How to Take Your Own Sabbatical
Without Quitting Your Job
Whenever I tell someone about my sabbatical, I get a lot of responses from women who say, “That sounds amazing, but I could never do that.” I get it. Not everyone has the opportunity to take a year off, rent out their home, move abroad or negotiate a formal leave. But here’s what I want to stress: you don’t need to leave your job, your city or your life to create space for rest. You just need to interrupt the rhythm.
That’s where mini sabbaticals come in. It’s a very deliberate pause. A stretch of time carved out to rest, reset, and reconnect with yourself. Do not think of it as vacation, a sick day or an escape. A mini sabbatical is simply a soft pause that reminds your brain and body their not machines. It can last a weekend, a single day or even just a few hours, if that’s all you can give. The length matters less than the intention behind it.
Burnout doesn’t wait for your PTO balance. You’ve been showing up for everything and everyone else and your nervous system is tired of being in go-mode. Your peace is worth planning for. You don’t have to earn rest through exhaustion. You can choose to pause before it gets that far.
I find that lists are good for me, so I’ve used AI to simplify my thoughts into lists in case that’s helpful for you too. Here are five way to take a mini sabbatical that don’t require you to quit your job:
The Personal Day with Boundaries
Don’t catch up on errands or clean your house. Don’t check your email. Do something that nourishes you, whether it’s a goddess bath, a nap, a book, a walk. Treat the day like sacred ground.
A Weekend of Silence (or Softness)
Turn off all notifications, say no to plans and let your home be your retreat space. That means no structure, just softness.
The Workweek Reset
Block off one lunch hour each day for five days. I’ve been doing this one for two years. But here’s the hard part (for me)… Actually leave your workspace. I’m guilty of eating at my desk. Sit in sunlight. Eat slowly. Journal or breathe. These 60-minute pauses can add up to a noticeable shift.
Digital Detox Day
No socials, no screens, no scrolling. Go analog: physical books, paper, nature, music. Give your mind a chance to wander and your attention a place to land.
Mini Retreat (Solo or with Friends)
Book a local Airbnb for one night. Resist the urge to make an agenda. Bring a journal, your comfiest clothes and your favorite meals. Rest how you want to, not how someone tells you to.
Not everyone will get the chance to take a full sabbatical. But every woman deserves a pause. You can create it right where you are, with what you have. Start small. Start soft. Start now. In a world that tries to keep us running, you get to choose when and how to slow down.