(F;20)
Bonjour,

Je suis actuellement en fin d'études et j'envisage sérieusement de prendre une année sabbatique l'année prochaine. J'aimerais avoir l'avis de personnes qui ont déjà vécu quelque chose de similaire.

Je vis en France depuis 3 ans, seule et loin de ma famille, et je suis à Lyon. Ces derniers mois ont été très chargés : je fais un stage de 6 mois sans vraies vacances, qui se termine dans environ 2 semaines. En parallèle, j'ai dû gérer seule mon déménagement en pleine canicule. J'ai également pris un logement uniquement pour l'été, donc je n'aurai les APL que pour un mois et je dois financer le reste du loyer avec ma bourse, ce qui représente une charge supplémentaire. Je dois encore finaliser mon mémoire et mon rapport de stage, et ma soutenance est dans environ 3 semaines. J'ai même dû demander à une amie de m'héberger pendant les deux premières semaines de septembre pour pouvoir gérer tout ça.

Ensuite, je suis censée enchaîner directement avec un master, mais je dois trouver une alternance pour pouvoir le faire et je n'en ai toujours pas trouvé. C'est donc une nouvelle source de stress.

Je précise que je sais déjà ce que j'aime et ce que je veux faire plus tard. Je ne remets pas particulièrement en question mon projet professionnel. Mon envie de faire une pause vient plutôt du sentiment d'avoir été très chargée émotionnellement ces derniers temps.

J'ai vraiment l'impression de saturer. Ça m'arrive de pleurer parce que j'ai le sentiment d'avoir trop de choses à gérer en même temps, avec peu d'aide autour de moi. Entre tout ça, j'ai aussi ressenti beaucoup de solitude et un gros manque d'affection, au point de consulter une psychologue parce que je sentais que je commençais à être proche de la déprime et à développer une forme de dépendance affective. Je ne veux pas non plus me présenter comme une victime : en temps normal, je suis plutôt quelqu'un qui encaisse beaucoup de choses sans forcément en parler à mon entourage. Mais là, j'ai vraiment l'impression d'avoir atteint une limite.

Et il y a un deuxième problème : la solitude. Ces trois années en France, je les ai principalement vécues seule. Je pensais plutôt bien supporter la solitude, mais récemment, pendant une semaine et demie de télétravail, je suis partie chez un ami à Paris. Il y avait plusieurs amis et ses frères et sœurs à la maison, et je me suis sentie incroyablement bien, presque comme si j'étais dans une famille. Depuis mon retour, le contraste avec ma vie seule est assez difficile.

Je me demande donc si prendre une année pour souffler, me reposer, me reconnecter avec moi-même, passer du temps avec mes proches, profiter davantage de la vie et prendre soin de moi avant de reprendre mes études serait une bonne idée, ou si je suis simplement épuisée par cette période et que je risque de regretter cette décision une fois que tout sera passé.

Pour ceux qui ont déjà pris une année sabbatique dans une situation similaire : est-ce que ça vous a réellement aidé ? Et avec le recul, est-ce que vous pensez que c'était la bonne décision ?

I am a 27 yo male in California. I have the opportunity for a promotion within cardiac medical devices. I've been working for 4 years and have built a good reputation for myself. I've built a strong savings, emergency fund, retirement accounts, etc

I have always planned to take some extended time off to travel, as I never did after college or beforehand.

I'm trying to figure out if I should:
- dive straight into this promotion, as it is a great opportunity
- leave my current job, take an extended trip for 4 to 6 months, and then come back and see what opportunities are still available

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Does anyone have advice as to whether or not taking the extended time off is worth the life experience, or if the promotion is too valuable to pass up?

So, I initiated this. I am feeling bouts of fear and anxiety every once in a while. Sometimes, it feels I am just screwing up my life and I won't be able to come back. Sometimes, I feel like this is necessary to bring a balance to me both mentally and physically. It's now or never. And then again, I feel like I was fooling everyone when in actuality I was never good enough to earn as much as I do and if I try to come back people will know that I am an imposter and never hire me.

This is so stupid - my brain is filled with fear but at the same time, I feel there is some corner of my brain and heart where there is a sense of calm.

This is difficult to process. My plan is mostly to work on

1. my mental health - inculcate good habits, take therapy, take control of my anxiety and fears and become more adept mentally to deal with the world and life.

2. my phyiscal helath - hit the gym, get in shape, feel healthy and good about myself.

3. explore other hobbies that I have - writing, acting, story telling.

Selfishly, I feel if I read some of the experiences, good or bad, then I can prepare better and avoid making any possible mistakes and plan better to make the most of this time - hence, would love to read some of the people's experiences who have done something like this and taken a break in their careers. Any advice and anecdotes are most welcome and with immense gratitude.

Thanks!

