| Many people envy academics who take | | | | |
| sabbaticals. What they don't realize is that | | | | marathon. Learn a new sport. Dance. Work |
| | | | with a trainer in the weight room. People |
| sabbaticals are not designed as time on the | | | | |
| beach. You are supposed to use your | | | | tell me over and over, "I felt stronger as a |
| | | | person when my body became stronger."Some |
| free time to accomplish specific projects. | | | | goals are unique combinations of the physical |
| Often you are not allowed to embark on a | | | | and the creative. "Build a cabin |
| | | | |
| sabbatical if your plans seem vague or | | | | on my property," "Sail my boat to the island |
| unproductive.(1) Have a plan that includes | | | | and back," "Walk the length of the state |
| fun.How do you want to play? Did you always | | | | |
| want to spend a year at the movies, take a | | | | of California and keep a journal."(3) Set a |
| | | | time limit for your Time Out.Over three |
| ceramics class, write nonstop all morning, | | | | months, you can sign up for a class in |
| or begin each day with a blank slate?If this | | | | pottery or piano. You can |
| idea is totally new, even scary, you may want | | | | |
| to practice on weekends. You | | | | complete The Artist's Way program.Six |
| | | | months? You can draft a short book or outline |
| may need to identify what you really want to | | | | a longer one.Six weeks? You can travel or go |
| do before you start. A coach can help.(2) Get | | | | to workshops or see all the movies you didn't |
| creative.I recommend two types of goals: a | | | | have |
| creativity goal and a physical activity | | | | |
| goal.A creativity goal involves developing a | | | | time for.A time limit can free you. Someone |
| new side of yourself, using some | | | | I know (call her Janet) finished her MBA and |
| | | | |
| combination of art, music, drama, and | | | | began drifting. She worked part-time in a |
| writing. You may become an artist or take | | | | restaurant in a charming resort town. She |
| | | | |
| "appreciation" classes. If you travel, you | | | | felt no rush to get a corporate job to begin |
| can keep a journal, visit art museums or | | | | her career. After several months, the |
| | | | |
| attend concerts.No ideas? Check out The | | | | restaurant closed and Janet's parents |
| Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron, available at | | | | reminded her, "We supported you through |
| any bookstore. I | | | | |
| | | | school so you could get a real job!"Janet |
| am willing to bet that you will have no | | | | eventually built her own successful business, |
| trouble identifying playful activities as you | | | | but she says a time limit would |
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| | | | have given her a sense of direction. |
| work through the program.Physical activity | | | | |
| can be as simple as walking or as rigorous as | | | | Don't drift. You can always start a new Time |
| training for a | | | | Out if you're ready. |