Rest and Self-Care As An Essential Leadership Strategy

When I set out on a three-month sabbatical that ultimately spanned five continents and eight countries, I didn’t realize how desperately my spirit needed it. Like many founders and non-profit leaders, my work has always been anchored in a deep love for community, storytelling, and youth development. For over twenty years, I poured myself into curating creative programs for young people, always driven by the belief that the arts are a vital vehicle for transformation. But when you spend decades carrying the hopes, stories, and challenges of a community, you slowly deplete your own well without even noticing.

We often view rest as a luxury, or worse, a reward to be earned only after the work is completely done. But in the non-profit sector — where the work is never truly finished, and the stakes are deeply human — burnout is a personal risk, and an organizational liability.

Reflecting on my journey, from the roaring mist of Victoria Falls to the bustling markets of Morocco and finally to the quiet, light-filled sanctuary of the Baha’i Temple in the heights of Chile, I’ve come to understand that an extended break isn’t an escape from leadership. It is a prerequisite for it.

Here are the essential takeaways from my three-month journey on why leaders must make time to pause, step away, and choose self-care.

Disconnection Breeds Reconnection

When you operate a non-profit, your mind is constantly tethered to the logistics of impact — funding, programming, staffing, and strategy. Stepping away forces a hard reset.

By removing myself from the daily execution of my work, I unlocked space to reconnect with parts of myself that had been pushed aside by a heavy workload. I spent three months hiking, walking, writing, photographing, and engaging in spontaneous, soulful conversations with old friends I hadn’t seen in decades, as well as total strangers who quickly became friends.

When we give ourselves permission to disconnect from our professional identities, we remember who we are outside of our achievements. We return to our organizations not just with new ideas, but with a restored sense of self.

Restoring the Capacity for Wonder and Creativity

Leading a creative, community-facing organization requires a constant flow of imagination. But creativity requires an intake of new stimuli, beauty, and perspective. You cannot pour from an empty cup, and you certainly cannot innovate from a place of exhaustion.

My sabbatical was a tapestry of pure wonder: dancing, swimming alongside giant nurse sharks, and witnessing the architectural genius of human hands built into the slopes of the Andes. Sitting in silence inside the Baha’i Temple in Santiago, bathed in the warm, filtered light of translucent marble, a profound feeling of absolute peace and gratitude washed over me.

That space invited a reverence that words alone could never capture. Experiencing the world’s beauty and diversity re-sensitizes a leader to the magic of the human experience. It fills the creative well, ensuring that when you return to design programs and tell stories, you are doing so from a place of abundant inspiration.

The Power of Vulnerability and Community Care

Non-profit leaders are notorious for trying to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. We mistakenly believe that our constant presence is the only thing keeping the mission alive.

Stepping away requires a beautiful exercise in trust. It forces us to lean on our teams, trust the structures we’ve built, and model the healthy boundaries we wish for our staff and the people we serve.

Furthermore, traveling the world reminded me of the universal nature of community. Whether sharing an evening celebrating a holy day with a community in Italy where I didn’t speak the language, or joining the temple staff on their service day to deep-clean the sanctuary in Chile, I was reminded that we are all interconnected. Service and community care are reciprocal. Sometimes, the most profound act of leadership is allowing yourself to be welcomed, hosted, and renewed by the community.

The Return

I returned from my three-month journey deeply energized, carrying a heart full of unexpected wisdom and a profound spirit of gratitude. Most importantly, I returned with a little more clarity for the next stage of my life and work.

To my fellow non-profit leaders and changemakers: self-care is not selfish, and a break is not a luxury. It is an act of stewardship over your greatest asset — your own mind, health, and spirit. Make the time to pause. The world needs your vision, but more than that, it needs you whole.

Thank you for reading. Please share your thoughts and subscribe. Coming soon is a new website, ridvanidara.com. In the meantime, you can find me at ridvanfoxhall.com and Substack.