Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Adam Navis.
Voice 2
And I’m Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Yunzhe Zhou is a job coach. She helps people who are tired of their jobs and need a change. She tells people to try and connect with something that makes them excited and gives them energy. She spoke to the magazine Fast Company:
Voice 3
“If you are giving 1000% percent at your current job, and you still feel like something is missing, it is a good sign that it may not be the right direction.”
Voice 2
But it is not always easy to find the right direction. This is why one ancient idea is becoming popular again: the sabbatical. This time away from work can bring ideas, energy, and a new direction. Today’s Spotlight is on sabbaticals.
Voice 1
The idea of a Sabbatical began with the ancient Hebrew law called Sabbath. Traditionally, Jewish people believe that God created the world in six days. On the seventh day, God rested. They believe that God created people to work for six days and then rest for one day. Yet, sabbaticals are no longer just a religious idea. Experts around the world agree that resting from work is good for all people.
Voice 2
A sabbatical is not a vacation. A vacation is a time away from work to rest, travel, or spend time with people we love. But a sabbatical is different. Traditionally, a sabbatical is a year off work to travel or study. A person may or may not receive payment for this year. The company Remote Year helps people travel the world while still working over the Internet. They explained sabbaticals on the company website:
Voice 4
“Sabbaticals are not defined by the lack of work. They are defined by the presence of work. People who are taking sabbaticals today are not taking time off from work for relaxation. They are following another kind of personal or professional work. They are using this time to follow their dreams. They may work to create something that they have been dreaming about for years. They are using it to do a project that they have not been able to work on for years.”
Voice 1
The most common place where people take sabbatical is in university. Usually, a professor gets a sabbatical every seven years. A professor on sabbatical does not have to teach students or meet with other professors. But that does not mean they do nothing. Many professors travel to a new country. Others write a book. Some finish a research project. Many professors return with new energy and new ideas. The sabbatical is good for the school, the students, and the professor.
Voice 2
In recent years, many businesses noticed that it was not working well to ask people to work more and more. These companies began to offer workers a sabbatical. Two major businesses that offer sabbatical options are McDonald’s and Nike. Some banks and law and accounting firms offer them too. Some companies require a person on sabbatical to volunteer or further their education. But other companies place no requirements on what a person must do.
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Voice 1
It is easy to understand how a break from work can help a person. But will a break from work help a company? How can working less make someone a better worker? David Burkus is a teacher at Oral Roberts University. He speaks at conferences about leadership. He wrote about sabbaticals for the Harvard Business Review:
Voice 5
“The research found that people who took sabbaticals experienced less stress and an increase in overall well-being. Those positive changes often remained long after the people returned to work. The employees benefit from time away, but the organization benefits as well. The majority of people said the time away gave them the space to have ideas for new projects.”
Voice 2
Sabbatical programs are still not offered to most people. Does this mean that sabbaticals are only for a few people who teach at a university or work at a company that offers sabbaticals? How can a farmer take a sabbatical? Or a builder? Or writer?
Voice 1
Most people in the world work in places where they only get paid if they work. If they do not come to work, they risk losing their position. But as companies around the world start to see the advantage of offering sabbaticals, more are beginning to offer them.
Voice 2
The Hilton Hotel gave sabbaticals to workers from Sri Lanka and Singapore. Starbucks Coffee offers some workers in China up to a year-long sabbatical. In India there has been increasing interest in sabbaticals. People are finding ways to work less, travel, and experience life. Mario D’Souza works in marketing. He wanted to take a sabbatical, but his company did not offer one. He decided to make his own sabbatical. He told Fortune India:
Voice 6
“I had to plan for this break. I do not get paid for this time. So I have had to think through expenses. I stopped doing things such as eating out, watching films and ordering food. But it has been great! The amount of money I spent on these kind of things was amazing. I only understood when I made myself do this.”
Voice 1
But what about people who cannot afford to take time away from work? Everyone needs time to rest from their work. There are several ways that people can make rest part of their lives.
Voice 2
The first idea is to take one day off from work each week. You rest, spend time with family, or gather with your religious community. The second thing is to take one day each month and disconnect from everything. Leave your phone at home and go outside. Walk through nature. Sit and do nothing. Slow down and think about your life.
