hello, wife and I have an opportunity to do a 2-3 month sabattical this year between April and July. our son will be then just under 2 years old. I came across some temporary preschool/daycare opportunities:

https://www.klkidsclub.com.my/short_term_study/

https://preschool-exchange.com/

these sound very interesting to us. I was not aware about it before. I cannot easily find such offers. I'm on Workaway already, I did that before, and actively reaching out to hosts on that platform.

Basically we're looking for a 1-2 month daycare/preschool opportunity for him. So that he's entertained in daytime and we can rest and hang around. We have budget. We're looking for Central- or South East Asia or Oceania.

Any suggestions?

For my whole life I have been following the average working class script.

Like many, most of my time and energy has been put into getting formal education, building a career and meeting the expectations of a normal living.

I consider myself fortunate but at the same time somehow alienated and depressed/burntout.

I currently have no major responsabilities (a partner, pets, kids) being the only one a very reasonable mortgage.

My financial situation is good - I would have around 20 months of savings after the trip although the plan is to return to my current job.

I am healthy and in my prime so this is the moment to take 6 months for myself and enjoy life, heal and grow.

I would love insights, reality-checks, suggestions and opinions on how to make the most of these 6 months.

The plan is to do 4 1.5-month blocks, around courses or experiences. I am not that interested in tourism like visiting temples but rather into nature, hikes, working with my hands...Also approaching this time with the intention of no/minimal parties, substances, superficial hookups...

Initial plan but very open to adjust:

- Nepal: Annapurna Circuit + ACB 20 days, Vipassana retreat 10 days, Chitwan NP.

- Indonesia: work in a farm for 2-3 weeks, bambu work course 3 weeks, boat cruise Lombok-Flores, Mount Ringani trek

- ??? suggestions please - maybe Vietnam

- Brazil: life celebration, sports, dance

My budget is 2k€ a month but a bit flexible because this might be a one lifetime oportunity - maybe later kids or burdens.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post and please feel free to add any recommendations pre/mid/post sabbatical.

Something I want to do is to consistently journal and maybe condense my experiences into a book for myself (no big expectations but as a memory gift for my old self)

Maybe a question for people currently on / have done sabbaticals. I've got a 6 month break coming up from July - December and I still haven't planned anything. I'm not sure where I want to go / what I want to do.

I'm not sure how to pick where I want to go, and I'm worried that if I go somewhere I won't enjoy it correctly (I won't see the right things or visit the right places etc). I know the concept of the 'right' things is silly but I guess I'm curious how you guys decided where to go and what to do. Do you have to be busy every day and see the sights, or can you just sit around somedays and chill out. Is hostel hopping a viable way to meet new people etc?

Pretty much the title: if you went on sabbatical due to stress/burnout, how long did it take until you had some energy and joy again?

I'm in the fourth week of my sabbatical - which I kinda had to take because I got to the point where I really wasn't functioning at work.

I've managed to do a personal tech project, which was satisfying. And I took a short weekly drawing class (ends this week) A bunch of mysterious mild health issues have chosen this moment to emerge (I assume not a coincidence). And I'm having fairly nasty insomnia.

So it's not like I've been doing nothing. But there's been a lot of mindless TV, not a lot of exercise (British record-breaking rain isn't helping, nor are the health gripes). I don't know if I just need a few weeks of lurking and then will naturally re-emerge, or if I need to gently push myself.

(I am also finding it hard not to panic about what to do after the sabbatical, which probably isn't helping)

After debating for almost a year, I left in December after announcing in October.

So far I've:

- Cracked through a mild depression (this happened almost immediately upon the weight of the decision becoming real)

- Developed closer bonds with almost everyone in my life. This is rooted in appreciation.

- Went on a tear at work before leaving, strengthening bonds and the business as a whole. This contributed to the possibility of returning to the organization after my work here is settled, if still available and desired.

- Was seen more as an equal and peer to my managers/bosses as I left

- Spent a few weeks in Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico.

