I stumbled into something pretty unexpected last year: a six-week sabbatical. Imagine this—after years of non-stop hustle since 2010, I found myself with the permission to just... pause. And let me tell you, it was weird, wonderful, and a bit of a wild ride.

Here’s the thing about suddenly finding yourself with nothing but time: it’s kind of hard to figure out what to do with it. I caught myself in this loop of thinking, “What if I just... don’t?” It was like I had to retrain my brain to understand that it’s okay to take a break. To just be. Of course, in true overachiever fashion, I thought it'd be a great idea to sign up for a business course during my downtime. Spoiler alert: while it was enlightening, I probably should’ve embraced the art of doing absolutely nothing a bit more.

It was the first time I truly soaked in the reality of being a Chief Information Officer, the weight of my expertise finally settling in. Up until then, I’d always been the youngest, the only person of color, and often the only woman in the room—a triple threat in the worlds of politics and tech, with all the baggage that comes with it.

This sabbatical was like hitting the refresh button. It gave me the chance to experiment with new things, to work with different coaches, and to enjoy the simple act of staring at the ceiling in silence, relishing the peace of an empty house. It was a gift—a rare break that allowed me to meet and understand a version of myself I hadn’t met before.

And now, back in the grind, I find myself missing the tranquility and clarity that came with that pause. It’s made me think about how I can bring pieces of that sabbatical peace into my everyday chaos. So, if you’ve got any pro tips on making the most of a sabbatical (seeing as I’m due for another one in a few years), I’m all ears.

Let’s share strategies, stories, and maybe even a few daydreams about what we’d do with a chunk of time dedicated solely to ourselves. Because, as I’ve learned, sometimes the best thing you can do is give yourself permission to just stop and breathe. And who knows? You might just discover a whole new side of yourself waiting to say hello.