337. Time Off Well Spent: The Case for Sabbaticals - DJ DiDonna

Time Off Well Spent: The Case for Sabbaticals - DJ DiDonna, We Are For Good Podcast, The Sabbatical Project

This episode is part of our Mental Health Week series. Explore all the episodes, find resources + more at weareforgood.com/mentalhealth.

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Overview

Meet DJ. He’s come to visit with us about the value of rest and rejuvenation. In 2019, he founded The Sabbatical Project to define, explore, and research sabbaticals following a 900-mile pilgrimage in Shi-Ko-Ku, Japan. He knows nonprofits doubt their ability to implement a sabbatical-focused work experience, but keep an open mind! He’s bringing the playbook (and data!) to show how it’s good for business. We’re working toward a world where extended leave is the norm, not the exception. Tune in and hear the science and benefits behind rest.

💡Learn

Recover, Explore, Practice: The transformative potential of sabbaticals

The business case for sabbaticals
3️⃣ Archetypes for sabbaticals
Advice for professionals navigating the intersection of sabbaticals and donor, staff, beneficiary and board expectations
Examples of companies/orgs integrating sabbaticals into their business!

Today’s Guest

DJ DiDonna, Founder, The Sabbatical Project

“People who care about their work are the reason that we have the definition of burnout.”

— DJ DiDonna, Founder, The Sabbatical Project

Episode Transcript

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Episode Highlights

DJ’s story and journey to where he is today (1:15)
External catalysts that result in sabbaticals (6:00)
Types off sabbaticals people take (11:50)
DJ’s sabbatical + walking 900 miles (16:00)
Barriers that prevent people from taking a sabbatical (21:45)
Three archetypes of sabbaticals (24:20)
Business case for sabbaticals (30:10)
Case studies of nonprofit leaders taking sabbaticals (35:00)
DJ’s advice for people exploring sabbaticals in the nonprofit sector (42:00)
A story of powerful philanthropy + impact that DJ witnessed in his career (45:15)
DJ’s One Good Thing: Life is too short to not take a sabbatical. (50:25)

Powerful quotes

“I want to get to the point where it's not fixing a problem, it's actually having a positive experience, as opposed to trying to heal yourself.” -DJ

“I felt it was a time to investigate something that was important instead of urgent.” -DJ

“If the whole system relies on you and your ability to be creative, then you are trapped.” -DJ

“People who care about their work are the reason that we have the definition of burnout.” -DJ

“It's okay to change and grow.” -DJ

“You can't hear your own voice and do some archaeology on what was important to you, what is emerging for you, unless you tune out those other voices and in the busyness, in the din and the urgency.” -DJ

“If you step away from that for a few months, you can start to see that there is difference in distance between you as an individual, and that thing that has taken up a lot of your identity over time. I don't think you can do it in any other way can't get it from like a weekend retreat or five minutes of meditation.” -DJ

“You're going to be your own best teacher once you get that time off.” -DJ