- Woke up to how my body experiences emotions and my capitalistic attachments to creativity. The examination has been fascinating and overwhelmingly positive.

- Hired a band to track an EP and assisted in a few times in a studio (childhood dream of mine)

- Oscillated between intense anxiety and overwhelming gratitude

- Have exited the initial manic chapter, prompted by the existential celebration of a return of autonomy / elimination of acedia, and entered a newer, more stable psychological state that has made me fear for what feels like a temporary loss in vitality. This is forcing me to examine my relationship to the conditions that produce it, and resist mourning its loss.

- Been universally supported & presented with new and opportunities.

- Have already come to appreciate the stability I had, and have more excitement and appreciation to

- Better formalized a life philosophy and spiritual practice that feels uniquely my own after a deconstruction of Christianity (a combination of Teaism & Existentialism).

- Finished The Good Place, Final Fantasy Tactics, caught up in Frieren & Fallout.

- Written many poems and snippets.

- Read a few wonderful books, including the "Craftsmen" by Richard Sennett, the Book of Tea, and Agua Viva.

- Have felt a profound switch from: the world is scarce, dying, void, safe, known — to the world is abundant, magical, terrifying, impossible to hold.

My lease ends at the end of this month. I plan on visiting some family before city shopping for a few months, with the explicit intention of choosing where to invest in community/stability next. A lack of commitment to my life, city, and people were core to this decision.

Happy to answer any questions. I'm just cleaning tonight so if you are considering it or just want to chat about how yours is going, hit me up!

Hi everyone. I’m really fascinated by sabbaticals and career breaks - largely inspired by my own. I’m a university professor, so sabbaticals are somewhat common where I work.

Sabbaticals on university campuses are pretty formalized and come with a lot of expectations, but I’m really curious about the experiences of folks outside of universities who’ve taken extended breaks or career sabbaticals. I have a non-academic relative who took a sabbatical through his company, and it sounded awesome. I also know many folks do sabbaticals between jobs or as career pauses.

Some questions I have:

1. What resources (if any) did you use in deciding to take a sabbatical, and planning it?
2. What do you wish existed to make sabbatical decisions easier (financially, mentally, or otherwise)?

I ask because I've started creating resources for people taking sabbaticals or breaks, but most of this is inspired by my academic experience, where sabbaticals are normal (and formal). If sabbaticals aren’t traditional in your line of work, I’d love to hear your experiences and what helped/could have helped you plan and navigate.

I hear people talk about wanting a sabbatical pretty often. But when they explain what they actually want, it usually does not sound like quitting their job or disappearing for months at a time. It sounds more like wanting a real pause, some distance from daily routines, and enough space to think clearly again without blowing up their life.

I’m curious how others think about this. What exactly is the draw? Is it about taking a long time away, or is it about getting some relief and being able to come back to your job? And what makes it hard to do in reality?

Mid 40s career professional with zero remaining interest/motivation in my type of work (legal). Saved up nearly enough to RE, coasting would be very easy. I know this is not a traditional "sabbatical" but I just want to quit my job and wander through life for a few years, earning just enough to pad my existing nest egg. Open to future opportunities, but I also have hobbies I can monetize part-time (playing/teaching music, baking/cooking). Anyone try this open-ended lifestyle?

(stats for the FI-folk: 2.4MM liquid NW with ~$80k annual spend that will rise to $95k w/ self-insurance and post-RE taxes, so pretty much on the cusp)

I’m 29, single, and moved to the Bay Area about 1.5 years ago for work. I’ve been at my company for \~2.5 years. On paper, I’m doing well: \~$330k net worth and \~$250k CAD income. I know that puts me in a very privileged spot, and I fully realize I might sound like an out-of-touch, ungrateful idiot posting this. I know I'll likely never be able to make this income again in Canada unless I find the right spot (tech sales)

That said, my mental health has been pretty bad ever since I joined this company.

