Chang Kim’s Post

These questions might sound familiar. They're the same ones that echo in the minds of countless professionals before taking their leap into a sabbatical. But here's what we've learned from our community of sabbatical takers: The biggest regrets often come not from taking the break, but from waiting too long to take it. Your career isn't a sprint—it's a marathon. And sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is press pause to press forward. What's holding you back from your sabbatical journey? Share with us below.

the Sabbatical Project recently reposted an excerpt from my sabbatical journey. When I chose to quit my job and travel back in 2017, those fears were real. The fear around the optics of how people might perceive me rattled around in my head for too long. Ultimately, I’m glad I chose to listen to myself, and not the imaginary voices of others. I was a bit surprised to realize it's been 7 years since I left my 9-5, and if I was following the sabbatical cycle, I’d be taking off again. But as a product of the insights and changes I made as a result of that time off, seven years later I’ve designed my life & career where I don’t feel I need to take a break. I want to keep doing what I’m doing. And my fears didn't come true. People did hire me again. And instead of feeling I’d failed, I felt like I’d won by giving myself a permission slip to put myself first, despite my fears of what people might say. I’m grateful to initiatives like the Sabbatical Project, which have normalized taking time off, and making it easier for other people to see what’s possible for themselves. Taking that time to intentionally pause, reflect, explore and dream… ✨ Was the first step in giving myself permission to do what I wanted for myself, instead of being driven by my perceptions of others' desires and judgments of me. ✨ Introduced me to people from around the world leading very different lives and careers. I got a glimpse of so many other options I simply hadn’t known existed. ✨ Showed me what freedom looked like, and I knew an office-based life would not be for me. One week after I got back from that trip, I started my initial coaching certification program with iPEC Coaching. Now, my time is spent helping to guide others through their own self-reflection to live with more intention, awareness, alignment and connection. ❔ If you’ve taken a sabbatical, what was your biggest win? ❔If you’re curious, but unsure, what fears are you telling yourself might happen? #sabbatical #consciousleadership #dream #reflect #intention

Today I begin my sabbatical. In November my company will turn 25 years old. 🎊 To celebrate this milestone, I’ve given myself from now through the end of December off. I’ve been announcing my sabbatical to colleagues, friends, and family since April to hold myself to it. The first question people ask is: what are your goals for your sabbatical? The impetus for it came from the question what’s next for me? Do I want to keep doing what I’ve been doing or make a change? 🤔 When you are a solo professional, only you can respond to those questions. I found it impossible to contemplate new options while keeping everything else humming along. So I’ve no specific goals for my sabbatical and just 2 guidelines: 1.  Break my routine 2.  Follow my curiosity I’ll let you know how it went when I’m back in January 2025. Enjoy your autumn and holiday season! 🍂

As I sit here at the end of week three of my sabbatical leave I find myself grappling with the challenge of letting go. It's not easy to break away from the routines and responsibilities that have become so ingrained in my daily life. The temptation to answer emails, attend meetings, and dive back into the familiar tasks is strong. But I know that in order to truly make the most of this special time, I need to establish a new framework for how I approach my life, my time, and my work. It's important to prioritize what I value most and ensure that my sabbatical is purposeful and fulfilling. I've come up with a few rules to guide me through this period of transition. Rule number one: the world won't stop spinning if I take a step back. Rule number two: anything important is rarely urgent, and anything urgent is rarely important. Rule number three: learn to say "Yes, but not right now". Rule number four: only prioritize the top three things I really want to do. Rule number five: commitment to eat well, sleep enough, show love to those around me, make time for play and exercise. Rule number six: Most importantly, a good coffee with a friend, a chat with a stranger are moments of human connection that make life rich and meaningful. I know that it won't be easy to let go of the old habits and routines. But by following these rules and staying true to my values, I hope to emerge with a renewed sense of purpose and passion. And remember, always come back to rule number one: the world won't stop spinning.

