Comments on: 10 Reasons to Take a Sabbatical Now

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Thu, 19 May 2011 04:18:47 +0000

I’m a big proponent of taking a gap year (or as I call them, career breaks). I know so many people who go back to grad school just to escape their jobs and try something new. Grad school might be good if you have a reason for going, but it’s a very expensive way to “take a break” from work.

I quit my job in late 2009 to go work as a volunteer for a microfinance organization in the Dominican Republic. The switch from my comfortable corporate job to living in a rural town without running water and electricity was certainly shocking, but the perspective I gained was so valuable. Without constant internet access, phone or email, I had the chance to think, slow down and reevaluate life. It wasn’t always easy, but I learned so much and am so glad I went.

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By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 03:32:14 +0000

What a great post and another nail in the coffin of my current employment situation. My family and I are moving to Indonesia this June (2011) and just discover what it is we really want to experience in life. One of the primary reason we want to do this is to have our kids experience the other half of their culture. It will be awesome for them to experience that and become fluent in Indonesian.

By: Helen

Helen — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 03:01:02 +0000

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

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By: Sherry Ott

Sherry Ott — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:23:06 +0000

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.

By: Meg

Meg — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:58:36 +0000

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.)

By: Casey

Casey — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:40:33 +0000

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.

By: NomadicNeil

NomadicNeil — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:39:11 +0000

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.

By: Michaela Potter

Michaela Potter — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:50:57 +0000

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!

By: Veron Graham

Veron Graham — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:09:43 +0000

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.

By: Hugh

Hugh — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:07:25 +0000

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.”