But the thrill quickly wore off. As I stood on the dramatic coastal cliffs of Jeju Island, South Korea, I felt apathetic. While walking around Japan, I watched with envy at people using laptops at Starbucks.
I was living my dream, but I was feeling burnt out and empty. That’s when I realized I had made a big mistake. My circumstances changed, but my state of mind did not.
I found myself approaching my sabbatical the same way I approach my career like a workaholic.
When I returned home, I worked so hard to achieve more success and fame that I became insecure and unable to live in the moment. Well, I was traveling according to a carefully planned militaristic schedule and making the same mistake.
I would tick off my destinations so that I could wear the number of places I had been to like a badge of honor. I thought then my life would be just as valuable as the travel influencers I envied.
I needed to change something in order to enjoy my vacation. These are the three key steps I took to transform my sabbatical and life, and what they taught me about balancing happiness and ambition.
Feeling defeated, I lay in bed in Tokyo, lamenting what was supposed to be my big life plan of canceling visits to all 34 countries that remained on my sabbatical bucket list.
That way, I was able to get all the travel out of my system and return home to focus solely on my career and family planning goals. I didn’t want to be far behind my colleagues who were achieving milestones like buying a house or having a child.
But burnout gave me the clarity I needed to cut my sabbatical bucket list in half to focus on quality over quantity. What was the point of seeing so many places if you didn’t really enjoy it?
Tokyo
Provided by Helen Chao
I gave up my desire to tell people that I had been to over 50 countries. I accepted that I would continue to travel if I wanted to, even if I had less time to pursue my professional goals.
Learning how to prioritize my own happiness meant letting go of control and the metrics I thought defined my worth. I like to measure success through moments when I truly feel alive, at peace, and connected to others, rather than through quantitative accomplishments that can make a resume or online bio more impressive. became.
I’ve learned to ignore FOMO in favor of listening to my own needs, even if it means “missing out” on a lot of the most publicized and Instagrammable things.
Instead of traveling two hours to the mountain backpacker paradise of Pai, Thailand, I stayed in Chiang Mai to read articles and watch mini-docs in charming cafes. Instead of taking a tour from Cartagena, Colombia to the Caribbean islands, I decided to sleep in after a night of dancing with friends.
After prioritizing the pursuit of pleasure over a sense of obligation to do all the things I thought would make me a more seasoned traveler or expert, I began to truly enjoy everything I did. Ta.
During the first few months of my trip, I often stayed up late developing and pitching freelance story ideas. My self-esteem was so dependent on my work that I desperately tried to stay connected to it.
However, when I tried to multitask, I felt drained even faster.
Patagonia
Provided by Helen Chao
I gave up on freelancing completely. Instead, I focused on digging deeper into subjects I didn’t have the energy to study while working full-time, such as history, geopolitics, and real estate investing. For the first time in years, I felt like a curious person learning about the world, rather than a worker bee defined by my productivity.
Establishing a fulfilling identity that is completely separate from work has been a huge help to me. Now I make time to rest and play without feeling guilty. And you can approach your work with more energy and fresh ideas.
When I returned to my home in Los Angeles in late February, I felt the lessons I had learned during my sabbatical slip away. I was consumed by anxiety and workaholism again, returning to my old environment and looking for a new job.
To gradually connect with myself during my sabbatical, I began meditating, journaling about what I was grateful for, and taking daily walks.
I’ve always wanted to do this, but until now I haven’t been able to make time for these daily practices because I’m worried that I’ll be less productive. Now, these routines will help you maintain and strengthen the emotional work you did while traveling.
Instead of feeling burnt out and worthless, I spend my time thinking about what to do next. Even if I don’t land my dream job or travel the world, I’m learning how to cultivate a fulfilling identity and life.
Helen Chao Former CNBC video producer and writer. Before he joined CNBC as a news associate, he covered residential real estate for the L.A. Business Journal. She is from California and is proud of her USC Trojans and her UCLA Bruins.
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