🌟 The Power of a Sabbatical: Lessons from My Time Off 🌟 Have you ever dreamed of pressing pause on your daily hustle and embracing the magic of an extended break? I recently did just that, taking a four-week sabbatical that took me from the warm, welcoming towns of Spain to the electric energy of Nashville. It even included the deeply personal experience of helping my parents transition to the next chapter of their lives. And let me tell you, the lessons I learned were truly life-changing.   In my latest blog post, I share 5 powerful takeaways from my time off that I believe everyone should experience. Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll find:   👉 The Value of Real Community: From small-town magic in Spain to genuine connections with locals, I discovered how feeling a true sense of belonging can be life-changing. 👉 The Art of Slowing Down: Meals became moments to savor, and conversations were deep and meaningful. Slowing down can actually make life richer. 👉 Surrounding Yourself with Passion: In Nashville, witnessing musicians chase their dreams inspired me to lean into my own passions. 👉 The Unexpected Joy of Giving Back: Helping my parents move showed me that life’s greatest joys come from serving others. 👉 Why Sabbaticals Are a Must: We all deserve time to reset, realign, and come back stronger.   ✨ This experience wasn’t just about stepping away—it was about leaning into what really matters, discovering joy in new places, and being inspired by the people around me. ✨   To read the longer version, check out my blog 👉https://bit.ly/4fc4b6r   I hope it inspires you to embrace your own adventures, dream bigger, and make bold moves in your life. Have you ever taken a sabbatical or wished for one? I'd love to hear how taking a break has shifted your perspective or what you’ve learned from time away! Drop your thoughts in the comments. 💬   #2BBolder #SabbaticalLessons #LiveBoldly #LifeReset #Inspiration

What do you gain from a sabbatical leave? Every story and every journey is personal. But here are a few important benefits people experience during a sabbatical: 🌴 Relax, recharge and reflect: You determine the pace of your activities. Most likely, you will choose things you enjoy or you are curious or passionate about - in order to recharge. You'll also have downtime between activities: You can reflect on your life and life goals from a completely new perspective. 🔭 Explore: You meet people and experiene situation that you are simply not exposed to in your everyday life. Especially if you'd been in a certain job or industry for years, you are probably surrounded by people who follow a similar routine and have similar interests and values. During a few months of leave, you can see completely different ways of life first-hand. 🚀 Personal growth: You discover skills that you did not even know you had. You most probably end up in situations where you need abilities you have never used or used a long time ago. It's not only refreshing, it can also be life-changing. So, what are you waiting for?

As the year comes to a close, it’s natural to reflect on milestones, successes, and challenges. But amidst it all, there’s one question we rarely stop to ask: Who am I? Beyond the titles, achievements, and to-do lists, what truly defines you? Year end is the perfect time to pause, recalibrate, and consider whether the life you’re building aligns with who you are at your core. For many, a sabbatical becomes the turning point. Curious about what a sabbatical could do for you? Joel’s journey could spark your own. Read his story here: https://lnkd.in/eeHac56x

Love a quiz! And love what Cécile Marion is doing - this self paced sabbatical course was a godsend when I was embarking on mine. How to prepare, what to expect, what to do when those inner critics start popping up… it’s all in there. Cecile gently guides you through all those swirling questions you have about taking a sabbatical. It’s the hand hold and pat on the back you’re looking for if you’re considering one. Happy to chat more about it if you’re interested 🙏🏻 #sabbatical #worklifebalance #work #career

That’s a wrap! Today marks the final day of my 3-month sabbatical—and what a soul-giving experience it has been. Over the past 93 days, I’ve experienced so much joy, laughter, peace… and lower cortisol levels (PHEW, that number was climbing!) by simply allowing life to unfold one day at a time. From long walks with friends and slow mornings lost in books to traveling to The Netherlands with my mom to meet family and explore where she grew up, this time has taught me many lessons about myself and the people around me. The biggest lesson? Rest is productive. Read that again: REST IS PRODUCTIVE. Did I embrace this on Day 1? Not a chance. By Day 5, 12, or even 29, I was still trying to “earn” my rest, over-scheduling myself with commitments, errands, and back-to-back coffee, lunch, and dinner plans with friends. But somewhere around Day 60, it clicked: I had to stop fighting rest and start welcoming it. Once I truly leaned in, everything shifted. My days became lighter, slower, and more meaningful as I focused on: Re-setting. Re-aligning. Re-igniting. As this sabbatical ends, I feel ready—ready to step into what’s next with clarity, excitement, and purpose. I am so excited for what’s to come when I wake up tomorrow! I’ll wake up energized to create, ideate, and build (because once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur), but now with a deeper commitment to keeping rest at the center of it all. Here’s to the power of rest—and to what’s ahead.