According to Wikipedia:
“Sabbatical or a sabbatical (from Latin sabbaticus, from Greek sabbatikos, from Hebrew shabbat, i.e., Sabbath, literally a “ceasing”) is a rest from work, or a hiatus, often lasting from two months to a year.”
The Story
Over the last few weeks, I’ve given a lot of thought to the future of Fiscal Fizzle. It’s one of the largest personal projects I’ve ever taken on in my life.
As responsibilities in my life have evolved since the launch of the blog last February, so has the time and energy available to maintain this blog:
- My wife and I had our first child in early January. He’s been a blessing in terms of routine and schedule, but I obviously still want to give him all the attention in the world.
- I was promoted at work to a serious position that comes with a whole new set of responsibilities. I committed to meeting those responsibilities and doing it at 110%. It’s also a leadership position that requires investment of time outside of work to sharpen my skills and advance my career.
- I put a lot of other goals on hold to maintain this blog, including personal hobbies like music and reading, volunteering, and helping others. I also let my personal health slip away a bit too far.
I’m not saying that blogging has caused some kind of anguish, or prevented me from doing any of these things. That’s not the case at all, and the many successful bloggers out there are proof that it can be done.
But when you’re putting anywhere between 10 and 30 hours of work on a week-to-week basis into a blog, physical and time limitations take hold, and something else has to take second place. For me, blogging consumes not only time, but the finite space in my brain that I have for processing daily information.
I’ve intuitively known for a little while now that something would have to change, or I would burn out.
The Plan
The easiest thing to do would be to quit blogging. Arguably, the worse thing to do would be to publish half-ass posts in the hopes that you’ll stick around.
For your sake and mine, I am not interested in doing either. Writing is something I love to do and I don’t foresee stopping anytime soon. Secondly, quality over quantity is something I committed to a long time ago on this blog.
A third alternative is to simply to put Fiscal Fizzle on “pause” for a period of time long enough to catch up on life, figure a couple of things out, and come back with renewed strength.
How long will I be away? Based on what I’d like to accomplish, about 3-6 months. I’ve set a goal to come back in 3 months and either re-start blogging or update you with my latest goings-on.
Here are just a few things I hope to tackle in the coming months:
- First and foremost, relax. Learn to sit still, meditate, and reach into my thoughts.
- Spend time with my family, including my wife and son.
- Get my health back under control and get in the best shape of my life.
- Learn a new language and a new instrument.
- Write…wait, what? Yes, I’ll still be writing! It might mean finally getting to my e-books, or getting ahead on blog posts, but I will definitely be writing. I’ll also still be posting to Untemplater and Complete Organizing Solutions on a monthly basis.
- Consider Fiscal Fizzle’s true message and business plan. What I think the blog is about has evolved as I continue writing. I’d really like to pin this down and communicate it to my readers clearly.
- Help people. My new set of blogging skills is immensely helpful to a lot of people. I’ll be helping 4-5 friends with their own sites with nothing expected in return.
- Enhance my career. I’m at a point in life where I still have a lot to learn, and doing the learning will help me immensely down the road.
- Whatever else of value comes along!
It’s a long list, but I’m not in a hurry to get started. I’m relying on my gut to tell me when the time is right.
Signing Off, For Now
I’ve never seen this done on any other blog, and I understand that there is a “business cost.” Many of you may unsubscribe, others will forget about me.
But that’s okay, and I’m willing to give a little to get a lot back. I’ve seen too many blogs die in a fireball of scattered, crappy posts, and I simply won’t let that happen here.
No worries, many of you will still probably see me around Twitter and commenting on various blogs around the web. You can always send me an email if you want to chat, too!
You have my word that on August 11th, 2010, you’ll get an update on where I stand. And I hope that it’s a good one. 🙂
How can you stay updated? Just keep me in your RSS reader or email subscription, and you’ll get right back in the groove when I return! I really hope you stick around.
In the words of a famous ex-actor, I’ll be back.
With thanks and appreciation, Wojo.
Photo by Meagan
Fiscal Fizzle 
I am right there with you on all counts as far as what happens when you start blogging. It takes up a lot of time you didn’t realize you valued (or needed). Good luck to you and I look forward to hearing from you in a few months.
.-= Kyle C.´s last post: Sell Your Car Yourself, Screw the Dealership – Part 2 =-.
Thanks Kyle! I’m really excited about the time off, and hope to come back with guns blazing!
Thanks for the update! You’re still in my reader and on Twitter so I’ll see you when I get back!
Kita
Wojo –
It’s no easy feat running a successful blog, that’s for sure. Sounds like you’ve got yourself a good plan to take handle of everything that’s going on in your world. I’m sure you’ll be back in the mix soon with some great content.
