Big Time Off

“A key resource…Whether gap year or a modest form of time off, the sabbatical, DiDonna proves, has immense value in this uncertain world.”—Booklist “A convincing debut treatise [that] extols the benefits of taking intentional time away from work… [BIG TIME OFF] argues sabbaticals shouldn’t be optional luxuries but personal investments accessible to everyone… Inspirational and practical, this is a sound strategy for reinvigorating one’s life away from work.”—Publishers Weekly“In our work-obsessed culture, grabbing even a few days off is hard—let alone taking a real sabbatical. But it can be done, and it 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“Sabbaticals of various types have played a major role in my life. So, I was thrilled to read DiDonna’s compelling and nuanced take on this often overlooked, yet undeniably powerful strategy.”—Cal Newport, New York Times bestselling author of Slow Productivity and Deep Work“This book is a long-overdue challenge to the way we’ve been taught to think about work. Backed by original research and compelling stories, DiDonna elegantly makes the case that stepping away from your job could be the most important thing you can do for your success and your happiness. A practical yet empowering guide, this book is essential reading for reclaiming your direction and your life.”—Laurie Santos, Professor of Psychology at Yale University and host of The Happiness Lab podcast“Could our best life be the one we step back from? An insightful and convincing call to take the time to live the examined life.”—Daniel Gilbert, Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and New York Times bestselling author of Stumbling on Happiness“I read DiDonna’s beautifully written book with admiration—and, admittedly, a touch of envy. Big Time Off is filled with compelling stories that reveal the surprising power of taking extended time away from work to rediscover meaning and vitality. And if you anticipate thinking, ‘That sounds wonderful, but there’s no way I could do it,’ don’t worry—DiDonna offers a thoughtful, practical guide to help you make big time off possible in your own life.”—Amy C. Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management, Harvard Business School, author of Right Kind of Wrong“The clearest and most persuasive case I’ve seen for why stepping away from work can change a life. DiDonna shows that sabbaticals aren’t indulgences—they’re powerful engines of renewal, creativity, and reinvention. If you’ve ever wondered whether time off could really matter, read this book.”—Herminia Ibarra, author of Working Identity and the Charles Handy Professor of Organisational Behaviour at London Business School“DiDonna shares groundbreaking work on sabbaticals with expertise and vulnerability. My copy is riddled with notes, highlights, and exclamation marks as I considered his challenge that we carve out a time to be fully human. This practical guide is both an existential call to action and life-affirming offering of hope.”—Dolly Chugh, NYU Stern Professor and author of The Person You Mean To Be“At midlife and beyond, the question isn’t ‘What’s next?’ but ‘What matters now?’ Big Time Off is a practical and inspiring guide to stepping away in order to step into a more intentional life.” —Chip Conley, bestselling author of Learning to Love Midlife and founder of the Modern Elder Academy

DJ DiDonna

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.

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