At the end of 2022, I decided to take a sabbatical.

I wanted time for myself—free from responsibilities—to explore my own mind, travel the world, reflect on the last 37 years, and figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. My friends say that when you don’t have a plan for returning, it’s not a sabbatical; it’s early retirement. Call it what you want—I’m taking a break from formal work, and my days are now filled with:

• Sleep. As much as I need, never waking up to an alarm.
• Mind exploration. I meditate and journal daily, sometimes for hours. I’m also reading a lot—books on AI, the brain, happiness, purpose, and meaning.
• Training. I want to use my body better, so I’m focusing on CrossFit, gymnastics, and handstand training. I’m also running, cycling, practicing yoga, and regularly doing ice baths and sauna sessions.
• Business & investments. I still have business interests that I oversee as a non-executive director and spend time managing investments.
• Writing. I’m writing a lot—reflecting on life and personal experiences. I also finished my second book, though I doubt I’ll ever publish it.
• Spanish. I’ve lived in Barcelona for three years, but my Spanish still isn’t where I want it to be, so I dedicate time every day to improving it.
• Meeting new people. Building connections in a new country and city isn’t easy, but I’m making a conscious effort to meet new people. It’s one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced, for many reasons, but it’s also something I know is essential and worth prioritizing.
• Travel. Since starting my sabbatical, I’ve been to South Africa, Scotland, India (for a 10-day silent meditation retreat), Morocco, Southeast Asia (Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand), Peru, Brazil, England, Malta, Australia and New Zealand. I’ve also explored Europe extensively (Netherlands, France, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark) and traveled throughout Spain. While I love the idea of being a nomad, I’ve realized I still want a home base—and for now, that’s Barcelona.
• One of my biggest dreams: becoming a dad.

For someone who’s spent their life working and hustling, stepping back and not feeling guilty about “not being productive” has been a challenge. But these things are keeping me busy—really busy—and all of them are helping me figure out who I am and what I want to do next.