This guest post is from Corbett Barr, an entrepreneur and blogger who lives in San Francisco and Mexico. He writes about lifestyle design at Free Pursuits and started a new Q&A community about online business called Gatejumper.
Taking a sabbatical was easily one of the most life-changing experiences I’ve ever had. My wife and I spent the first half of this year on a road trip through Mexico with our dog (an 11 year-old Vizsla named Kinsey).
We both returned with fresh outlooks and a deeper understanding of what’s really important to us in life. I have since adjusted my priorities and am now finding it easier to be successful in the things that matter to me.
If you’ve ever considered taking a sabbatical, now might be the right time for a lot of reasons. Personally, I was between gigs anyways (I’m an entrepreneur and independent consultant), so the choice was easy. Whatever your situation might be, here are 10 reasons to consider taking a sabbatical now.
1. It’s not as expensive as you think
Cost is one of the biggest reasons people think they can’t take a sabbatical. The truth is, it really depends on where you will live and what you’ll be doing. For example, in Mexico, my wife and I lived on one-third of what it normally costs us to live in the U.S. We sublet our apartment in San Francisco while we were gone.
By living abroad, we were able to take six months off at the cost of just two months’ worth of expenses. We met people living comfortably in Mexico and Latin America for less than $1000 per month.
2. The economy probably isn’t getting better any time soon
If you’re already between jobs, you might be having a difficult time finding your next gig. Times are tough right now economically. It’s hard to say when things will improve, but it probably won’t be until next year. Why not use the downtime to do something you’ll really remember?
Would you rather look back on this time and remember how you spent months looking for a job that didn’t really exist, or how you used the downtime to reevaluate your life, experience a new culture, learn a new hobby or even start a new business?
3. It’s a great way to change careers and hit life’s “reset button”
Have you wondered once in a while if you’re on the right career path? Do you feel like you need to hit the “reset” button?
Getting away from it all might be the only way you can really reset or change course. If you continue around the day-to-day, making significant changes is tough. Taking a few months off will give you the space you need to figure things out.
4. People in other countries have it already figured out
Speaking of figuring things out, did you know that sabbaticals and gap years (time between college and your first job or time between jobs) is much more common is some countries than others?
In the United States especially, the work culture is so strong that friends and colleagues might think you’re crazy for taking some extended time off. Realize that not everyone in the world is so productivity-focused and that taking time off can actually be a good thing.
5. You’ll reconnect with who you really are
After years or decades of spending 8+ hours a day working for someone else, it’s easy to lose track a little of what we really want as individuals and of who we really are underneath our “work selves.” Disconnect with your work self on a sabbatical, and you’ll reconnect with who you really are.
6. You could have a major breakthrough about what you want from life
When did you ever really “decide” to pursue the path you’re on now anyways? Are you doing what you really want to be doing, or are you following more of the default or acceptable path?
A sabbatical might open your eyes to what you really want from life. You might even decide that you’d rather space a portion of your retirement out over your working life.
7. Those things you stress over now aren’t that important.
Once you’re away from your old job for a while, you’ll start to see clearly again. Eventually you’ll barely remember details of things that once seemed life-or-death important. You will start to understand that the truly important things in life exist outside of work – and you might begin to wonder how you ignored them for so long.
8. You might meet some special friends
We’ve never made so many great new friends as we did during our sabbatical. I attribute that to the fact that we were happy and free, with time for new interactions and interesting things to talk about. The best part is that making new friends just leads to a cycle of being even happier and meeting even more new people.
9. Aha! moments require a wandering mind
If your current life is like most working adults’, you probably don’t have much free time to really let your mind wander. Schedules, meetings, email and other responsibilities keep our minds in the analytical mode most of the day.
Some studies show that breakthrough “aha!” moments are made by your insightful mind, not your analytical mind. A sabbatical is a great way to break the routine of daily life and let your mind wander where it will.
10. “Normal life” will still be there waiting when you return
We came back to the U.S. and it seemed as though nothing had changed. We could jump back into our old life exactly as we left it, if we wanted to. Instead, we intend to keep the parts we really love and replace the rest. We’re already looking forward to our next extended time off.
What do you think? Can you think of other reasons to take a sabbatical? What about reasons not to take one? Please share in the comments!
I’m with you, Corbett. Having a “gap year” is very much a South African thing. In fact, in my socio-economic group in South Africa (not everyone can afford it), there’s a bit of stigma if you don’t take a gap year either after completing school or after completing university. It’s a widely accepted way of “growing up/ finding yourself/ getting great experience while you decide what you want to do for your career/ traveling the world.”