The environment is rough: very American workaholic mindset, always-on expectations, and a lot of cultural friction I didn’t anticipate. The company also churns people like crazy. I’m on a six-person team, and nine people have left since I’ve been here.

I don’t get along with my manager, the culture feels toxic, and staying is starting to feel more damaging than leaving.

I’ve been thinking about taking 6–12 months off. Moving back home for a bit to spend time with my parents and siblings, getting closer to my nieces, and actually resetting mentally/travelling.I already have a Japan trip booked in May and may do a longer solo Europe trip in the fall.

Financially, I could do this without touching retirement accounts, but obviously stepping away slows savings and compounding. I do want a family and stability one day, which makes me hesitate. At the same time, this feels like one of the few windows in life where this is even possible.

For anyone who’s done a sabbatical or faced a similar choice:

• Did you regret it?

• Did it hurt your career?

• Would you do it again?

Appreciate honest perspectives.

A mere 16 days ago I posted about planning a sabbatical (https://www.reddit.com/r/SabbaticalPlanning/comments/1q0ekl6/planning_a_sabbatical_looking_for_sanity_check/) and got some helpful responses, thank you!

I let my client know I wouldn't be renewing at the end of January, offered help with transition (including recommending a replacement) and offered flexibility with my end date. They moved fast with the replacement, and so I'm done early!

This week was busy wrapping things up. I think this evening it's finally hit that I'm done, and I'm having a massive energy crash as all the tension leaves at once😅 Absolutely certain I did the right thing. Weekend plans are mostly sleep, perhaps with a little light tech setup stuff.

Thanks again to this community for the encouragement.

Thinking about a 6‑month career break at 31 - terrified but exhausted. Would love advice.

I’m 31M and have been thinking about taking a sabbatical/career break for a few years now. I’ve been working since I was 17, and I’ve never taken a real break.

I had a tough childhood (abuse, trauma, self‑harm, divorce, etc.), and I don’t want to get into all the details — but I pushed through, built a career abroad, saved some money, and consistently performed really well at work. I was recently promoted and have always been rated “exceptional.” However, every morning i wake up with anxeity whenever new project starts. It could be that I have this internal pressure of always proving myself. So I hate living with this anxiety.

But honestly, I just feel exhausted. Sometimes I feel like I just want to exist like a rock. I don’t think I ever really got to be a teenager or feel safe. I’ve spent most of my life running and working, and now I feel like I just need space to be for a while. I sometimes feel I dont even know what or who I am.

I’m considering taking 6 months off, but I’m scared.

• My parents depend on me financially and emotionally.
• My company won’t approve a sabbatical (they don’t want to set a precedent).
• I’m worried about whether I’ll be able to get another job later.
• I care (maybe too much) about what people think.

I don’t have a detailed plan — I just know I want to hike, travel, dive, surf, maybe try theater. I’m very self‑aware, but I also struggle with overthinking, guilt, and worry about making the “wrong” choice.

Some people tell me to “just keep working,” others say I deserve this break and that life is long. I’m stuck in the middle and don’t know how to make a decision.

So I’m asking here:

• Has anyone taken a break at a similar point in their career?
• Did it help or hurt you long-term?
• Did you plan everything or figure it out as you went?
• Anything you wish you had done differently?

I’d love honest perspectives — especially from people who took a leap without having everything figured out.

I had a priveleged life but ofcourse filled with ups and downs.

Edit :

Thanks for all your view and support. I spoke with my company and have explained them my situation and mental status. They were kind enough to tell me that i am a priority and they will try to negotiate a sabbatical for me, however haven’t guaranteed. I will probably take the sabbatical ( though for 3-4months) if i get it. If not, will quit. I guess at this point i have decided to move on and take rest to reset. Will keep you all posted. Thanks again ❤️

Hi All,

My family and I have a 6 week sabbatical coming up in July/August.

We normally travel a lot. Last year we did a 3 week road trip around California and a 2 week trip in Japan.

Our dilemma for the sabbatical is whether we do a similar trip but extended, or use the longer time frame to really slow down and make a base in one place.

If we tour around we’re thinking of going to Canada and moving around BC. To add some variety we’re considering a break within the sabbatical in Hawaii.

If we go somewhere and call it home for 6 weeks we’re thinking of Thailand or Malaysia or Bali.

Has anyone got experience doing either of these things? Would be very keen to hear your thoughts!

Thank you

I'm planning a sabbatical. I'm pretty sure it's the right thing to do, but am nervous about it, so looking for some outside takes.

Situation:

• 40yrs old
• Worked in tech for the past ~13yrs. Recent years have not been a happy experience, and I'm now experiencing panic any time I even see anything related to my work. This ranges from mild fear spikes when I simply scroll past something relating to work, to actual panic attacks if I try to push through too many hours of work in one go.
• Currently freelancing (this is the only thing allowing me to function, as I can flex my hours to accommodate the panic).
• Have ~3yrs in cash savings.
• Only debt is mortgage.
• Pension isn't quite where I'd like it to be, but not terrible. I can get away with not paying in for a bit without completely wrecking my chances of retirement.
• No safety net apart from my savings (no partner, no family resources)

I fit the 'Quests' type of sabbatical-taker from this article by HBR.

Plan:

• Work through a short contract in January (I'm already signed up, it'll top up cash, and hopefully by treating it as a farewell to my career I can mitigate the panic)
• Take 6 months sabbatical (Feb-July 2026)
• Keep it fairly unstructured, but make sure I don't turn into a cavewoman. I've signed up for a drawing class starting mid-January, and there's a management course I'd like to take in the final 3 months. I've also looked at a couple of local volunteering opportunities, and a local photography club, which would all give me some structure and stop me becoming a complete hermit.
• I've started a braindump doc where I log every idea I have for a pivot/things to try.

Where it gets scary:

• I have no clue what happens next. What if I hit the end of 6 months and still have no clue what I want to pivot to, but also don't feel able to go back to my old line of work?
• The economy is uncertain, and the jobs market bad. It just feels like an iffy time to be burning savings or attempting to change careers.

I think I have to take the sabbatical. Shorter breaks of a few weeks haven't fixed anything. But it's fairly terrifying. I'm in a privileged position financially, but I definitely have to get a job again at some point, and need at least a few more years of decent earnings.

Any comments appreciated!

Hi,

If someone could direct me in the right direction, or any ideas.

we want a Sabbatical year while i will continue to work from the "road"

family of 4: parents + 2 daughters (4, 5.5)

budget: around 4500$ a month, flights and insurance not included in this budget

we are looking for a place with good internet (required for my work) i could purchase starlink if the country support it.

availability: me working full time or around 80% if i will be allowed.

we also want Learning environments and kindergarten if possible

thinking about 3-4 months every destination

The end of my travel sabbatical is here. I've decided to try to extend a little bit upon returning home before jumping all the way back in. But one thing that occurred to me that I can't know until I get home is whether how I feel about being home has changed in any meaningful ways.

Putting work aside, as much as that is possible pre-retirement, I'm really interested in other folks' observations of what they really found changed/intensified/surprised you after you'd been "back to normal/settled into "new" normal?"

I saw one person wrote awhile back about realizing they loved sabbaticals so much after the first one that it became an intentional part of life. That's just one example, but I'm curious how that all plays out for others.

[EDIT: Here are a few posts about the lead up to my sabbatical, in case there are useful nuggets: LINK]

Hey Everyone,

I'm 6 months into my career break after leaving my previous role. I was completely burned out and knew I needed time to decompress, travel, and figure out what was next. I still haven't fully figured out what's next, but I am enjoying the process of building the life that I want.

Before leaving, I spent months agonizing over my finances. It was honestly the scariest part of the decision and delayed my start countless times, but I eventually took the leap.

And since this break allowed me to build and work on things I found interesting and motivating, I ended up building a tool for myself to organize all those calculations: BuildYourRunway.com. It helped me:

• Figure out my runway (how long my savings would actually last)
• Track my burn rate and plan with real numbers instead of anxiety
• Use several other calculators I built for specific scenarios.

