Note: I started a Substack in German to keep track of my travels during this year and it’s been really fun to explore writing in another language. However, I realized that many of my friends and readers don’t speak German and I don’t want to leave them in the dark. So from time to time, you will find the English versions of my Substack texts here in addition to my usual writing. Enjoy!
“And which classes will you teach next year?”, a mother asked me at prom in July. “None”, I reply, “I’ll be on sabbatical and not have any classes at school.”
“Oh really? You don’t look like you’re close to a burnout.”
A break is for people close to breaking down.
You have to earn a break by working hard and you better look exhausted.
Breaks are luxury invented by the ‘work-life-balance’ generation and harm the nation’s productivity (if we believe our chancellor’s opinion).
So why in the world do I dare to take a sabbatical after ten years of teaching?
First of all: Yes, a sabbatical is a privilege and I am very aware of that. Not every profession allows you to save up money and then take some paid time off. Not every employer guarantees you a return to your previous position. Even in seemingly safe fields like civil service laws are changed and freedoms are limited – which is a real problem given the exhaustion and challenges teachers face every day (but that’s a longer discussion).
Sabbatical means to press pause on your current doing and being. It originates from Judaism, which practiced a sabbatical every seven years. It meant the forgiveness of debts, balances of earnings and a break for agricultural spaces. I like this thought and wonder if we should apply it to our lives more often.
Sabbatical for me means to pause my current routines and regain some strength. Yes, I love my job and the people, but it does drain a lot of social energy and at some point, the tank is empty. If I don’t want to wait for a full inner breakdown, I have to take good care of myself now and fill that tank.
Sabbatical means to reflect on the last ten years (crazy how fast time flies!) and to sort through the different factors in my life. Have I set the right priorities or might I have to change something? Which things and relationships do I really need in order to live well, do I plan ample time and space for them?
“Let your life be driven more strongly by curiosity than fear.”
– Liz Gilbert1
Sabbatical means to seek inspiration and use the opportunity to put it into practice. In my daily life I often miss time for my personal interests and relationships outside of work – but they matter to me as an individual. At the end of summer break I often realize that I am rested enough physically and mentally to discover creative projects, but then I have to go to school and ideas disappear under piles of work and stress. What will happen if I now have the time to actually pursue these creative endeavors?
Sabbatical means to be excited again. My job as a teacher is focused on motivating people to learn new things, but we often forget that we have to remain students as well. I want to try things I haven’t done before and experience that moment again when the lightbulb goes on. I want to remember that “high” and then carry it back into my projects and ideas.
“My goal is to build a life I don’t need a vacation from.”2
Sabbatical means to develop long-term strategies to balance out my work in the future. To maintain a focus on the essentials and the right priority of everything I have to do. I want to walk through life healthily and not waste energy on things that don’t endure anyway. I want to be comfortable and thriving with the routines I build. I want to lead a life I don’t need a vacation from, to live from weekend to weekend, holiday to holiday or plan the next sabbatical right away.
What does that mean for this year?
I will travel and meet old and new friends.
I will spend days without an agenda and say yes to spontaneous activities.
I will battle with loneliness and solitude.
I will become an intercultural coach and dive into intellectual depths.
I will read and write a lot (hopefully).
Am I excited for the year? YES! And I am super excited to see what will surprise me.
Am I nervous about things to come? ABSOLUTELY. After ten years of strict structure and routine I am a little afraid of all this freedom. But I want to face that challenge and rather follow my curiosity than give into fear.
Thanks for being on this journey with me!
- From her amazing book Big Magic. ↩︎
- This quote is attributed to Rob Hill Sr., but in times of social media pull quotes who really knows? ↩︎
