Final sabbatical update: a goal worth pursuing
Final learnings from my sabbatical.
Hate to break it to you, but I’m officially finishing my sabbatical in about 2 weeks. More about my next steps in the next newsletter. 😉
The last 3 months of my sabbatical haven’t been, by definition, the most “exciting”. But it has been nourishing. The fact that I know my break is coming to an end allows me to focus on the really important things in my life: spending quality time with friends and family, living every day intently and embracing freedom. Spending more energy on the things that matter has allowed me to redefine my relationship with different aspects of my life — a great foundation to kickstart the next season of my life.
Setting the foundation for my next chapter
A sabbatical allows you the time and mental space to hypothesise, experiment and reflect on the key things in life. The result of this is a set of revised principles on money, family, friends, personal fulfilment and future goals. While I won’t write down my life’s bible, I wanted to outline 3 key learnings that maybe some of you can relate to as examples.
#1 I don’t need to be good at something to enjoy it 🎨
I used to believe I should only invest time in things I was naturally good at—why bother otherwise, right? If I didn't have a so-called "talent," I'd quickly lose interest.
This year, I decided to try a different approach and do things just for the joy of it—like art and swimming. Let’s use art as an example. Initially, I set a goal to draw for 30 minutes every day to become good at it. But that quickly sucked the joy out of the process. Some folks enjoy getting better at a skill, but for me, art is about relaxing and appreciating beauty in the world. Tutorials transformed this hobby that was meant to be relaxing into work.
So, if my love for art stems from enjoying the process of appreciating and creating beauty, the best way for me to do that is to draw things that inspire me. I started carrying my sketchbook during travels, sketching during downtimes to unwind. I’ve stopped focusing on being “good” and allowed my hobby to serve me.
#2 The role of money in my life 💸
This was hands down the most eye-opening experience of the year. When I started my sabbatical, I thought, "I don't really need money, and I don't have a reason to spend it." To some extent, that was true. My personal expenses are pretty low, and money didn't significantly impact my day-to-day joy.
But where money became crucial was when family matters arose, and you wished you could do more to help. I'm fortunate to live in a country with affordable healthcare, but I couldn't shake the desire to do more for my immigrant parents, who tirelessly work 6-7 days a week. I still can’t reconcile the fact that I've traveled to more places in my 28 years than they have in nearly 70 years of life.
Not having money this year made me realise that, no, I don't need money, and nobody loves me less because I'm not earning it. However, it served as a reminder of what money does enable me to do for others and myself.
#3 The freedom to do anything 🕊️
Sure, not having money can be stressful. But the sabbatical has made me appreciate something more important to me: freedom.
I've cherished every moment of freedom this year—the luxury of having both time and energy for pretty much anything. One of the most empowering aspects of my sabbatical has been the ability to say yes to things. I can literally count on one hand the days I felt drained, stressed, or like my life lacked meaning, thanks to the freedom I gained.
Setting a goal worth pursuing
Feeling like, "What am I really doing all of this for?" was a major contributor to my burnout. Having a fresh goal to strive for can inject meaning into life. The beauty of a sabbatical lies in stepping away from the noise—people's expectations, money—and crafting a goal that truly resonates with you.
But here's the catch—having a goal and solely fixating on it can lead to burnout all over again, especially if it means sacrificing things that matter to you. That's why I've taken the step of jotting down my insights as a set of principles that align with my goal. It's a reminder that this goal is only worth pursuing if I don't compromise on my principles.
Ending with a sense of “sureness”
As my sabbatical wraps up, I'm stepping into the next chapter with a newfound sense of "sureness." It's hard to put into words, but my friends notice it in the way I speak and carry myself—it's about 90% of how I feel now (10% my brain is reserved for anxiety). I find myself embracing possibilities, being open to potential missteps, and feeling more resilient than ever to take on whatever challenges come my way.
Jenny, tell us about what you did in the last 3 months!
Things that sparked joy ✨
Family-fuelled trips.
The last 3 months was filled with little trips — one to Singapore for the F1 and to visit my brother’s family; and another trip to Melbourne with my in-laws. Although these places are familiar to me by now, being able to spend time with people and creating memories together makes it all the more meaningful.
Integrating novelty into my life.
I started this “Fun Friday” thing where I would take the Friday “off” where the aim of the day is to do something novel, and have fun. So far, I enjoyed:
Exploring cute cafes and jacaranda-filled streets of Paddington — Funkis Köket Café is a hidden gem.
Getting a full exfoliation and spa experience at Arisoo Korean spa.
Seeing Jupiter and Saturn at the observatory at Macquarie University.
Camping on Cockatoo Island for my birthday!
After listening to Radiolab’s podcast episode, The Secret to a Long Life, I am determined to keep these up even when I start full time work.
Let’s reflect together! 🙌
Although this is my last sabbatical update, we won’t stop these reflections (unless you don’t like them lol), so hopefully you won’t stop reflecting with me. So, tell me:
What’s some ways you want (or have) to inject novelty into your life?
What are some principles that have kept you aligned?
As usual, leave a comment on Substack or reply to this e-mail in your inbox. Otherwise, hope you are all having a nourishing end of year. 💜
Wow has it been a year already? I’ve been really enjoying following your journey and looked forward to your updates! You should definitely keep writing even after the sabbatical :)