Good luck with everything on the family/career front and see you in a couple months.
-B
.-= Blair MacGregor´s last post: 5 Things You Should Know About Personal Finance =-.
I didn’t post on Frugal Zeitgeist for a while early last year (I think) and I cam eback with some half arsed crap…… Not worth it in the long run!
Anyway my subscription is going nowhere, i’ll continue to read Untemplater (although i don’t always comment) and I am glad you are going away completely.
Good luck and see you around.
.-= Forest´s last post: Does A Minimalist Lifestyle Breed Laziness? =-.
Glad to see that you have committed to going for quality; too many blogs out there will post anything just to keep it going, and sometimes it turns into a soap opera. Burning out is no good, so looks like you made the right decision; here’s looking to your return!
.-= Kevin@InvestItWisely´s last post: Precious Metals Are on Fire! =-.
No soap opera here! 🙂 I’m looking forward to it, too.
No shame in taking a break.
Blogging is vert deceptive: easy to start but incredibly difficult to continue for years and years. It devours time. I’ve done a fair few things in my life, and this really is one of the hardest.
I think if I was going to quit, the first thing I’d try is just writing one post a week. I believe the 80/20 rule really works here, when I look at my stats.
Anyway, enjoy your break!
Right on! I share your sentiment about this being one of the hardest things to maintain. The people that say “but it’s just writing!” clearly have never done it! 🙂
Hate to see you disappear for a bit but I totally understand. Life has a way of taking priority, doesn’t it? Family always comes first and your primary career needs importance as well.
Glad to hear you aren’t giving it up. I’ll keep an eye out for your writing around the web and look forward to your return!
There are a couple of very good reasons for you to take a sabbatical. One is obviously the ‘catch up with the rest of my life’ reason, as you mentioned. The other is to give yourself the time to percolate new and interesting ideas about where you want to take your next creative project. May this time be oodles of both for you.
Many blessings, and I’ll keep you in the RSS.
Thanks Jennifer! I am really going to enjoy brainstorming pressure-free during my time off. I think there will be some really good ideas on the other side.
Well wishes for your time off, Wojo! We’ll all look forward to your return as a saner and healthier husband, father and writer. Best of luck on the adventures to come over the next 3 months!
It’s always smart to leave at the top of your game and not wait till things start falling apart. You’ve had a lot of major new life changes hit you in a short time. Add that to a heavy schedule and the demands of creating a blog and a sabbatical sounds like a good idea. It’ll allow you to turn down the pressure, refresh your life and at the same time time, keep all your options open. Enjoy…
.-= savvysavingbytes´s last post: Tales of Big Apple Shoplifters =-.
Wojo,
Here is wishing you a great sabbatical. I look forward to your return. In the meantime, it is extremely refreshing to read about how you have placed priorities in your life. None of us can do everything, and I am confident that you will excel at your career and your family life.
Hope you get everything accomplished on your list, and we’ll see you in August!
hey you have to do what makes you happy, hope to see some of your stuff in the future. good luck
Say it ain’t so! I need my weekly dose of the pecuniary pepper!
I’m going to miss you for a little while, but I completely understand where you are coming from. Blogging does take a WHOLE LOT of time if you take the job seriously, as I know you do, Wojo.
On top of my day job that consumes over 40 hours a week, and I know I spend 30 to 40 additional hours per week myself blogging (including researching and networking) – and that’s after I reduced my output from four to three posts per week.
It’s tough to find that ultimate balance.
Relax, enjoy time with your family and reassess those priorities. We’ll be here to read you again when you return!
All the best,
Len
Len Penzo dot Com
.-= Len Penzo´s last post: Why Your Expensive Luxury Car Doesn’t Impress Smart People. (Or Me.) =-.
Thanks Len! I always look forward to your support and kind words.
A break is good for the soul and can help spawn new ideas and growth.
Thank you for everything you’ve given to the blogosphere thus far.
Your rest is as important as your zeal. You’ve blogged hard, Take your time off.
In the mean time… I’ll raid your blog. >:3
I will miss you! I hope you have a wonderful relaxing time not having to think about your blog (I completely understand how you feel- I have been contemplating it from time to time too- it takes a lot of work!).
.-= youngandthrifty´s last post: Travel on the Cheap- Skip the Contiki, Gap Adventures, and Intrepid Travel =-.
Have a great summer, look forward to your update and kiss that beautiful baby!
Get the R&R you need. I have found that it usually takes on average about 5 months for me to come back to something I burned out on before. The great thing is that you come back with all the experience you had accumulated over the years and with the energy and excitement of starting things from the ground up again. Be prepared to be even more successful when you return.