I took a year out after completing school and while I stayed in South Africa, I did a lot of local travel and a bunch of different short courses, hobbies and other “leisure” stuff that really changed my perspective and had a big impact on where I am now. Andy and I did it again after we got married – took off to the UK for a few years. And it was a superb way to explore together and seal the foundation of our marriage.
Highly recommended! Now we just need to convince South Africans that you don’t have to be under 25yrs to take a sabbatical – it can be useful at any age!
Cath
I’m going through this process right now. I’m totally with you Corbett, especially on reason number 1.
It’s more about the spiritual and mind relax than spending money anyway…
Number 9 has been the biggest shock for me since I left LA.
The ideas and innovations that pop into your mind when your attention is aimless are ridiculous and amazing!
Number 9 reminds me of this quote, which I love but cannot recall from which book I pulled it from last year when I wrote it down to give the author credit. Either way, it’s worth reading:
“Free market economics has brought much good to the world, but it goes mute when the concept of “enough” is raised. Wealth is liberating, no doubt. But wealth can also stymie the human spirit, and this is something that very few economists seem to recognize. The richer the society, the more difficult it becomes to do worthwhile things without immediate payoff. That is a radical and profound statement. In a wealthy, industrialized society, one where we are supposedly enjoying a bountiful harvest of leisure time, we are discouraged from doing anything that isn’t productive–either monetarily or in terms of immediate pleasure.”
@Cath – in the U.S. it’s even worse. People don’t even take a gap year after University very often. If you do, people look at you like you’re some kind of lazy freak. Our “work ethic” is all work and no play on this side of the pond. It’s shameful.
@Ash – I belive that quote is from Eric Weiner in his 2008 book “The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World.”
Corbett, this was a GREAT article, thanks for sharing it with us here at TH! Your sabbatical tips are solid, and I agree with you all the way. I wish more people in the States would get out and do a bit of traveling. I know I had people giving me that “lazy” treatment some of the time (and still do) but if I can be involved in 3 businesses and still take a jaunt to the beach every few months, why not?
Great article Corbett! I think most people are scared to take this time off, thinking the world will end. Sometimes though, I think there is a good reason to not take a sabbatical. In my current job, once i stay there for 3 years, I get the money they have been putting into my “pension” for me, without me having to match. I’m at 2.5 years now, I’d be crazy to take time right now. But in 6 months?? That’s a completely different story. Thanks for the inspiring article!
Great post. I really like #5. So many people lose touch of who they are. This happens after years of negative conditioning and working in a job you don’t necessarily enjoy. Some people might be lulled into an illusion that they do enjoy it, but once they step outside of the environment they realize it was just a charade.
It takes time for this to happen…a lot of time. It’s not going to come from a one week vacation or even a two week vacation. I think taking a sabbatical is a great idea and it’s certainly something that I’ll consider doing myself.
I’d love to be able to do this… I had a bit of time out of school between my first semester of college and subsequent ones, and it was somewhat funny that people freaked out about it. They thought I’d never go back to school. I did.
But, I’m changing schools AGAIN. And planning on another semester off. Unfortunately, I’ll have student loans coming due because of the extended off period, but I hope to be able to take some time working on my hobbies, paying part of that off and finally getting out of the country again, and hopefully get some relevant field-related job experience before going on to graduate. (I’m moving, which is the catalyst of all this. Hoping to get to Japan somewhat soon.)
I know I’ll go back to school and finish up my degree, but I don’t see the point in rushing it either, just to be expected to get a job and then slave away. I’m having quite a bit of fun in the process, would have more if I weren’t so far down the rabbit hole, heh. Once that’s settled, there’s no telling what I’ll be up to with my time.
I remember when I first went to Australia and heard everyone talking about their OE (Overseas Experience). The term was thrown around everywhere as embarking on such an extended, overseas adventure is practically expected at some point in an Australian’s life. Many employers also look much more favorably upon Australians who have this overseas experience than those without it.
I went for one interview back in the US after my first overseas trip. When the interviewer saw that I had listed my travels on my resume, he told me that I had been wasting valuable time that I should have spent working in the real world.
How can we change that mentality?
I can relate to #3 as this is where I am and have been since I left my job. It’s so true about the US.. we’ve slowly shared our plans with friends and family — weusually get a look, then a long pause followed by “WOW, this is major isn’t it?” We feel like we fit in better on-line with the nomad community, than we do out here right now! It’s painful but worth the journey–We are ready!!