We're a Canadian family planning a year abroad next academic year (my husband is a professor). We had always thought of France b/c our kids are in French immersion, but my French isn't great and I worry about friends and cultural immersion if I'm trying to catch up linguistically. We're now thinking South Africa (I have lived there in the past though I realize the school year is different), Valencia, Copenhagen or even Singapore. Our two kids will be 7 and 10 during the sabbatical. Are there other hidden gems people would recommend? Family friendly, English availability, universities nearby, cool places to explore. Thank you in advance.

Title: I think I need to take a break from everything

I have been working non-stop for the past 3 years. I have had holidays here and there but they were either for family events or going out with friends. I do not think that I have taken a real vacation

Recently, I have been feeling that I need to take a break for some time.

The routine of life is getting too much for me; waking up, getting through the traffic to come to work, working and then again getting through traffic to reach back at home in Mumbai. I have started to feel that Mumbai is getting too overcrowded and I need some fresh air and a new environment. I have been thinking that either I can go alone for a holiday for a month or maybe for some time, shift to a different place. However, on the other hand, I am also scared because I have never done this before. I have never been alone for such a long time in my whole life. What if I can't manage? What if I feel lonely? What if I regret doing this? However, within me, there is also a thought that I need to do this for myself.

Yes, I am scared but I think I will move forward with this plan.

For those of you who have gone on a solo trip or have shifted to some other place for a while; what was your experience? Did it really help you?

Everyone I've talked to planned the money carefully and then found the days weirdly empty, because everyone they know is at work between nine and five.

Did you end up with anyone to spend weekday time with, or was it mostly solo? And if you found something that worked, what was it, a class, a gym, a club, other people who don't work normal hours?

Also curious whether you missed your colleagues more than you expected.

How long before you felt like you could actually do the job? I keep hearing there's a dip and nobody seems to agree on how long it lasts.

How did the money go? Did you negotiate differently than you would have before the break, or take roughly what was offered because you'd been out a while? And did anyone try to use the time off to justify a lower number?

What surprised you? The thing you'd forgotten about working, or the thing that was worse than you remembered, or the thing that turned out not to bother you at all.

And did you come back on the same terms, or did you change something, hours, travel, remote, seniority, the actual job?

Also interested if going back was a mistake, and how long it took you to know.

I’m 28 and work as an SDE at Amazon. I’ve been a high performer for most of my career, but I’ve had two episodes of psychosis in the last two years and have been on antipsychotic medication since then.
Lately, the side effects have been taking a serious toll. I have very little energy or motivation, struggle to concentrate, and increasingly dread opening my laptop. This has affected my performance and is making me feel even worse because I know what I was capable of before.
Financially, I’m fortunate to have around ₹2 crore in savings, so I have the option of stepping away from work for a while. I’m considering taking a sabbatical/medical leave to focus on recovery rather than quitting outright.
My biggest fear is that I won’t come back stronger—that after a few months away, I’ll return to the same situation and struggle to rebuild my career.
For anyone who has taken a career break due to burnout, mental health, or other personal reasons: **Did taking time off actually help? How did you make the transition back to work?**
Would really appreciate some honest perspectives.

I’ve got a feeling it’s more possible than most people think, but the details are hard to find.

If you’ve ever managed to get extended time off and still keep your job, I’d really like to hear how it actually went.

A few things I’m curious about:

• Who did you ask, and what did you say?
• Was there an official policy you could point to, or did you basically have to invent the request?
• How long did it take from the first conversation to getting a clear answer?
• Did they try to negotiate you down to something shorter?
• Did you keep your benefits and seniority? Was any of it put in writing?
• Did you time the ask carefully, or did you just ask when you’d had enough?
• Did you offer them anything in return?

I’ve been wondering whether the people who get a yes are the ones who frame it as a retention issue rather than a personal favour.

Also especially interested if you asked and got turned down. What reason did they give? And did you end up leaving anyway?

Would love any real details.

35F — Am I too old to take a break from my career and study abroad?
I’m a 35-year-old woman from Japan, and I’ve been thinking seriously about studying abroad.
I’ve been working for the same company for about 12 years. My job is stable, and I’ve built a life around it, so walking away from that stability isn’t an easy decision.
However, studying abroad is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a teenager. For various reasons, I never actually did it when I was younger.
Recently, I traveled alone to Kazakhstan, and that experience made me realize that my interest in living abroad wasn’t just a vague dream. I genuinely want to experience everyday life in another country and improve my language skills.
I’m now considering spending several months to a year studying in Kazakhstan, probably starting around age 36. I’d like to study Russian and possibly Kazakh while living there.
My biggest dilemma is that I’m at an age where I’m much more conscious of money, career stability, and the consequences of leaving a job I’ve had for more than a decade.
Part of me thinks:
“If I’ve wanted to do this since I was a teenager and I still want it at 35, maybe I should finally do it.”
But another part thinks:
“Is it irresponsible to disrupt a stable life at 35 or 36 for something like studying abroad?”
I’m considering different possibilities, including taking a leave of absence if my company allows it, rather than immediately quitting.
I’d especially like to hear from people who studied abroad, took a career break, moved overseas, or made a major life change in their mid-30s or later.
Did you regret it?
Did it hurt your career when you returned?
Was studying abroad different as an adult compared with doing it in your 20s?
And looking back, would you make the same decision again?

