Sabbatical Stories

By: Rebecca Thomas
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  • Summary

  • Unlock the power of taking a break with Sabbatical Stories, a podcast hosted by Rebecca Thomas from Feel Good Getaways. Through insightful and engaging discussions, Rebecca explores the motivations behind career breaks and sabbaticals, debunks myths, and highlights their invaluable benefits. With a mission to inspire courage and normalise taking time off for personal growth, Sabbatical Stories is a beacon for those seeking inspiration, encouragement, and guidance on their journey to self-discovery. Tune in to learn how taking a break can transform your life and career.
    Rebecca Thomas
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Episodes
  • Lessons from 11 Sabbaticals and Career Breaks with Lyndall Farley

    Lessons from 11 Sabbaticals and Career Breaks with Lyndall Farley
    Feb 6 2025
    In this inspiring episode of Sabbatical Stories, we’re joined by Lyndall Farley, a global expert in sabbaticals and the founder of Beyond a Break. With a passion for helping individuals and organisations embrace career breaks, Lyndall shares her remarkable journey from a thriving consulting career in a BIG4 firm to becoming a sabbatical coach. Lyndall opens up about her eleven sabbaticals, including her life-changing experience in Antarctica, which became a pivotal moment in redefining her career and personal priorities. Together, we explore: The myth of overnight success and why experimentation and failure are part of finding your path. How the journey of failing first, failing fast and experimentation is key to finding what truly works for you Challenges in transitioning from a corporate career to entrepreneurship—and how to overcome them. Why fast travel can hinder true reflection and recharge, and how to balance exploration with self-care. The benefits of designing sabbaticals to fit your unique life stage and goals. How sabbaticals are more than just extended vacations—they’re intentional breaks that can reshape your life. Why prioritising yourself is not selfish; it’s essential for long-term success and happiness. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to episode 2 01:41 Meet Lyndall Farley: A Sabbatical Coach 03:35 The Transformative Power of Sabbaticals 09:29 Finding Confidence and Purpose 12:45 The Journey to Starting her own business Beyond a Break 19:57 The Myth of Overnight Success 22:03 Lessons from Past Sabbaticals 25:30 Designing Your Break with Intention 26:22 The Creation of BreakSpace Guest bio: Lyndall is a global expert in sabbaticals and the founder of Beyond a Break, where she helps individuals and organisations harness the transformative power of extended time off. Having taken multiple sabbaticals herself, Lyndall is passionate about guiding others to design and implement meaningful breaks that rejuvenate, inspire, and drive long-term fulfillment. With a wealth of experience in coaching and consulting, she empowers professionals to reconnect with their purpose and return to work re-energised. Lyndall is also the co-founder of Breakspace: the launchpad community for life-changing career breaks & sabbaticals. Episode transcript: Other episodes you may enjoy: How to Master the Art of Sabbaticals and Career Breaks with Katrina McGhee How a Career Break helped Steve Duke Pivot Professionally and Rediscover Fun Get in touch: If you are interested in sharing your sabbatical story, we would love to hear from you. Buzz us a DM on Instagram - @Sabbaticalstoriespodcast or reach out on LinkedIn, I’m Bex Thomas. Career transition, sabbatical and career break coaching: I’m a coach who supports individuals through pivotal moments of transition in both their personal and professional lives. I support those who are facing a crossroads to discover clarity. Working with you I empower you to invest in a future version of yourself that will make you proud. Through personalised coaching sessions and my signature career transition and sabbatical programs I aim to provide a supportive and nurturing environment for you to explore your values, strengths and goals. More importantly I coach you to intentionally design your next chapter by redefining what success looks like to you and then implementing it. Feel Good Getaways - https://feelgood-getaways.com/ With special thanks to: Aunty B at the Flaxen, our amazing, talented and patient producer whose expertise helps make this podcast shine. Joanna Cooke, whose soulful blend of smooth vocals we are lucky enough to use throughout the show. Listen and connect with Joanna via your favourite medium: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7EyKy53TsVFLJFZFyYzBZQ?si=HaCSIRCETS2uYB3LBLcrWA Website - https://joannacooke.co.uk YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/joannacooke Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joanna.cooke/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannacookemusic/
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    34 mins
  • Burnout Recovery: How a Career Break Helped Amanda Quintero Prioritise Mental Health

