I am Officially in the middle of my Sabbatical Leave. 8 weeks behind. 8 weeks to go.

In this post, I look backward at achieved milestones and unplanned changes, trying to make sense of the experience and choices. For April, I propose to change some approaches. Less deepness and desk work. More openness and getting out there.

Recap Initial List of Reasons to do a Sabbatical

I started this Sabbatical from a non-standard point. I had a good life balance, liked my job and had time for family and friends. The need to dedicate time to other angles in my life came from that same sense of privilege. If someone in such a phase would not invest in new angles, when would I do it, or to the matter, when would anyone?

Without any clear pain to solve or goal to achieve, the balance is not so direct. I turn to the initially stated reasons to do the Sabbatical and at this point looks like they still hold true, with different levels of achievement. I have classified them below from 0 (not started) to 5 (completely achieved).

• 4/5 Unexpected: leave room for “whatever feels right”
  I have decided based on weekly feeling…but maybe not risking enough
• 3/5 Connect: be with and support people around me in new ways
  I use a lot of time to support others…but not in new ways
• 3/5 Learn: Read, take courses and connect with other realities
  I read and learned a lot… but not yet connected to other realities
• 2/5 Creative: engage in delayed personal projects
  The Blog was a personal pending project… but others are still waiting
• 2/5 Life Phase Assessment: look back and forward with a method
  I did a lot of Conversions and described a Framework… but did not used it yet
• 1/5 Lifestyle Refresh: kill old and create new habits
  I did too much desk time in the same home office…I need new spaces

One other important aspect of doing the Sabbatical was the idea that my team in Eviso was ready and could even profit from the experience of my leave. In the last week of March, I did some meetings with them included in this mid-term check. I was very happy to feel the adrenaline of the interesting projects going on and at the same time the confidence that people were helping each other and raising to the challenges.

Time Allocation

I have been tracking my time as I presented in another post. With that data, I have created the charts and analysis below. This tracking has been an important part to reassure me that I am following up with my decisions.

If you remember from the first post of March, I decided to do a two-week focus trip in order to have more time for my explorations. The impact of that decision is visible in the second chart on the available time allocation. That chart does not take into consideration the sleeping and household routines and shows that sabbatical time raise from 20% to close to 40% of available time.

Not shown in the chart but more importantly, I was able to do more than four consecutive five hours periods of explorations per week. Looking back this was a very good decision!

Another chart compares the number of weekly hours with my target weekly hours per time allocation category. It is clear in the chart that, although I was able to raise my Sabbatical focus time, it is not yet at the targeted level. I think I was too optimistical about my capacity to say no to requests around me and focus really on the Sabbatical. Maybe that is not actually the point of pausing, to replace work with another equal focus!

Making Sense of the Phases up to Now

Looking back free from the structure of time or goals, these last eight weeks feel like a series of blocks or phases. First I talked a lot to people in February, then I pause for balance. In March I mostly wrote posts and now I am pausing for balance. The constant dimensions behind these blocks were reading, weekly time tracking, and exploring.

I have met or re-discovered, a lot of interesting people. Many were already my friends. The difference in this period is that I have explored and shared new dimensions, creating what looks to be more deep and diverse relationships.

I also have learned and read a lot, but, again I was already doing it before the sabbatical. The new part is that this time I wrote after I read and explored. That made a great difference. I feel I was able to get deeper and create new internal constructions and links between topics that I was not able to do before.

Plan for April

For April I have decided to risk more and open myself to initiatives and realities around me. To do this I will:

• Invite myself to visit companies, places and organizations close to me
• Try to kickstart something new that could last (book, app, group)
• Limit computer and desk time, so reduce Blogging for now.
• Change routines and places of what I do, both in the house and outside.
• React to the needs of others (helping, visiting, etc)
• Serious self-assessment with method that could be repeated.

So, if there is someone or group you would like to suggest, or if you have been waiting to ask my support on anything…now is the best time, while April still has available time!