Big Time Off: The Transformative Power of Sabbaticals and How to Take One

“A sabbatical might be the most important career move you ever make. Read this book to see why—and how to do it.” —Arthur C. Brooks, harvard professor and #1 New York Times bestselling author

A guide to transforming your well-being and your career through purposeful time off, from Harvard Business School Senior Lecturer and founder of the Sabbatical Project.

Our world of work prioritizes the urgent, but the most important moments of our life rarely happen at a desk. In Big Time Off, Sabbatical Project founder DJ DiDonna explores a simple but radical idea: sabbaticals help us avoid sleepwalking through life by giving us time to be present in moments of celebration, difficulty, and transition.

Integrating original research and compelling stories of sabbatical-takers from all walks of life—from teachers and nonprofit leaders to startup founders and Fortune 500 employees—Big Time Off explores why extended time away from work has such a profound effect on people’s identity, relationships, creativity, and direction. You’ll learn:

• When to take a sabbatical—and how to avoid waiting for a crisis to take off.
• Why sabbaticals—unlike vacations—help you forge a new career path, feel human again, and live a more authentic life.
• How to navigate your sabbatical using archetypes—the explorer, the seeker, and the achiever—and avoid common pitfalls.
• Best practices for individuals—no matter the circumstances—and organizations of all sizes to make extended leave possible and sustainable.

Whether you dream of making a big change, exploring the world, or simply carving out space to heal, think, and recalibrate, Big Time Off is your guide to creating a richer, more intentional life.

DJ DiDonna is a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, where he teaches entrepreneurship. In 2019, he founded The Sabbatical Project to define, explore, and research sabbaticals. DiDonna has advised over a dozen organizations on the creation of sabbatical policies, including Zappos, Google, and DaVita, and from nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies, both in the United States and around the world. He attended Harvard Business School and cofounded an international credit-scoring company, EFL Global (the Entrepreneurial Finance Lab), based in Lima, Peru.