You’re financially stable. You’ve got security in your career, your professional network, and your routine. Thousands of people are out there right now looking for work – a way to provide for their families. So you may be asking yourself, “Why take a sabbatical leave?” Why do I deserve to be special? Why do I get to want something more? Something different?
If you’re interested in taking some time off work to pursue a passion, you’re not alone. Maybe it’s learning a new language and traveling abroad. Perhaps you’d like to focus on your health and wellness. Maybe you want more time with your children, partner, or aging parents, and who could blame you?
For every reason to take a sabbatical, you can probably think of a thousand reasons not to. In this post, I’ll dive into the benefits of taking a sabbatical: some you’ve already considered, and some that may be new to you.
What is a Sabbatical Leave?
Typically, when people say “sabbatical,” they mean paid leave, generally around one year in length. We often think of professors or other academics taking sabbaticals to conduct research, develop skills in their field, and nourish creativity – all for the betterment of the academic institution.
But how many of us actually have access to a paid sabbatical opportunity? Some studies estimate less than 5% of companies offer paid sabbaticals, but it’s impossible to know for sure. For those of us in the US who aren’t professors, it’s likely we’ll never work for a company that offers this benefit.
So for this post, I’ll consider a sabbatical to mean an extended period of time (three months or more) away from work, either paid or unpaid, either with or without the guarantee of getting your old job back.
The word “sabbatical” stems from “sabbath,” which comes from the Hebrew word meaning “to rest.” And while many people do find a chance to rest while on sabbatical, the true value lies in the progress you can make while your normal responsibilities are no longer consuming all your time and energy.
The Health Benefits of Taking a Sabbatical Leave
There are countless reports of people leaving the traditional workforce only to find that they sleep more soundly, experience fewer cravings, drink less alcohol, and exercise more.
You likely don’t need to be told that a break from work would give you a chance to catch up on your sleep, reduce your stress levels, and live a more active lifestyle. But did you know that several studies have linked chronic psychosocial stress to cardiovascular disease?
Even more important is how we handle that stress. Those who have healthy coping mechanisms, such as physical activity, relaxation, and talking with a trusted friend, are better equipped to deal with stress and are thus less susceptible to its negative consequences.
What better way to manage stress than to take a step back, release your endless to-do list, and focus on developing your talents, defining your goals, and nurturing your relationships?
Taking a Sabbatical as a Resumé-builder
For many, a sabbatical affords the opportunity to return to the workforce with a clear mind and renewed sense of purpose. Sabbatees report feeling more confident when they go back to work due to an altered perspective, new skill sets, and a collection of unique experiences.
Studies show that, upon returning to work from a sabbatical, employees are more productive and innovative. They are better prepared to excel at creative problem solving, interpersonal relationships, and learning on the fly.
The act of planning and executing the sabbatical successfully is, in itself, an accomplishment and something to sell to future employers. If you use your time wisely during a sabbatical, you will be able to offer a whole host of new marketable skills when it’s all over:
- Organization – preparing for a sabbatical requires careful planning. In future interviews, explain how you developed a plan to ensure your team was set up for success. How did you make the most of your time away and transition back to “real life” with no regrets?
- Sustainability – before taking a sabbatical, invest time in developing your replacement. When you speak with potential employers, tout how you built and leveraged sustainable systems to ensure your successor could hit the ground running from day 1.
- Discipline – you will likely have to fund your own sabbatical and have no guarantee of returning to the same company. This means saving a substantial amount of money, ensuring your family will endure your time off (both financially and emotionally), and staying disciplined with your spending during the sabbatical. All useful skills.
- Courage – this one pretty much stands on its own without explanation. In your networking, don’t forget to give yourself credit for taking calculated risks, trusting your instincts, and pursuing the long game.
- Accountability – you likely gave up a steady job to take a sabbatical. This does not come without risk. Remind people that you were accountable for the consequences of your actions and accepted responsibility for making course corrections as needed.
How to Make the Most of Your Sabbatical Leave
Begin with the End in Mind
Open your mind to the endless possibilities you could pursue while on sabbatical. Then focus on what you can realistically achieve. Nothing will doom future interviews quite like saying your sabbatical was just a long vacation.
Then Commit Fully to the Process
A 2010 study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that sabbatees who disconnected the most from their regular gigs saw the most benefit to their productivity and well-being.
So…
If you do get the opportunity to take a sabbatical, make it count by completely disengaging from your normal work responsibilities:
- work/play from a different location,
- don’t keep up with what’s going on at the office, and if possible,
- travel to a different region or country to gain a new perspective.
I’d love to hear your feedback. If you have a sabbatical story, please share in the comments!
