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The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos Podcast
The Life-Changing Power of a Sabbatical

The Life-Changing Power of a Sabbatical

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos vor 2 Wochen

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48:31

It’s hard to focus on wellbeing when we’re expected to work
nonstop until retirement. Taking a break from time to time should
be a given, not a privilege.

Dr. Laurie works in one of the few industries that recognizes the
importance of extended time off. As she begins her own year-long
sabbatical from Yale, we’re revisiting her conversation with DJ
DiDonna, author of Big Time Off, about what can happen when we
step away from work for more than just a vacation.

DJ breaks down how to manage the biggest barriers to taking a
sabbatical, from money and workplace optics to family
responsibilities. He also explains why extended time off can help
us recover from burnout, rethink our routines, and experiment
with different versions of ourselves.

Whether you’re contemplating months away or just fantasizing
about turning off your email, this episode makes the case that
sometimes the best way to move forward is to stop for a while.

Experts Mentioned:

DJ DiDonna, Senior Lecturer of Business Administration at
Harvard Business School

Resources Mentioned:

Big Time Off: The Transformative Power of Sabbaticals and How
to Take One, by DJ DiDonna (2026)

Recover, Explore, Practice: The Transformative Potential of
Sabbaticals, by Kira Schabram, Matt Bloom, and DJ DiDonna
(Academy of Management Discoveries, 2023)

The Sabbatical Project

Related Episodes:

“You Can Change”

“Happiness Lessons of the Ancients: The Day of Rest”

“How to be Happier at Work (with Dan Harris)”

“Burnout and How to Avoid It”

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