Sabbatical: In the End
I am officially at the end of my six-month sabbatical; and reflecting back, I realize I have achieved much more than I thought I would with this opportunity. When starting this endeavor in August, my main objectives were to focus more of my energy away from technology, spend more time with loved ones, and give back to my community. What I've found is that while meeting these goals I also gained valuable personal insights, experienced new situations and challenges, and built relationships with people I would not have had I "stayed the course" in my career.
Through volunteering (see Sabbatical: The Halfway Point for more details), I learned that I need to make more time in my life for causes I am passionate about. The unique peace and gratification I feel after spending time helping animals is something that was previously missing in my life. Ensuring I have time to continue volunteering will be a key requirement when searching for my next professional role. During my sabbatical, I have been more "present" amid activities and interactions with others; I did not have lingering work-related thoughts interfering in my mind. While I have studied mindfulness in the past, having now experienced it more fully and repeatedly over the last six months, I have no doubt that I will be more effective with it when it comes to my future roles.
I was able to spend more time on my hobbies over the past six months. I've found that getting lost in a good book on a cold, cloudy day brings a certain joy I haven't experienced elsewhere. I completed a 2316-piece "Vincent van Gogh - The Starry Night" LEGO set build and added lighting to it (see pictures below) which allowed me to utilize different areas of my brain while also having a physical representation of completed work. As my career is focused on the non-physical, data technology, it was rejuvenating to be able to tactilely interact with a finished task while also enjoying the building process. Ensuring I set aside time to enjoy these non-digital hobbies once I start a new job will be critical in maintaining balance in my life.
Education has always been important to me so I wanted to ensure I spent some of my time continuing to learn and grow. I dedicated time to professional skills training in order to keep that part of my brain active. The training that resonated the most to me was a course on advanced decision-making and the different tools and frameworks that can be used to identify the most options available and make the best decisions possible. I will be leveraging this design-based decision making not only when determining my next job but once I am in the role.
What I have learned about animal shelters and pet homelessness in Chicago as part of my volunteering became crucial when, in December, my husband was contacted about four extremely malnourished and mistreated dogs living in Texas. Working quickly, we were able to arrange transportation to Chicago, where we fostered the dogs for a short while. I worked with a local vet to obtain medical treatment for the dogs and ensure a proper feeding plan to help them gain weight. I was able to find adopters for the sickest of the four dogs, and after surgery and recovery, she is now with her new family (see picture below). Unable to find adopters for the remaining dogs, I contacted shelters for placement. These three dogs are now in foster homes. While this was not a planned part of my sabbatical, I am happy that I had the availability and opportunity to help. Being able to utilize my logistical and problem solving skills during this challenging situation reminded me how rewarding it feels to stretch and grow outside of my comfort zone. This feeling of satisfaction will be top of mind when looking for my next role.
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I have been lucky enough to build relationships with people of all different backgrounds who share the same passion I do. I volunteer closely with, among others, one of the first females who worked on the trading floor at the Chicago Board of Trade, a management consultant who has found the ideal balance between volunteering and consulting, young professionals eager for advice, and college students still determining their futures. Through discussions with these individuals, I have gained new viewpoints while sharing mine own, found similarities in challenges across professional domains, and helped to troubleshoot difficult situations as an unbiased third party. These interactions have helped me continue to grow both as a person and as a future employee and leader.
While the end of my sabbatical feels bittersweet, I am ready and eager to embark on a new professional adventure. If you know of a company looking for a data analytics and technology leader with process improvement enthusiasm who is ready to face new challenges please reach out!
Links to previous articles in this series: