Sabbatical Series: Michael’s Journey to Health and Well-Being

In this latest installment of Protiviti’s Sabbatical Series, we continue to highlight the unique and fulfilling ways our team members have utilized their sabbatical benefit to broaden their perspectives and enrich their lives.

At Protiviti, we offer a sabbatical as we firmly believe in the value of taking time to pursue one’s interests and passions. Curious about what a sabbatical entails? It’s essentially a period of leave provided to our employees, giving them the chance to take a break from their regular duties to pursue their personal goals. Whether it’s embarking on international adventures, pursuing further education, or simply taking time for self-reflection, our sabbatical program is tailored to support our employees’ overall wellness and personal growth.

In this edition, we shine the spotlight on Michael Mills, a Director in our Technology Consulting Solution based in Charlotte, NC.

Protiviti: What inspired you to take a sabbatical?

Michael: 2023 into 2024 was a difficult time for me experiencing some personal hardships.  That paired with work was leading me toward burn out and I knew I needed to make a change – get healthy spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.  At the end of my sabbatical, my wife said that she got me back.  It was a personal journey.

Protiviti: When you took your sabbatical, did you know what you were going to do with your time?  Did you have a plan?

Michael: I went into the sabbatical with an informal plan.  I knew I needed to get healthy, but I also wanted to have some fun and travel.  From a personal health point of view, I lost 20lbs, ran a 5k at the beginning of the sabbatical, and ran another 5k (3.1 mi) at the end, taking 4 minutes off my time which is more than 1 minute per mile. I wanted to come out of these 6 months going forward differently.  I hired a personal trainer that focused on what I needed to do to get into a routine and get healthy.  I found when I physically started getting better, my relationships around me started to improve, too.

I got to travel with my wife to Acadia National Park in Maine and White Mountains in New Hampshire.  In addition, we went on a cruise that took us to Boston, Portland, Maine, Prince Edward Island near Nova Scotia, and down the St. Lawrence River in Quebec.  We also visited Virginia and hiked the most famous part of the Appalachian trail, went to Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, went to New River National Park, WV, and even visited the mountains and beaches in North Carolina.  It was all discovery and loved seeing the scenery up and down the East Coast.  What made it fun was having friends join us at different legs of our vacations.  

Protiviti: Do you have a memorable or transformative moment when you realized you were “back”?

Michael: There was a moment when I felt like I was in a groove.  I’m usually pretty witty and I noticed my humor and how I responded to things came back.  I was firing again, quickly to make a pun out of something.

Protiviti: Did you notice any changes in yourself when you came back to work?

Michael: Since coming back, I’ve been prioritizing part of my day to step away from the computer.  We’re of course allowed to step away and take a 20-minute break, but for some reason ever since Covid, we’re more glued to our seats and find it difficult to step away. What I’ve learned is that your brain needs to get reenergized.  Stepping away sparks creativity and you come back to your desk more focused.  It’s important to take breaks, step outside and go on short walks.  For work to get the best out of me, I need to get the best out of me, too.  It sounds so obvious, but we forget. I’m now very conscious of this.  During my sabbatical, I set an alarm to remind myself to do this, and the new behavior is engrained into who I am now. Since returning, I’ve kept the weight off.

Protiviti: Is there a specific preparation or mindset shift that made for a successful experience?

Michael: Before I took my sabbatical, there were some mind games I played with myself because I had never taken time off from work like this before.  Protiviti was the complete opposite of what I thought.  Everyone was so supportive of me.  It truly is a benefit of our organization. Our leadership really cares and is supportive of this – my clients were, too!  Before I started my sabbatical, I wanted to build enough runway to strategically bring someone in on my projects to make sure there was a smooth handoff. The transition went over better than I could have ever dreamed of.  The fact that I took time off for 6 months and came back still having a job is unheard of.  Coming back has allowed me to reprioritize the things that I never seemed to get around to in my work prior to my sabbatical.  I was able to build my own roadmap to help our business.  I was happy to come back and made me realize how much I care about my colleagues, clients and this organization.  It felt like coming back to my work family. 

Protiviti: What advice would you give to colleagues considering a sabbatical? 

Michael: If you’re able to take a sabbatical, do it.  Don’t let yourself be the reason why you don’t do it.

Protiviti’s unique sabbatical benefit can fuel personal growth and professional revitalization. We encourage all Protiviti team members to consider this opportunity not just as time off, but as a chance to enhance their life story and return as more complete individuals, ready for future challenges.