I recently told a long-time friend that I'm taking a sabbatical and would not be focusing on goals for the time being. She responded with five exclamation points and five emojis. That made me laugh and also reinforced why it's important for me to take one.

First, what is a sabbatical?

A sabbatical is extended leave from work to focus on professional development, personal priorities, or rest. The concept mirrors God's instruction in Leviticus 25 to give land a rest every seven years (and also every fifty). God's people were not to plant, prune, or harvest so the soil could be renewed. I have seen pastors take sabbaticals during the summer. And I have friends who take paid sabbaticals after many years of service in their workplace.

Why take a sabbatical?

I would like to say that I prayerfully planned on taking a sabbatical, but that isn't how I came to it. I just can't keep going as I was. Yes, there was an inciting incident as with any story. But I'm not going to tell you that story now or try to justify my sabbatical in any way. I already know that people don't like it when others take sabbaticals.

Why? People on sabbaticals aren't available to us–either at all or not in the way we're accustomed to. We can be jealous of those who have a time of rest. We can feel guilty that we aren't doing likewise. We can even surmise that those taking a sabbatical are having a mental breakdown and urgently need our help. The podcast series Missing Richard Simmons comes to mind.

But this negative reaction to sabbaticals belies the need for one. If we keep producing and giving with no rest (as Richard Simmons did), we eventually have a drought of the soul. There will be no future growth without a time of enrichment–nothing with which to feed others.

A sabbatical allows us to reconnect with God and remember His purpose for us. We can take a step back and ask ourselves why we are doing what we're doing. Is it to serve God or others' expectations? Are we acting out of fear or love?

How to take a sabbatical

I need a sabbatical because I've been working for years to grow personally and professionally using expert, worldly strategies. There is a “right way” and I have never achieved it. So I will not be taking a sabbatical the right way either.

I won't be jetting off to Fiji for the winter while doing no work, though that sounds pretty fabulous. 🙂 Instead, I am refusing to set goals. I have stopped reading the 1,001 newsletters that tell me how to be better. I AM keeping my commitments of shipping books, publishing podcasts, and writing newsletters. But if I need a break as I did last week, I take one. I am allowing the Lord to arrange my days without using a to-do list. And I am taking time to rediscover what I love, what energizes me, and what draws me closer to God and others. So far I have spent more time reading fiction, playing racket sports, and cooking new recipes. I don't have an end date for my sabbatical. I may return to a more structured life or I may not.

Does this approach to a sabbatical cause me anxiety? YES. That's a normal withdrawal symptom of the hyper-scheduled, taskmaster, never-enough life I was living. I pray about the anxiety, make a decision to trust God yet again, and get on with my day.

If you feel led to take a sabbatical, what might that look like for you? First, recognize that God calls us to a Sabbath rest every week. You could begin by seeking renewal on Sunday or another day–especially if you are a church worker. You may also consider taking the month of December off from homeschooling. Next, consider letting go of anything that is not a must-do or something you love for a time. Ask yourself what is the worst that can happen if you don't do something. Finally, think about adding more activities you love to your life now, instead of waiting until a future season when all of your priority work is completed. That season may never arrive. Take the class, start the project, call a friend. The added benefit is a happier family.

If you decide to take a sabbatical, I would love to hear about it! Comment here or on social media. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss newsletters that are always designed to give you more homeschool sanity.