In the past, I often dreamed of how cool it would be to take a sabbatical, but never got serious about actually taking one. There always seemed to be a fire I had to put out. Or there was something else to worry about — some other excuse that pushed away taking time off as a distant dream.
Plus I always loved and found my identity and purpose in my work, especially as an entrepreneur.
Then in December 2021, that sense of identity and purpose was taken away from me. And a number of events — both physical and emotional — conspired in me and my life to not be able to return to work for the first time in my career.
I couldn’t go near a keyboard without getting frozen in gut-wrenching feelings.
It was partly due to extreme burnout but also an overdue need for time to recover, reflect, recharge, and ultimately change how I approached everything in my life.
The first part of my sabbatical was one of the toughest parts of my life, but it laid the groundwork for the second half that opened up new and inspiring growth.
I don’t know if I’m all there yet, but in June 2022, I returned to my work at Post Status.
This is my story as I know it so far.
My intention in offering my story is to show “you’re not alone,” because I know my experience is not unique. I want to offer my experience as an inspiration for others who might need to take some much-needed time off to work on themselves instead of being absorbed in their work. We all need to take time to reflect on how we can grow and improve our own lives.
Join me on Friday, June 15 at 1 PM (CST) as I share this story publicly for the first time.
— Cory
Updated: Here’s the video!
Cory also reflects on his Burnout and Recovery Journey, sharing the framework for understanding it and working through: to know you’re not alone, to help others think about their own journey, and “most importantly, to not go it alone.”
