logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
47m 39s

Why You Should Take a Few Months Off Wor...

Pushkin Industries
About this episode

Sometimes a two-week vacation just isn't enough - we all might need to leave our jobs for three months, six months or even a year. Taking an extended break can be great for our wellbeing - allowing us to recharge our batteries and reassess our priorities. 

But for most of us taking a sabbatical feels impossible - so live at SXSW Dr Laurie asked the advice of sabbaticals expert DJ DiDonna. DJ teaches at Harvard Business School and founded The Sabbatical Project - but in a past life he established a hectic start-up and eventually found he was badly in need of an extended career break. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Jul 6
What We Still Get Wrong About Happiness (Live at Dartmouth)
In this special live episode, Dr. Laurie takes the stage at Dartmouth College for a conversation with happiness historian Darrin McMahon. Together, they break down some of the biggest misconceptions about happiness in modern life, discuss the most effective (and often counterintu ... Show More
50m 11s
Jun 29
Why the “Pursuit of Happiness” Is a Bad Idea
The “pursuit of happiness” is one of America’s founding ideals. But what if chasing happiness is actually making us feel worse? In honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence, Dr. Laurie travels to Independence Hall in Philadelphia to explore what Thomas Jefferson and ... Show More
46m 36s
Jun 22
Why “No Regrets” Is Bad Advice
We’ve all had moments we wish we could do over: the relationship we stayed in too long, the opportunity we didn’t take, the thing we said that we can’t unsay. Regret can feel awful. So it’s no surprise that “no regrets” has become a popular life motto. But what if regret isn't ac ... Show More
30m 57s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2023
Why More Companies Should Have a Sabbatical Policy
Sabbaticals have long been thought of as an academic privilege, but a growing number of companies offer them, especially since the pandemic. DJ DiDonna, a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and founder of The Sabbatical Project, has interviewed hundreds of workers who’ve ... Show More
25m 33s
Apr 2024
Is it a good time to switch jobs or take career break ?
All of us have some point in our careers wanted to take a break but for most of us, the idea never took root. Is there ever a right time to take that plunge? Head for higher studies take the sabbatical or even opt for a drastic career switch. Kamal Karanth, co-founder of staffing ... Show More
22m 56s
Mar 2023
The Power of Time Off
tail spinning
18m 20s
Aug 2024
Encore - Why you should take a vacation—and how to get the most out of it, with Jessica de Bloom, PhD, and Sarah Pressman, PhD
Whether your idea of the perfect vacation involves the beach, exploring a city, or just relaxing at home, you probably look forward to your time off all year. Sarah Pressman, PhD, of the University of California Irvine, and Jessica de Bloom, PhD, of Groningen University in the Ne ... Show More
38m 59s
Dec 2021
How to Use All Your Vacation — And Really Unplug
When was the last time you really took a sustained break from work? No emails. No calls. No taking care of that one little thing. For most of us — particularly in the United States -- it's been too long. As we head into the end-of-year holidays, we asked University of Texas psych ... Show More
27m 58s
Sep 2023
A Sabbatical Will Change Your Life—and Finances
Today, we’re making the personal and professional case for some extended time off. Who needs a sabbatical, and most importantly, how do you take one? We cover the logistics, finances, and psychology behind stepping away from work—along with three interviews: Jen Fisher, the Human ... Show More
1h 4m
Aug 2019
3 Ways to Take an Adult Gap Year and Why it Might Be Helpful for You to Take One
A gap year or month is usually when students take time off between school and college or college and work to travel alone or with friends. The same can take place for adults after working for 5-7 years or more. It’s not about parties or living it up but rather self exploration, l ... Show More
30m 53s
Jun 2023
Why you should take a vacation – and how to get the most out of it, with Jessica de Bloom, PhD, and Sarah Pressman, PhD
Whether your idea of the perfect vacation involves the beach, exploring a city or just relaxing at home, you probably look forward to your time off all year. Sarah Pressman, PhD, of the University of California Irvine, and Jessica de Bloom, PhD, of Groningen University in the Net ... Show More
37m 16s
Mar 2022
Your Work is Not Your Life
It’s been a difficult few years for everyone, and people are feeling more burned out than ever. CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks to author Rahaf Harfoush about being a recovering workaholic, and how we should all rethink our relationship to our jobs. Plus ... Show More
32m 19s