Voice 1
Maybe your life does not permit either of those things. One final thing may still be possible: disconnect for one hour each day. One hour each day may not feel possible. So, start with ten minutes and then build up to one hour. By taking this time you will be more productive. But you may also live a happier life!
Voice 2
If you could take a sabbatical, what would you do? Have you taken a sabbatical before? Did it help you? Tell us what you think. You can leave a comment on our website. Or email us at contact@spotlightenglish.com. You can also find us on Facebook and YouTube.
Voice 1
The writer of this program was Adam Navis. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet at www.spotlightenglish.com. This program is called, ‘Work Less and Live Better’.
Voice 2
Visit our website to download our free official app for Android and Apple devices. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.
Question:
What would you do on a sabbatical? Have you taken a sabbatical before? Did it help you?
if I take sabbatical l well learn Engilsh and improve myself
Despite I work as a teacher at college I’ve never taken a sabbatical before. If I would have a sabbatical I will travel all around the world, meet new people and learn their customs and culture.
Please do visit India.
You need much money hhhhhh
If i take sabbatical I will spend time with my family and my friend
Nice
I only have 8hours to work. Rest of times are to resting, care my family, do everything which I like.
the things we can do in sabbatical is spend time with family, or gather with your religious community . and leave the phone at home and Walk through natur
No, I have not taken sabbatical Before. If I could take sabbatical I will travel and I will spend my time to learn new things, and I will enjoy in every moment. Some time I take rest for minutes to think of my life , I usually go to see the nature to rest, this is make me so comfortable
Thanks for sharing! It’s a good article as always you do
I like the website
I spent time with my famaly, gather with your religiuos community, learning new things and doing what i like
Think you very much .
it’s was beautiful article
good job
I’m so excited to continue with these spotlights , may be make me improve my self , also my English language.
Finally I’d like to thanks you for this spotlight
I learned new think about sabbatical.. It’s ideas..
Thank you spotlight
Thank you Spotilight.
I will do to read more books and learn English very well maybe also take a course about nursing. Yes, I took it before. The program helps me to understand what I should do.
This articale really touched my soul , you now it is just last week i take this decsion i submitted my resigation to leave my work it not easy thing to not receving a monthly saraly bout my dreams deserve that, also it is not permit in my comapny a sabbatical , i wish can i get what i want , my advice follow your dreams whatever it costs you we are a human and we have soul it should be believe in it . In the ended thank you sptlightennglish to sharing a enthusiatic articles .
Hello, I thing sabbatical is good for manger company or professor the sabbatical for those who work day and night they must take sabbatical each year I think that. Thank you so much.
I am amothe of 2 wonderful boys I wish I can take a sabbatical for one day every month so I can back to them fresh and more energy
I hope to take a sabbatical…firstly to relaxing….to connect with some persons l like to talk with them…to travel any where…to read or listen to some thing l intrested with…but unfortunately ,l haven’t taken any sabbatical….so I’m tired
Thanks for sharing
It is a great information that I know today , but i still bemused what is the company benefits when it offers a sabbatical for its workers ? But for me I haven’t taken like this offer before and i wish if the hospital i work in offers me like this i will travel around the world trying to explore it and learn from each culture that I will visit, I am so enthusiastic to take like this chance I am afford to take it I think it will be a crucial step in my life.
I would play sports and chill with my friends anywhere and trying to improve myself , l’m still a student so l already have a sabbatical every summer and it’s help me a lot
If I had a sabbatical , I’d like to go abroad, somewhere in Sorrento or another coastal city of Italy. I don’t had a sabbatical else on my current work, because it doesn’s has a such option on its rules. Finally, I’d like to say, that I’ll definely have a rest after I quit this job and get an International Passort.
I will think about my life more, rearrange the whole work and learn many new things that are beneficial to work,…, or travel alone. The last sabbatical helped me organize my work better
In the weekdays i must go out for school and work so i choose stay at home on the weekend. I hate feeling stuck in traffic and full smoke in outside. It make me feel tired.
So on a sabbatical, i usually stay in bed to relax, listen to music, watch movie,… Then i go to the kitchen to cook my favorite food and enjoy them. Sometimes, i can hang out with friends in the suburbs. There is fresh air that is diffent from the stuffy air in the city center.
Having a great sabbatical helps me regain my energy to start a new week.
In a sabbatical, I want to go travel or spend time for my family. I think a sabbatical for a week or a month is really need.
