Many people confuse being out of work with taking a sabbatical year. It’s not the same. When you’re not working because you can’t, because you’re sick, or because life has drained your energy, you’re not resting, you’re surviving. Being unemployed doesn’t mean being at peace. During that time, your mind stays on alert, carrying the constant weight of feeling useless. That doesn’t heal you, it only wears you down.

A sabbatical year, on the other hand, is a choice. It’s not about traveling or doing big things, but about stopping on purpose. It’s telling your mind that you’re going to focus on recovering your calm, your sleep, and your balance. From there, you can rebuild yourself. Only when you choose to stop, without guilt, can you start again with meaning. Everything else is just living in defense mode, without rest or direction.