Learning How to “Reboot Your Life”

Contributed by Rita Foley
Co-author of Reboot Your Life (available April 2011), with Cathy Allen, Nancy Bearg, and Jaye Smith

Ever wish that you could take more than a long weekend, one week, or two? You can and you should. We all need longer time away from work to refresh and renew ourselves, to get those juices going again so that we can be more creative and effective at work and happier in our personal lives. We call this time a “Reboot Break.”

Ah…you ask: Are you crazy, in this economy? Not at all. Over the past two years, we have interviewed over 200 people who have taken Reboot Breaks of three months to one year. That includes people who have lost their jobs (the unexpected sabbatical) but turned downtime into their time. All claimed that they returned to work, or in some cases, a new job, better off than before they left — both personally and professionally. We have also researched and talked to 50 corporations that offer sabbaticals or Reboot Breaks. They do so because they believe and know, as we do, that a refreshed and energized employee is a better contributor.

Regardless of type of sabbatical or length, we found four common phases. We call the first phase “Creating Space.”  It’s a period of clearing and putting your life in order; cleaning closets, painting, and handling long-overdue doctor appointments are a few examples. It’s also a time when many people go to a spa to clear their head, to detox, and decompress from their busy work schedule.

It’s in the second phase, “Reconnecting,” that most people search out some form of physical activity to get themselves back in shape. Every spring I go to Red Mountain Resort & Spa; known for its incredible hiking program, it’s a great place to get reacquainted or introduced to physical activity.

In the third phase of a sabbatical, what we call “Exploration,” most people do some form of travel.  Travel can be coupled with a volunteer work project, taking a language course, visiting friends and family, and spending some time at a spa. I recently visited Ananda in the Himalayas. Spas like Ananda offer many courses for those on a spiritual journey. Combined with yoga, massages and treatments you’ve never dreamt of, delicious food, golf and swimming for guests who prefer the more physical activities and you have a perfect cocktail for making the new and re-invigorated you.

The fourth phase of a Reboot Break is re-entry. Whether you are returning to your existing job or venturing on to something new, time you spend at a spa, visiting with friends and family, and becoming reacquainted with the inner you and what you value, is an investment in yourself so that you make better choices for that next phase of your life. In the fourth phase, we introduce the concept of ‘living the lifelong’ sabbatical, which includes regular visits to spas for relaxation or massages.

To find out more about Reboot Breaks and to learn how you can plan and fund them, approach your boss for time off, and re-enter the workplace living a more balanced life, visit www.rebootyourlife.us and attend the next REBOOT YOUR LIFE workshop the weekend of November 12-14 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.