Playbook:Thinking of a Sabbatical

Stuck on “should I, shouldn’t I”?

Since my sabbatical in 2022 I have guided more than 60 people with their own journeys and written extensively on the topic.

This playbook turns what I’ve learned from those conversations into a self-paced digital guided journey that gives you everything you need to consciously decide if an extended break from work is the right move for you.

It will give you…

Structure, when you might be stuck in chaotic thought loops, wondering what to do and whether you’ve missed anything important in your thinking.

Space to engage with the decision-making process in a simple, objective and constructive way.

Insights to help you manage your biggest fears constructively and with compassion, and to unlock new perspectives on the problem you’re facing.

Here’s what’s inside

1. Welcome

   I’ll introduce you to how the playbook works, and share my sabbatical story. You’ll also meet the panel of sabbatical-takers who will accompany you throughout ‘Thinking of a Sabbatical’.

2. Intro to sabbaticals

   I’ll demystify sabbaticals, and introduce you to four sabbatical archetypes to help you sketch out your own. Paul Millerd, the author of The Pathless Path, will share thoughts on the value you get from taking a break from work. You’ll also hear some sabbatical stories from famous people.

3. Navigating your fears

   We’ll dive deeper into the classic fears people have when they’re thinking of whether they should go on sabbatical e.g. structuring open time, spending/not earning money, potentially damaging your career etc. I’ll make sure you don’t miss out on anything important.

4. Visualising the future

   You’ll visualise what you want to get if you went on sabbatical, what would happen if you recommitted to your current path, and if it’s worth considering any alternative options. This is the moment where you let your imagination run free!

5. Making the decision

   The moment of truth. We’ll look at what the decision-making process looks like, and the moment where the decision ‘clicks’ inside of you.

6. Preparing before you go

   You’ll get tips to help you prepare for your sabbatical so you don’t feel like you’re jumping off a cliff. We’ll talk about managing your psychology as you prepare for take-off, about setting intentions rather than business-like goals, and about planning, among other things.

7. Extra wisdom and resources

   The panel of sabbatical-takers will share some final words with you. You’ll also have access to a mighty list of resources that you can dive into, as well as contacts for some of the panel and guest speakers.

Across those chapters, you will find around 150 minutes of video from me, a guest video from Paul Millerd, 70 minutes of stories and insights from the panel, 8 invitations to reflect, and a list of dozens of resources — books, podcasts, newsletters and courses — to dive into as and when you feel drawn to them.

By the end you won’t just have watched and read a playbook. You’ll have named your fears one by one, pictured what a sabbatical would give you — and what staying would — and got to a decision you can stand behind. If it’s a yes, you’ll also know how to prepare, so that leaving doesn’t feel like jumping off a cliff.

Buy now for $200

What people say

The quotes below come from conversations I’ve had with people weighing up a sabbatical. That same thinking is what went into this playbook.

• Cécile’s thinking around sabbaticals helped me immensely last year as I was sorting out whether to take a formal sabbatical. Her actionable questions and approach made the decision much clearer and helped me get unstuck from lots of “should I, shouldn’t I” avenues of thinking.

• Talking to Cécile really helped demystify what taking a sabbatical would mean and what it could do for me. Though life ended up getting in the way this time, I’m still interested in taking one in future — and have a much clearer idea what it would entail!

• Speaking with Cécile was really important for me to “see to believe”. Here was someone who had built a really successful corporate career, took a year long sabbatical, and it had a significant positive impact on her life. Cécile also challenged my thinking on some of the blocks I was facing.

• Your advice during our call was instrumental in helping me make the decision to take my sabbatical. Thank you for your invaluable guidance, Cécile. I’m truly grateful!

• Talking to Cécile helped me clarify my thoughts about taking a sabbatical. Her insightful suggestions and her personal experience gave me the confidence to take the leap.

• Talking with Cécile when I was considering a career transition helped resolve many of my uncertainties. Realising I could go on a sabbatical not just to ‘take a break’ but to ‘find work which aligns more closely to what matters to me’ was super helpful. I am about to do just that, and am now excited to be moving on to the next phase I’ve shaped for myself!

• We’ve all met people who seem like they were simply born to do what they do. Cécile has a remarkable gift for helping others get in touch with themselves and enabling them to design a life that suits their authentic self. She is one of the most exceptional listeners I have ever met, and her thought-provoking questions and thoughtful encouragement helped me decide to go on a sabbatical during which I shaped an exciting new life phase for myself.

• After months of lonely and anxious back and forth about when and how I’d take a sabbatical, my session with Cécile felt super positive, thought-provoking and grounding. We explored a few alternative paths I hadn’t thought of, which in turn inspired me to better define my intentions for leaving my role. A few weeks later I was able to select a path that feels deeply right to me.

• I scheduled a chat with Cécile after hearing her on a podcast. I had a great time and she provided wonderful clarity for me on my sabbatical journey. If you’re thinking of a sabbatical, I highly recommend Cécile.