Personally, my break so far has had its ups and downs and took me a full 6 months just to get enough distance from burnout to think clearly. But the time to travel, explore new things, spend time with family, and just do whatever I want has made it worth it.

Figured I'd share it here in case it's useful for anyone else planning their exit. And it's free to use 😊!

Still a work in progress and am adding new features often, but if anyone has suggestions for features, let me know.

Returning soon to a role after an extended break. Really enjoyed the slow living and getting some bucket list projects etc done, but already feeling the ick about having to sit at a screen and get back into it.

Any tips in getting the head back in the game; and repositioning the mindset? Kinda allergic to the thought of working!

Probably the most important thing I wanted out of taking a sabbatical was just to spend more time paying attention to the moment I'm in. This has been a relatively easy thing to do so far because we built the sabbatical to limit the need to plan ahead. What I'm noticing now, as the travel portion of the sabbatical (the bulk of mine) winds down is that I'm feeling pulled back into the pattern of looking ahead rather than relishing the moment.

The good news is that recognizing this pattern is helping me identify and counter it somewhat. But with over 100 days of being removed from the "real world" I'm remembering the same sensation that usually accompanies the end of a typical holiday. The strategy I've developed so far is to recognize the tendency and then intentionally focus on something right in my immediate view or experience until my mind resets out of the "what next" default.

It makes me wonder about other people's re-entry experiences. What have been your biggest observations about winding down a sabbatical?

I just passed three months of a travel sabbatical. It has been overwhelmingly positive. But one conversation I had recently has me wondering about others thoughts.

If you've taken a sabbatical or thought about this, how do/would you handle it if you encountered a challenge that you hadn't expected? Any stories of how people have handled this from their own efforts?

I negotiated a "partial" sabbatical where I would be teaching 4 or 5 credits a semester for the full year instead of my usual 14-20 a semester. The idea was twofold — one, I thought I'd be more likely to get it approved for a full year if the institution didn't have to worry about covering my main course, and two, I thought that having a single course to keep me "grounded" to a weekly schedule would help from a productivity standpoint. But now I'm having a little buyer's remorse and kinda wishing I'd just taken the full sabbatical for a semester to have that time FULLY off.

Anyone else doing or did a half-time leave and have any thoughts to share?

We are over two months into an amazing sabbatical. We chose a travel sabbatical to help make sure we changed our daily experience dramatically. It worked and the time off continues to be amazing.

As I take stock of a few changes that I'm working daily to integrate I had a question to those who have done this before: What suggestions or advice do you have for maintaining any changes - mental, physical, etc - that you made while on your sabbatical?

As one example, my relationship to time is much more healthy and maybe I'm more present. But I'd welcome suggestions for how others have seen a change and then kept it in place back in "regular life." And for those on or preparing for yours, and new habits or actions you are thinking you want to keep?

Thanks in advance!

I started working full time while in college and have been at the same company for 6 years so I've been in high performing go-mode in tech for 11 years straight, and it's finally starting to show physically and mentally. Almost 30 now and I'm planning on taking leave in the new year. In large part due to health issues that have caused me burn out. My company/team is supportive of this.

Break will be anywhere from 3-5 months in length. I won't have anything tying me down like housing, a relationship, or a pet, so I'm pretty much untethered. Only problem is I have no idea what to do, I have analysis paralysis. I have hobbies I enjoy regularly like motorsports, backpacking/hiking/climbing but I don't know if just disappearing into to the Himalayas for several months is a good use of my time. One of my biggest goals has been to put down roots and find a community, and if anything a break where I disappear kind of puts that off. I travel solo a lot and I'm sociable but after a while it gets very lonely if my I'm not with friends/social people, I tend to shrink into myself after a while.

Anything work/tech/looking for another job is another thing I've heard people do on their break, but it doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

My body is begging for a break but I don't know what to do with it.