Fourteen years ago, I made one of the best decisions of my life by taking a year-long break from work and embarking on a seven-month solo travel sabbatical around the world.
Did “people” think I was crazy? Yes. Did I let that stop me? Absolutely not.
So, why does someone take a mid-career sabbatical anyway? Here are five big reasons for making this epic leap in your life:
- Burnout: If you regularly get the Sunday Scaries, if doing even simple tasks seem difficult or uninteresting, if you work in a toxic environment, if you fantasize about sticking an “I Quit” post-it on your boss’s forehead every day, you are in burnout, my friend. Sometimes the answer is another job. Sometimes the answer is a two-week vacation. But sometimes the answer is a more meaningful break, a true reset. A chance to let your nervous system calm. An opportunity to be renewed and inspired.
- I Don’t Know What I Want But It’s Not This: Maybe you’re not at burnout, but you’re desperate for a change. You might have no idea what to do next or too many ideas of what to do next. Completely changing your environment, your routines, and the people around you just might give you the clarity you need.
- Transition/Personal Growth: Perhaps you’re at a crossroads in life, a divorce, a job loss, a death of someone important. Perhaps this ignites a longing for contemplation and growth of self, for clarifying values and learning about what you’re made of. A sabbatical is a wonderful way to navigate towards an inspired future.
- It’s Actually a Career Booster: In my experience, professional connections have been impressed by and interested in my sabbatical story. Not only can it make you stand out, it’s also a wonderful way to demonstrate that you are organized, adventurous, tenacious, well-rounded, and capable, among other things.
- Because Travel is Fun: You do not need a big, important reason to take a sabbatical. Travel is amazing, and longer-term travel is uniquely wonderful and rare. Do it because it sounds like the most thing you could do!