A sabbatical can be a rejuvenating break from the demands of everyday life.

In the film Modern Times, Charlie Chaplin satirized the Industrial Age by portraying himself as a literal cog in a giant machine. This metaphor is just as apt today, when many people feel trapped in an endless and unchanging cycle of professional and family responsibilities. But there are ways to break the cycle, get in touch with our inner selves, and start over with a fresh perspective. One of the most popular ways to accomplish all of this is by taking a sabbatical.

Laurie Gunning Grossman is a singer and artist living in Santa Monica, Calif., and her work can be heard in TV shows, CD projects and commercials. She credits a sabbatical with changing how she sees and lives her life, and offers her experiences as an example of how beneficial sabbaticals can be.

• Escape everyday life. Grossman was working a nine-to-five job when she realized she was stuck in a rut. When a friend mentioned Mexico's San Miguel de Allende, a place where many artists and students visit, she knew immediately that she had to take a break from her "normal" life and go there. Grossman was looking to reconnect with herself and get her creative juices flowing, and taking a sabbatical seemed like the right choice.

• Get support from home. It isn't easy to just pick up and take off, but Grossman found help among her friends and family members. They aided her in wrapping up the loose ends and making sure that she could safely put her working life on hold while she took her much-needed break.

• Experience new things. In Mexico, Grossman rented a little house, took classes in art, yoga and cooking, and spent time exploring the exotic and fascinating city around her. Her hours were hers and hers alone, and she chose activities that would refresh her body and mind as well as expand her horizons.

• Keep a record. All sabbaticals must eventually end, but the effects can last a lifetime. Grossman kept a journal and recorded her thoughts and feelings during her stay in Mexico. Now, when she reads her entries or just remembers her days there, she can see the profound effect that her sabbatical had on her attitudes and outlook.

• Come back changed. When she returned home, Grossman felt like a new person. She was stronger and felt spiritually and creatively recharged, and soon realized that her newfound optimism and confidence was spilling out into all her relationships. Her sabbatical was just what she needed to put the juice back into her life, and was an experience she'll never forget.

Sabbatical Homes
sabbaticalhomes.com

How to Take a Sabbatical—An article from MochaSofa
http://www.mochasofa.com/work/program/expert/02april08a.asp

Leave Home!—An article from the Journal of Extension
www.joe.org/joe/2001august/comm1.html

iVillage: Sabbaticals
www.ivillage.com/topics/work/0,10707,165496,00.html