    Burnout Recovery: How a Career Break Helped Amanda Quintero Prioritise Mental Health
    Jan 29 2025
    To kick off a brand-new season of Sabbatical Stories, we’re joined by Amanda, whose powerful and deeply relatable journey began with a layoff from a tech company. In this episode, Amanda shares the toll burnout had taken on her life and how an unexpected pause became the catalyst for reevaluating her priorities, reconnecting with herself, and focusing on her mental health. Her story is a poignant reminder of the importance of slowing down and listening to what your mind and body truly need. Together, we explore: The impact of burnout and the importance of prioritizing mental health. Why putting your health before work is crucial, especially after a breakdown. Recognizing the signs of chronic stress and how it can manifest physically and mentally. Challenging cultural stigmas around rest and deconstructing capitalist beliefs about productivity. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Sabbatical Stories 02:02 Amanda's Journey: From Burnout to Break 06:04 Recognizing the Signs of Burnout 10:13 The Importance of Prioritizing Mental Health 17:53 Deconstructing Capitalism and Work Identity 29:09 Cultural Influences on Gender Roles 30:25 The Importance of a Detox 34:20 Financial Adaptation During Sabbatical 37:24 Exploring EMDR Therapy 40:27 Redefining 'Doing Nothing' 44:33 Navigating Undefined Time on Sabbatical 51:16 Key Takeaways for Career Breaks Guest bio: Amanda is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in strategic partnerships, business development, and community engagement. With a strong background in the tech and corporate sectors, she’s passionate about fostering meaningful connections and driving impactful initiatives. Amanda is also the author of We Said Farewell, a deeply personal memoir chronicling her family’s experience of love, loss, and resilience. Through her writing and storytelling, she inspires readers to embrace the complexities of life and find strength in challenging moments. Beyond her professional and literary achievements, Amanda is a dedicated advocate for mental health and well-being, sharing her personal journey to help others prioritise balance, self-care, and intentional living. Discover more about Amanda and her work at lesmotsdeamanda.com or get in touch via Instagram @lesmotsdeamanda Get in touch: If you are interested in sharing your sabbatical story, we would love to hear from you. Buzz us a DM on Instagram - @Sabbaticalstoriespodcast or reach out on LinkedIn, I’m Bex Thomas. Career transition, sabbatical and career break coaching: I’m a coach who supports individuals through pivotal moments of transition in both their personal and professional lives. I support those who are facing a crossroads to discover clarity. Working with you I empower you to invest in a future version of yourself that will make you proud. Through personalised coaching sessions and my signature career transition and sabbatical programs I aim to provide a supportive and nurturing environment for you to explore your values, strengths and goals. More importantly I coach you to intentionally design your next chapter by redefining what success looks like to you and then implementing it. Feel Good Getaways - https://feelgood-getaways.com/ With special thanks to: Aunty B at the Flaxen, our amazing, talented and patient producer whose expertise helps make this podcast shine. Joanna Cooke, whose soulful blend of smooth vocals we are lucky enough to use throughout the show. Listen and connect with Joanna via your favourite medium: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7EyKy53TsVFLJFZFyYzBZQ?si=HaCSIRCETS2uYB3LBLcrWA Website - https://joannacooke.co.uk YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/joannacooke Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joanna.cooke/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannacookemusic/
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    57 mins
  • Top Tips for Sabbaticals and Career Breaks: Highlights from Season 1

    Top Tips for Sabbaticals and Career Breaks: Highlights from Season 1
    Jan 12 2025

    Our host Bex and producer Auntie B reflect on the key themes and insights from Season One of Sabbatical Stories. They discuss the common threads among guests including:

    • Triggers for taking a career break or sabbatical

    • The importance of financial planning

    • The impact of support systems

    • Myths surrounding career breaks and sabbaticals

    • The significance of intentionality

    • The ripple effect of a career break impacts relationships and work environments.

    Timestamps

    00:00 Reflecting on Season One Highlights

    02:50 The Seeds of Career Breaks

    06:06 The Common Thread of Fulfillment

    09:09 Financial Planning for Career Breaks

    11:55 The Importance of Intentionality

    15:03 Myths and Misconceptions of Career Breaks

    17:52 Support Systems and Their Impact

    21:01 The Ripple Effect of Taking a Break

    24:11 Top Tips for a Successful Career Break

    26:49 Looking Ahead to Season Two

    Guest bio: Bex is the host of Sabbatical Stories podcast and a career transition coach who guides individuals through pivotal life and career changes. Specialising in crossroads moments, she helps clients find clarity and direction, empowering them to invest in a future self they can be proud of. Through personalised coaching sessions and signature programs focused on career transitions and sabbaticals, Bex creates a supportive, nurturing space where clients explore their core values, strengths, and goals. She goes beyond coaching, helping you redefine success on your own terms and equipping you to implement that vision in your next chapter with confidence and purpose.

    Additional resources:

    Feel Good Getaways - https://feelgood-getaways.com/

    Other episodes you may enjoy:

    • How volunteering in Africa can change your perspective with Jackson Lindsay-Egan

    • Reinventing yourself with the freedom of a career break with Lucy Lee

    Get in touch: If you are interested in sharing your sabbatical story, we would love to hear from you. Buzz us a DM on Instagram - @Sabbatical_Stories or reach out on LinkedIn - Rebecca Thomas

    With special thanks to:

    Aunty B at the Flaxen, our amazing, talented and patient producer whose expertise helps make this podcast shine.

    Joanna Cooke, whose soulful blend of smooth vocals we are lucky enough to use throughout the show. Listen and connect with Joanna via your favourite medium:

    https://open.spotify.com/artist/7EyKy53TsVFLJFZFyYzBZQ?si=HaCSIRCETS2uYB3LBLcrWA

    Website - https://joannacooke.co.uk

    YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/joannacooke

    Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joanna.cooke/

    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannacookemusic/


    Keywords: career breaks, sabbaticals, personal growth, financial planning, intentional living, fulfillment, support systems, myths, misconceptions, top tips
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    32 mins

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