The Leadership Recharge with DJ DiDonna

What if the future of work was focused on human beings flourishing and greater outcomes followed? Research suggests there is a great opportunity for leaders and cultures to embrace sabbaticals.

Jason is joined by Harvard Business School lecturer and Sabbatical Project founder DJ DiDonna for an eye-opening conversation about the strategic necessity of extended rest and the true power of a leadership recharge.

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Summary:

In an era of relentless connectivity and mounting burnout, how do the most effective leaders sustain high performance without sacrificing their well-being? In this episode of The Thermostat, Jason V Barger sits down with DJ DiDonna, senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and founder of The Sabbatical Project. Drawing from deep social science research, DJ challenges executives to rethink the traditional corporate grind and exposes the hidden dangers of "functional workaholism."

This conversation moves beyond standard time-management advice to address the core mechanics of human recovery and corporate retention. Jason and DJ explore the profound difference between a standard vacation and a true sabbatical—an intentional, extended leave from routine work. They deconstruct the business case for "big time off," revealing how providing structured recovery windows actually audits key-person risk, drives unparalleled loyalty, and aligns perfectly with the rising cultural demands of the next generation.

Essential listening for C-Suite executives, HR directors, and team leaders committed to shaping compelling cultures, this episode offers actionable insights on eradicating the "worker devotion norm," utilizing inflection points in your career, and optimizing your team's long-term performance.

Episode Notes & Timestamps:

Intro: Jason welcomes listeners and sets the stage for a conversation on the power of recharging as a leader and a human being.

Meet DJ DiDonna: Introduction to DJ's background teaching entrepreneurship at Harvard Business School, his creation of The Sabbatical Project, and his personal six-week Buddhist walking pilgrimage in Japan.

Thinking in "Chunks": DJ shares his perspective on organizing life into intentional chapters and using sabbaticals as inflection points so your career doesn't become one giant "run-on sentence."

Sabbatical vs. Vacation: Defining a true sabbatical as an "extended leave from routine work on purpose" and why the mental background script of work must be completely shut down to truly heal.