Certainly, I have just finished a sabbatical about 4 days. This is a vacation called National day. Unlucky, I have a sabbatical in the Covid epidemic. So I don’t have a chance to trip with my friends. Every year, if I have a sabbatical, I will have a travel famous place. For this sabbatical, I have a plan to learn new somethings and especially, I learn English to improve my skill English. I used to use the time of sabbatical very useful. Besides, I also visited my grandmother because she is near my house. Because the Covid 19 epidemic is happening, so I can save some of the money. I will use the money for learning and a tour trip in the foreign when Covid finishes. Thanks to the sabbatical, I have more time to relax and enjoy my life. For example, I have read books. Even I also cook new dishes for my family. It’s really happy.
God does not get tired until he rests
I would go to my family’s ranch to work in the fields, no, I have never taken a sabbatical
I would go on a sabbatical yo travel the world, I havent taken the sabbatical.
What would you do on a sabbatical year?
I would go on vacation to another country.
Have you taken a gap year before?
No, I’ve never done.
I took three months short sabbatical in this Covid epidemic. So I don’t have a chance to trip with my family and friends. For this sabbatical, I was about new experiences and pushing myself out of my routine. I did lots of random things that make me a more interesting person and I think overall it will help in my career in someway.
Have a rest each evry month and don’t useing a phone is the grete one I will do it. I have been take a sabbatical like walking 30 minutes and take deep breath in the morning.
After an exam of after finishing an essay, i take a sabbatical and stay at home, whete I can watch a movie all day, sit still and listen to music, or draw a picture. I also treat myself to a meal of comfort foods, such as fried chicken and cola, after finishing an exam. I find that taking a sabbatical is extremely beneficial because it allows me to put old things aside and prepare for new ideas
I was hospitalized for a week after contracting dengue fever from mosquito bites; since then, I’ve been more attentive; my mother also uses mosquito spray on a daily basis to spray around the home, and I normally sleep in tight pajamas.
I didn’t hear about it before
I think a sabbatical makes me happy more in my life. It means except for my work, I will spend time with my family & my hobbies. My work can find, but my family is the only one.
fortunilty i can takeing sabistacall one hours every day to improve my English speaking and listening by spotlight website
I will visit new city in my country , and i will make my phone switch off , perhaps i walk everywhere and i will speak with new persons and watch film and eat in new resaurant
, yes i took before but i not feel something just relaxing for my body
I take sabbaticals every in Hour in day I take 14 minutes off in the hour to rest my main
I think we should take sabbaticals without the sleeping in the night
I like do everything i like it,yes of course, yes it’s so good for me and i enjoy in it
Well, I think a sabbatical very importance for me. You know, in a sabbatical, I can rest and do my favorite things such as travel, reading book, meet my boyfriend,…
Yes, I worked and pushed myself for years without any rest. Yes, and this is a soft mistake during work. You should also enjoy a little with your life
Vacation = return to work with more energy = better success at work
When I take a sabbatical, I visit my family, meet friends, think about the future and improve my skills.
Actually if I take asbbatical I will travel all around the world because I love exploring new things I am 17 years old I didn’t work yet but I wanted to share my opinion with you guys
Take a rest and travel in jeddah and watching any match to ittihad
Yes , before 3 week ,i taked one day only
Of course ,, i feel happier in my life
I am still student I haven’t get to university yet I have officinal vacation every year’s it’s really helpful to be more effective and powerful
unfortunately, I work in a place where they do not offer Sabbatical, but as you mentioned I take one day off every week it is a good option for me especially if it comes with the weekend.
I’m a 8 year old, and I read Big Nate. His least favorite teacher was on subbatical. Nate was SO happy went he heard that.
it’s the first time i heard about a sabbtical any way i’m so gratful to spotlight group they tell us something intersting every time
Yes, I traveled alone and i built New relationships with new friends and i stoped thought about my work , when I back to my work I feel like a new employee with full power and motivated
Currently I don’t work so I can take a sabbatical any time but I do many things learn English and Chinese, learn programming and so on .When I take a sabbatical I do things that make me happy like watch drama ,film or comedy programs.
I want to have subaatical . Time for myself thanke you
Actually , I didn’t take a sabbatical before, and if I did , I will do a lot of things, such as spending time with family first, reading books, improving my English skills, learning more about work and business, and others .