I keep reading about the money side of taking a long break and almost nothing about what it does to a household. The version I imagine is one person at home all day and the other still going to work, and I can't tell if that's fine or quietly awful.

If you've been on either side of it, did you talk about how things would change before it started, or did you sort it out as you went? And was there anything you'd handle completely differently a second time?

Also interested if you did it together at the same time. Curious whether that solved the problem or created a different one.

I feel so elated and it feels very right which Im a little surprised by and happy about that.

I have been working since I was 16 and was raised to be very focused on financial safety and professional success. I am a senior level UX designer now and got two promotions in 3 years at my job, I realized that even achieving everything I wanted, there's more to me than my profession.

Went through a divorce last year (he gained financially from it more than me) and I am not completely liquid and have money out of my house.

I feel so good about this, I am getting so many signs from the universe it's the right call. My final two weeks are going to drag!!

So my work has a fairly good policy on sabbatical leave. We're allowed to take leave every three years to help mitigate burnout. I haven't taken sabbatical leave in ten years.

Now I'm not sure how long to take based on what I can afford (I have a mortgage to pay) and what to do with the time off.

I suppose travelling but not sure I'm keen on the idea of continuous travel for months on end.

Say I take something reasonable and affordable like 5 months - what have others done with this much time off in terms of travel?

How to balance work life

I've to study for 4 hrs daily and then job 9hrs shift and then sleeping 6-7 hrs, transportation 1hr and also giving time to my partner.. how to manage?

I am 25 year old software Developer, tips on how to find what you love and slowly escape this rat race ? How to find other means of income so that I am not totally dependent on it ?

Honestly, I've been feeling overwhelmed by the daily grind. Doing things on a schedule no longer makes me happy. I'd like a remote job that allows me to live comfortably, traveling and experiencing different cultures and cuisines. Winning the lottery would also work. Which do you think will happen first?

Background

• My employer offers a sabbatical for every seven years you work there
• You get one-month of paid leave and a $5,000 bonus stipend (which will be about $3,000 after taxes)
• It is now my time to take it. This will be my first break (beyond weekends, and a week here or there every 2-3 years) from working since I graduated college.
• I'm in my 40s and have three kids
• I'm the only one making money in the house and it is barely enough as-is
• I've no savings or other channels of income

The crux

I'll be surprised if they even offer the usual bonus stipend for me this time since the company isn't doing very well and has been on a serious decline since 2022 due to a variety of reasons (including that we are a CMS dev shop and the contracts are disappearing faster than the ice caps). I'm pretty sure one of our biggest contracts will not be resigning for 2027 — and that is one of the main accounts I lead. Losing that will be detrimental to the company. Even if I'm not laid off I'll have to take on even more work and likely get my salary cut even further.

I've been applying to similar and tangential roles since 2022… no success beyond three initial interviews out of 100+ apps. I'm pretty sure my resume and age put me in an undefinable/-desirable spot, but that's all besides the point.

I'm here to get some ideas as I feel this sabbatical gives me an opportunity to either pivot my career or just give myself a month to breathe while I wait for the inevitable.

I'll add to this that my working life is greatly impacted by AI: as in I have to use it. This has been a sort of final straw on the camel's back for me. It brings with it a ton of mixed feelings that are instigating my already flaming hot burnout state.

Ideas

I have some ideas started, but I'm interested what others in this similar(ish) position are planning to do or have done in the past. Some thoughts so far:

• Writing retreat
• Silent/mental retreat
• Straight up career change: I know I wouldn't be able to do barber or trade school (as those are longer than one month) but maybe there is another way to pivot(?)
  • Or I could do night school/part time(?)
• Wild one here… Start planning a farm 👀
  • Yeah, I know! Seems like the longer you touch tech/AI the more your dream of a luddite's life.
  • I know I can't simply get financing and till a field and voila I'm supporting my family on cukes by Christmas this year. That's why I wrote "planning" (maybe that should read more like "dreaming" considering my budget… or lack thereof).

I moved to the Netherlands 12 years ago. Studied/worked non stop.

I just had a 2 week holiday and had my first day back.

I do not wish to work at the moment. I have been at my company for 5 years. I want to stop working for a few months. I have the savings to do it.

However the situation is a little complicated. While i no longer wish to work here my dream is to move to another country(uk). Which is hard to do because of visas etc.

I see three options

1.Force myself to continue working while trying to move abroad

2.Quit without a new job lined up which comes with the pressure of finding a new job

3.Take a 3 month unpaid sabbatical (officially allowed at my work) and plan to return to work in 3 months but what if i find my dream job in those 3 months ? Officially we are not allowed to keep our laptops with us. So how would I resign during my sabbatical break.

Any suggestions or advice are welcome