:
- Personal assessment – Taking inventory of my strengths, weaknesses, habits, and patterns
- Relationship evaluation – Examining the quality and depth of my connections with family and friends
- Spiritual connection – Reassessing and deepening my faith and spiritual practices
This third dimension is significant. How connected am I to God or whatever higher purpose I believe in? This isn’t just a religious question but an existential one that shapes everything else.
Creating Space for Transformation
The sabbatical creates space—space to think, to feel, to reconnect with forgotten parts of myself. In the constant noise of achievement and productivity, certain voices get drowned out: the voice of wisdom that speaks in quiet moments, the voice of creativity that emerges in unstructured time, the voice of the heart that reminds us what truly matters.
I’ve found that this space doesn’t just happen—you have to create it intentionally. For me, this means:
- Setting clear boundaries around communication
- Establishing new daily rhythms focused on restoration
- Engaging in activities that nourish rather than deplete
- Practicing presence instead of constantly planning the future
These practices help ensure my sabbatical doesn’t accidentally become just another busy season with different activities.
The Courage to Pause
Taking a sabbatical requires courage. There’s the fear of losing momentum, missing opportunities, or becoming irrelevant. But I’ve come to believe that the greatest risk isn’t in pausing—it’s in never pausing at all. The risk of burnout, of a life that’s successful on paper but hollow in experience, of reaching the end and realizing you never truly lived—these are far greater dangers.
My sabbatical isn’t an escape from responsibility but a recommitment to what matters most. It’s not about abandoning success but redefining it in more holistic, sustainable terms.
If you’ve never considered a sabbatical, I invite you to at least entertain the possibility. Even if a full year isn’t feasible, perhaps a month or even a few weeks of intentional rest could begin to restore what constant striving has depleted. The world will still be there when you return—but you might come back as a more whole, centered, and effective version of yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do you financially prepare for taking a sabbatical?
Financial preparation is crucial before taking an extended time off. I recommend having at least 6-12 months of expenses saved, ensuring your businesses have capable leadership in place, and creating passive income streams that continue during your absence. The planning phase often takes 1-2 years before the actual sabbatical begins.
Q: Won’t taking a sabbatical hurt my business momentum?
While there’s always a risk in stepping away, I’ve found that properly planned sabbaticals can actually benefit your business in the long term. The fresh perspective, renewed energy, and strategic clarity that come from extended rest often lead to better decision-making and innovation upon return. The key is proper delegation and communication systems before departure.
Q: What activities should be included in a restorative sabbatical?
A truly restorative sabbatical should include physical rest, mental stimulation through new learning, spiritual practices such as meditation or prayer, relationship building, and dedicated reflection time. The specific mix depends on your personal needs, but avoid filling the time with just another form of busyness. The goal is restoration, not just different activities.
Q: How do you explain a sabbatical to clients and business partners?
Transparency works best. I communicated my plans 6-9 months in advance, explaining my reasons for taking time away and detailing exactly who would handle various responsibilities. Most people respect honesty and personal growth. I found that framing it as an investment in long-term sustainability rather than an abandonment of responsibility helped others understand and support my decision.
Q: What’s the minimum sabbatical length that provides real benefits?
While the biblical model suggests a year, meaningful benefits can come from shorter periods. In my experience, it takes at least 3-4 weeks to disconnect from work patterns and begin deep restoration truly. However, even a dedicated 2-week period with complete disconnection from work can provide significant renewal if approached with intention and proper boundaries.