I prefer to do on sabbatical three essential things:
first: spending time with my family.
second: reading a box.
third: the travel to natural countries.
No, I have not taken sabbatical Before . if i could take a sabbatical i will spend time with my family and friends , i will learn English , i will develop my skills .
Actually, I am a student at university, and now l’m in a vacation but I exploit it to learn English, I take conversation and writing course and I learn English from spotlight and I hope to improve my skills in English but the same time I spend the rest of the time in an experience new things like I made vegetable salad and cold Nescafe drink.
If i had a sabbatical , i would play with my brother and i will go outside and rest in the nature.
Of course, i have taken a sabbatical to point i taken it every day at work i had rest to ten minutes and then completey work again
I think that a sabbatical is great. It helps me a lot. It reminds me there is difference between people and animals. People have a sabbatical. Thanks a lot for your program. God bless you!
If l take sabbatical l will travel to London
I have been at home for three years now it started with covid and now the city I moved into after two years of covid don’t have real life schools anymore for th system I study in so I always stay at home and I have the very opposite of being busy, very free I don’t have anything to do it really affected me after years it forced me to get trapped in my own mind and disconnect from the real world and now I don’t have any interest or capability to connect with real world and enjoy it
I take a lot of benefits from spotlight
That’s great!
I would like to travel to another country and learning a new language and continue my courses in Programming.
No, I haven’t
it helps of Course but I have not taken one 😀
I have taken sabbatical before , to remove everything it was bad in my mind and I got refresh so now l feel really relaxing.
I’m now in a sabbatical in india for studying English and MBA courses also computer courses, sabbatical is useful to invest your time for learning new skills.
If I take a sabbatical I will learn English and visit my family. I hope to travel around the world
I didn’t take a sebbatical before because the company I work for doesn’t offre one and because I don’t feel like I want to take a sabbatical because I always find time to think about my whole life and my future goals and slow down my life
Just one my not about the “the cod created the world in six days and taken reset ” no this is not true, in Islamic the cod created the world in six days to learn us that noting can create suddenly you mast work and the thing is developing day on day, but the cod doesn’t need reset because he has a soupr powerful and thanks on iny things
Actually I don’t know, I’m thinking.Yes I did and I do every week I take a day for me but also I do a lot of things in it that’s why taking a sabbatical didn’t help me much.
I don’t take any sabbatical for now, but I think a take when I graduate from university
Sabbatical is good and must the companies think about this resolution and give the workers some days to take rest from their works and they will back happier and more excited for their works and that helps the companies.
I am student and now i dont think i need to take sabbatical because i believe the sabbatical will coming automattical after the education
I taking rest and going to holiday if i have a chance.
Yes i did it before during my previous work.
Yes it is helped me and when i came back to my work i was very energetic and excited .
Nowadays, all companies give sabbatical for their workers. Depend on each company, the worker might have from 12 to 15 days for sabbatical in my country. I would to hang out with some friends on a sabbatical. I feel like enjoying Sabbticals because I have time for relax, spend time with family or do anything.
Becaues i am a mother i need sabbatical.
I need sabbatical these days and sit alone to take a break and think about my future life and return to my family feeling better.
I have not taken a sabbatical before. I’ve never heard about it. It is a great idea if goverments and private sectors apply it with their employees. If I am offered this kind of leave I would learn a new language, reading books, travelling, visiting friends, attinding training courses, playing several sport games with family and pals and volunteering with reputable charities.
I do many things on a sabbatical such us when l travel to my favourite countries or visit landscapes and green spaces also when l go with family or friends to a trip to forest or ice skating. As well, when I go to shopping with my sisters and buy a beautiful clothes and we go for my favourite restaurant I like it. Moreover, I take a vacation before when l study hard a lot of months I take a sabbatical to rest from the fatigue of studying. Finally, It help me to take a more of comfortable from study and organize my ideas. In addition , I have a lot of time to spend with family because it’s the important thing for me.
I would spend time with my dads and with my parents and play football.
No.
I will do everything I want to did it before.
I will meet my best friend and my soul mate. Then I will go to play games.
I will everything that will me happy and comfortable. Also I will taste a new food and a new sweet. finally I will buy something I like it , dreess or necklace !
That’s all:).
be happy
on opinion it’s necessary to take sabbatical every year at least one month and do something new