How to Take a Sabbatical as a Creative Entrepreneur (Without Losing Clients or Momentum)

If you’ve ever dreamed about taking a few months off but immediately panicked about losing clients, income, or momentum… you’re not alone. When I share that I take a 2–3 month sabbatical every winter, other creatives usually look at me like I’ve just said I live on Mars. But learning how to take a sabbatical as a creative entrepreneur has been one of the most powerful shifts in my business and my life.

Since 2018, I’ve taken January–March “off” (we’ll talk about what off really means) to travel, rest, reset, and be a human first and a business owner second. I’ve gotten yoga-certified, road-tripped across the US, hiked the W in Patagonia, hosted a retreat in Guatemala… and I’ve also spent entire winters at home on my couch reading books. Every version has given me something I can’t get from staying in constant hustle mode.

In this post, I’m sharing how I do it, what’s changed over the years, and how you can start planning your own creative sabbatical—without ghosting your clients or burning your business to the ground.

🎧 Want to hear the full conversation? Listen to my episode on The Dream Biz® Podcast: “How to Take a Sabbatical as a Creative Entrepreneur Without Losing Clients” with Christi Johnson.

The Real Reason I Take a Sabbatical Every Year

On paper, taking a sabbatical looks like time off. In reality, it’s about time wealth.

Most of my work as a photographer and creative entrepreneur is seasonal. Winters in Minneapolis are slow for weddings, seniors, and families. Instead of seeing that as a problem, I chose to treat it as an invitation.

What started as a burnout recovery—“I literally have to step away or I’m going to fall apart”—has now become a non-negotiable rhythm in my life. That first year, I didn’t have systems, a team, or a fancy plan. I checked my email once or twice a week, worked a couple hours here and there, and mostly focused on rest and healing.

The wild part?

My business did not collapse. In fact, I came back more energized, more creative, and more excited to serve my clients. That reset became evidence that it was safe to step away.

Over time, I built a team, created systems, and got really intentional about how to take a sabbatical as a creative entrepreneur in a way that serves everyone—my clients, my team, my loved ones, and my future self.

How to Take a Sabbatical as a Creative Entrepreneur (Without Freaking Out)

Let’s get into the nuts and bolts. Here’s how I structure my sabbatical so I can actually step away.

1. Choose Your Sabbatical Season Intentionally

The first key to how to take a sabbatical as a creative entrepreneur is to pick a season that works with your business, not against it.

For me, that’s winter. My busiest seasons are spring, summer, and fall, so January–March is naturally slower. That means fewer shoots, fewer events, and more flexibility to step back without impacting current clients.

Ask yourself:

• When is my slowest season?
• When are my clients least likely to need me in-person?
• What would it look like to protect that window—every year?

You don’t have to start with three months. Your first sabbatical might be two weeks. A month. Or even long weekends that are completely work-free. The important thing is building the muscle of stepping away.

2. Build a Team + Systems That Can Run Without You

I didn’t start with a full team—this has been a very gradual, intentional process. Today, my photographers get to focus on what they do best: taking photos. My behind-the-scenes team handles emails, client communication, social media, and systems.

During my sabbatical, I:

• Do no photo shoots myself
• Check in with my assistant about once a week
• Still take important consult calls—but schedule them for when I’m home if needed
• Have my team take on projects if a client needs something sooner

Clients don’t need to know I’m on sabbatical. If someone inquires on Day 1 of my time off, I simply share my next available date—often 8–10 weeks out. If they’re not able to wait, I offer a trusted team member instead. They’re still taken care of, and I still protect my rest.

3. Set Firm Boundaries (And Trust That Abundance Will Meet You There)

This part is both mindset and practicality. There have absolutely been years where I said no to a booking and thought, “Am I out of my mind?”

But every time I’ve honored my sabbatical, that “lost” booking has been replaced with something:

• More aligned
• Better paying
• Or simply more sustainable

Learning how to take a sabbatical as a creative entrepreneur is really learning how to trust that you don’t have to say yes to everything in order to grow. Some opportunities are going to pass you by. That’s okay. You’re leaving space for the right ones.

4 Practical Steps to Plan Your Own Sabbatical

If you’re feeling the tug to build in real rest (not scrolling-on-the-couch-while-guilty-rest), here’s how to get started:

1. Decide Your Timeframe and Non-Negotiables

• Choose your sabbatical window based on your slow season.
• Decide what “off” means for you:
  • No shoots?
  • No emails?
  • One admin day a week?

Write it down so you’re not negotiating with yourself halfway through.

2. Create a Client Communication Plan

• Update your inquiry responses to reflect your next available dates.
• If you have a team, create clear language offering them as an option for earlier dates.
• Set up an autoresponder for your email if you’re taking a clearer pause.

You don’t need to explain your sabbatical to clients unless you want to. A simple “My next available dates are…” is more than enough.

3. Delegate Before You Go

Make a list of everything that usually keeps you tethered to your laptop:

• Client emails
• Social media scheduling
• Blog posts + galleries
• Invoices + contracts

Then ask: What can be delegated? What can be automated? What can wait?

This is where a VA, studio manager, or even a few solid SOPs can change your life.

4. Decide What This Sabbatical Is For

Each year looks a little different for me. Sometimes it’s adventure-heavy: long flights, new countries, hiking, retreat hosting. Other years, it’s quietly reading at home, being with family, processing grief, or taking care of my mental health.

Ask yourself:

• Do I need deep rest?
• Do I want to explore somewhere new?
• Do I want to pour into my relationships?
• Do I want to invest in my health, therapy, or coaching?

There’s no “right” way to do it. The only rule is that this time should serve you first, not your productivity.

Why Sabbaticals Make Your Business Stronger

Here’s the secret no one talks about: my sabbaticals don’t make my business weaker—they make it stronger.

Stepping away has forced me to:

• Build a trustworthy, aligned team
• Create systems and SOPs that are bigger than just “what’s in my head”
• Release control and invite other people’s genius into my business
• Prioritize my health, relationships, and grief when life gets hard

When my dad got sick and passed away, my business didn’t implode. My past self had already built a business that could hold that chapter. That, to me, is the real definition of success: a business that supports your actual life, not one that consumes it.

If your body, your heart, or your spirit is quietly begging for more time and space, please listen. Your creative work will be better for it. Your clients will be better served. And you’ll come back with more energy, clarity, and capacity than you can imagine.

Ready to Build a Business That Makes Space for Sabbaticals?

If you’re reading this and thinking, “I want that. I want time wealth, not just revenue goals,” you’re my kind of human.

🎧 First, go listen to the full episode on The Dream Biz® Podcast:

“How to Take a Sabbatical as a Creative Entrepreneur Without Losing Clients” with Christi Johnson.

And if you’re ready for support in building a business that can actually hold sabbaticals, life changes, and big dreams, I’d love to help.

👉 Explore business coaching and education here:

Let’s build you a creative business that gives you time, freedom, and a life you actually love being present for.