Yesterday I shared a couple of reflections for anyone thinking about a sabbatical.

And today I’m sharing a couple more.  This time for anyone who isn’t just thinking about a sabbatical - but is actually going on a sabbatical.

First up:  you don’t need to “make the most” of your sabbatical by filling it with stuff. 

In fact, a chock-a-block sabbatical might be a big mistake. 

It might be falling into a familiar mindset that says being busy, productive and rushing around like a headless chicken is the best way to live life.

Don’t get me wrong.  It’s one way to live life.

But there are other options.  Especially on a sabbatical.

And it’s more than okay to give yourself permission to take some time out.  To give yourself some space and the opportunity to breathe.

This might seem indulgent, selfish or like a total waste of time.  But that’s not how it looks to me.

To me, it looks like a magnificent use of your time.

Opportunities to relax, recharge and reflect don’t come around that often.

So my suggestion is to grab them when they do.

Which leads me to my second point:

Take note of what bubbles up when you give yourself time and space.

See, allowing the external noise and clutter to settle might also settle your body and mind.

Which means thoughts and feelings usually drowned out by the hubbub of constant activity might bubble up.

And these thoughts and feelings are worth paying attention to.  Because they come from within us, not from the external world. 

They're an “inner knowing” that we all have. 

And paying attention to this might open up some new options.

Options for how to spend that day of your sabbatical…

Or for how to spend the next month of your sabbatical…

Or potentially even options for how to spend your life.

That’s how it was for me.

I spent a good chunk of my sabbatical exploring my thoughts and feelings about what might happen if I quit my job.

But I’m not sure this would’ve happened if I’d spent six months eating pad thai in Thailand rather than being penned in my flat during a lockdown.

I’m not sure that inner knowing would’ve come through in quite the same way.

Which is why I said yesterday that the lockdown could’ve been a blessing in disguise for me.

It almost forced me to reflect.

And I’m glad it did.  I might not be writing this email if it didn't.

That’s all for today.

 - Tom