What’s the difference?
A holiday is typically a day of observance. Like Christmas, New Year, National Day, or school holidays. To some, their annual leave is also a holiday.
We tend to celebrate holidays. Most of the time, we end up getting tired the next day and need another holiday to recover from the previous one.
On the other hand, a sabbatical is the absence of everything (including observance, celebration, etc.).
Sabbaticals are different from holidays because holidays are not inherently restful.
We often schedule events, other work, travel, plans to visit family, etc., during holidays. As a result, if a holiday is anything but restful.
The sole purpose of a sabbatical is to rest. You do not schedule anything for your sabbatical. It’s not the absence of an event but the presence of space.
No, I’m not talking about those religious sabbaticals when you literally do nothing. I remember visiting a country where they observed sabbaticals strictly. The lift opened on every floor in this country because pressing a lift button was considered work.
I’m talking about a day of resting – a day free from obligations (both work-related and personal) and schedules. A day in which you zone out, recuperate and rejuvenate.
Try it. Start with a day every week and eventually, a week every seventh week. You’ll be amazed at the results. I promise.
This post is inspired by another much longer post, “Should You Schedule Sabbaticals Around Holidays?“