Cody you sexy beast,
Great article and I second all the comments. I am just coming to the end of a three month sabbatical in Thailand people, and it was amazing.
Listen to Cody and do what he says…do it now, it is for the best.
Great guest post Corbett!
My story is similar, but different in the fact that I gave up on my 9-5. I think getting rid of the “What-if’s” and the possible regrets later is great to do. I would have hated turning 40 and thinking, “What if I never tried moving to Australia?”
Glad to see you are living life on your own terms.
David Damron
I’m still working my way towards a sabbatical. Being young and ignorant 1/2 of my close family still have concerns of me globetrotting solo (and all of my friends aren’t interested in travel or have university to attend, so it’d have to be solo, at least in the beginning) but reading posts like this remind me that I simply have to go.
If their fears are still present by early next year I think I’ll simply have to jump on a plane and go. I think it was in the book Vagabonding by Rolf Potts where one of the stories was of someone who didn’t want to be a grandparent telling their grandkids “I wish I went there when I was younger…” I don’t want that either.
I wish I had read this blog post earlier, but it’s now April 2010, and I’m hoping to take a year sabbatical ‘trip around the world’ soon starting later this year. I’m looking for a travel buddy – if you had luck finding someone, let me know what the best way to reach out to the community about this is!
I think having a travel buddy would really add to the experience
My faves here are #1 and #9. I have done some “vacation” traveling and extensive (5 months abroad) traveling in the past and nearly everywhere you go outside of the U.S. is far less expensive than here (especially NYC area where I live). I don’t think enough people realize this. It’s one of the biggest reasons I vacation outside of the U.S. year in and year out. I can spend less money in Central or South America in two weeks than I can blow on a long weekend trip in the States.
I love #9 because I’m a big fan of removing yourself from your everyday life and really taking a look at it. For me personally, this is only possible by traveling – no phones or computers. #9 reminds me of a famous movie quote from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.”
Especially appreciated number 9. I think its often underestimated how much creative energy is used during the hustle and bustle of life. Sometimes you have to intentionally just do nothing, in order to revive that creative and imaginative force. Most of this past year has been a sabbatical for me. I opted to walk away from my job in January, and although it came with a ton of sacrifices, I truly feel the better for having done so. Great guest post, your pointers put somethings into perspective.
Corbett – So happy to see another American embrace the sabbatical mindset! And you are so right with point number 4 – “People in other countries already have it figured out.”
Yes, the American culture and mindset is very different from others, but taking a career break to travel can only benefit those who take that leap. That is one of the reasons why we started our site, Briefcase to Backpack, to help make the concept of cultural career breaks acceptable to a demographic that could gain a great deal from taking one: the American with an established career.
And hopefully the Gap Year movement will also become more common in the US, so that that will influence future career breakers as well!
Yup, it’s bizarre that when you hear a North American accent in back-packer land that 9 times out of 10 it will be a Canadian.
Although I’ve noticed this change in the last couple of years as more USA’ians venture beyond the standard summer trip around Europe.
I also read somewhere that Americans have a lot less holiday and choose not to take much of their holiday time.
David, don’t worry about being too young, I’ve met plenty of 18 y/o’s travelling solo in places such as Laos and Cambodia. Also plenty of teenagers living with host families in countries like New Zealand and Japan. It’s no biggie.
Fact is the most unsafe I’ve ever felt when travelling was in the US, not sure if that’s because of being brainwashed through media though.
Those are all great points. It was the best decision of my life. Actually, that should be #11…
11. It will be the best decision of your life.
I’m hoping to take a brief break from work after my next relocation. I’d like a month or two to explore the new area and figure out what job would be a good fit for me, both the hours I’d like to have and possible relevant experience.
It’s rather daunting with my student loans and taking a break from school as well, but it’d be nice to recharge before I jump back in, finish up and work on really starting what I hope will be an enjoyable (and brief) career in whatever. (I’m hoping to end up a freelancer, but student loans are limiting my beginning options really.)
All of these reasons are really great ones! I’ll add the fact that sometimes you want to do things that you can’t wait for retirement age to do. I started my career break 3 years ago with a trip to Kilimanjaro…still haven’t gone back to my career! Also agree that it’s not as expensive as you think – I have sought shelter from the Economic meltdown by living/working/traveling in Vietnam for the last year – living very comfortably at what Americans would consider below the poverty level.