Taking a Sabbatical: A Pause to Reset, Create, and Explore

For years, I worked relentlessly—long hours, 24-hour shifts, juggling time zones, managing teams, and being part of a company that scaled into a unicorn. It was an incredible journey, but also an intense one.

Eventually, I realized how long I’d been on this high-speed track without a meaningful pause. It wasn’t burnout—I’ve faced tougher moments in the past—but rather a conscious decision to step back and focus on the things that truly matter to me.

1. Why a Sabbatical?

Time to Reflect:

A sabbatical offers the chance to slow down and see what’s working in your life—and what isn’t. After years of pushing forward, I wanted the mental space to reflect on my choices and set new priorities.

Rediscovering Passions:

When you’re locked into back-to-back projects and never-ending to-do lists, it’s easy to lose sight of what originally drove you. A sabbatical lets you reconnect with the things you really love doing.

2. My Three Key Priorities

• Health

I’ve always put work first, which meant my mental and physical health sometimes got sidelined. Now, I’m taking the time to truly care for myself—exercising, resting, and making sure I’m in a good place both mentally and physically.

• Family

One of the best parts of this break is spending more time with my kid. Previously, balancing work and family was tough—meetings at odd hours, deadlines cutting into weekends. Now, I’m fully present at home and loving it.

• Making Things

I’m not someone who can simply do nothing; I love creating and solving problems. This sabbatical is the perfect opportunity to dig into projects that excite me.

3. First project: Documenting My Journey

I’ve decided to blog about the things I’m making—partly to keep myself accountable, partly to share what I learn along the way. This blog is one of my first sabbatical “projects,” and I hope it inspires others to build, explore, and be creative.

4. Second Project: Automating Detection, Summarization and Notifications of Spreadsheet Changes

One of my initial ideas is a tool that automates detection, summarization and notifications of spreadsheet changes to save time and money for both individuals and companies. It’s in the alpha phase, and I’m currently looking for testers.

Note: Before you ask, yes, there is AI involved and yes, I would blog about the initial process soon ;)

5. What’s Next?

I plan to continue experimenting and sharing updates here:

• New business ideas or product prototypes

• Reflections on balancing work, creativity, and health

• Insights on how to maintain family time without sacrificing ambition

There’s a lot I want to explore, and I’m excited to see where this path leads.