Sabbatical Life Hacks
By: Another Storyteller
Tags: Lifehacks, Self Improvement, Sabbatical, Careers, Mindset

After precisely 13th year of uninterrupted career, one day of 2020 something unexpected happened. Perhaps it was a moment liberation I secretly coveted all along, and surely craved in the 6 months of build up until it happened. One day I joined the usual review with my powerpoint to find only my boss and HR. They told me that the meeting won’t take place, and that I was being laid off on the spot with a cash compensation. I could feel it coming and wow… that promise of future free time and money gave me such an adrenaline rush.

What to do with such a sudden bout of freedom?

The first two weeks have been about re-organizing. Scaling down my flat, relocate, cut all the recurring costs, sell stuff, etc.

I had no holidays for 8 months, so I re-organize my vacations plan to tick off some bucket list to-dos and fit a longer, lower budget travel plan.

After the reorganization then came the time to enjoy these longer holidays (and the daily job-search ritual), that I will forever be grateful for.

When the cold season and covid came back, I knew I would lose the ability to be outside, to travel and to see people. So I braced myself to stay productive in the challenging period ahead. I laid out a list of objectives about how I would want to improve and set up reading, sport routines, training and job search routines. Four such activities each day are enough to keep anyone busy.

My reading routines brought me to discover a significant deal more about the power of mindset, m&a technicalities and lean management style. These topics were not really established or adequately covered at the time I got my degrees and I tackle this as an home made MBA (or prep for one, if ever).

What keeps me going is that alongside new and fresh thinking tools, this new habit gives me a lot of epiphanies.

My biggest realization so far has been about the growth mindset, as I noticed to what extent I let failures define me and my aspirations. It’s finally time to move past the ancestral fears, now that I can see them.

I am also pleased with the speed at which I read these books. It is a big relief as I previously thought that stress (emails, social, notifications, news, calls) made my brain become too dumb and cloudy to be able to read an entire book.

On the physical activities front I trained myself to the full Bodokan Yoga set of 7 series. I came across this form of Yoga years ago, but only passively attended classes. So I found online videos and started doing the first three series, then four, ... then all of them. A bit every day, every day a bit better. That is until I had to slow down for the sake of my wrists, but I should be able to get back to a daily cadence with some adjustments.

It is so empowering to have the ability to take care of yourself anytime, anywhere. My back stopped aching, I toned up and lost fat.

It is so easy to find training material online. Years ago I bought myself a python mini-degree on Zenva, and I could finally get to really dig into it.

I refreshed my python programming skills and did a basic game and some data visualization. Now I am still learning about machine learning and neural networks, still a statistical theory with no applications during my studies.

In parallel I have been attending lots of free webinars and trainings, some offered for advertising complex solutions or products, others for networking, and others really for the sake of having fun.

The job search has been the activity I devoted most time to, and it is the biggest most complex piece of work.

The easy approach is to find jobs similar to the ones I already did in the past, and start the conversation by sending my resume. I have become quite effective at this, and although I haven’t yet landed any contract I could progress through some interviews. That is not too bad in a competitive market, at a time when economic activity is not precisely at peak.

On the other hand I am finding myself thinking that I may be missing the chance of my life to make a lateral career move or to start a venture. Would such a twist bring me the passion that I struggle to find as a finance manager?

I cannot answer this question, and the reasons seem to be precisely two as seen in the mindset books I have been reading.

First comes limited-game mindset. I am letting fears of failure and rejection define me. While these fears can teach useful lessons such as not touching a hot pot, they may become counter productive. I have been rejected so many times when applying to industries and roles where I do not have years of relevant experience, that I am not even proposing anymore. I am reluctant to put skin in the game at a game I do not yet fully master because failure is more likely, so I do not learn. I need to embrace a bolder approach, failing faster and more often until I crack it.

The second is really a change management issue. My rational brain is paralized by the quantity of possible career paths, I am overwhelmed by the choice. My soul is not driving me to pursue any profession or enterprise as a passion. I like to work hard, be productive and earn my rewards, but I always lacked the inspiration to pursue a precise career for a lifetime.

I know how to get a job like the one I just left, but I cannot see the path that will take me to an horizontal move. These things happen serendipitously through networking or your own enterprise.

I need to whittle down the list of career path options, pick the one that gives me the most passion, and start to open channels and make interactions happens - until a viable path surfaces.

Three recommendations summarize what I have learnt from unemployment.

1) Well done holidays can be more meaningful than years of work.

2) Learn to practice studying every day to feed your brain and your soul.

3) Learn to practice a physical activity regularly to preserve your body.

If job, family or anything are ever preventing you from doing any of these things, be fully aware of the loss you are experiencing.

The big open question to crack is not quite about the meaning of life, but rather about how to live a meaningful life.

Maybe my good old career path is a tested and trusted way to sustain myself while being able to continue practicing daily studying and physical activity.

Maybe I will discover an endless source of purpose and fulfillment by finding a new professional path or starting my own venture.

Surely, I will know more about what I want (what I really really want) in the coming few months. Whatever I will go for, I shall truly embrace it and enjoy it. Life is not a game to win or lose, but rather one to enjoy or endure.

Keep that fire burning!