Four important questions to ask yourself before you take a sabbatical
Yes, taking a break can be one of the biggest gifts you give yourself. But it can also mean a major change in your life- style—both for you and your loved ones. That’s why it pays to explore and identify your intentions for taking a break, says Megan Ford, a financial therapist at the University of Georgia.
By YJ Meghan Rabbit
To help clue you in, Ford suggests asking yourself the following questions:
1) WHAT’S THE PURPOSE OF MY SABBATICAL?
“Essentially, you need to be honest about what you’re hoping to get out of the experience,” says Ford. Do you just want to relax? Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are you trying to escape something? “Getting clear on what’s driving your desire for time off can help you see if, in fact, you truly need a sabbatical—or just a vacation.”
2) SHOULD I DO A TESTDRIVE FIRST?
Suddenly finding yourself with big chunks of unstructured time can be challenging, especially if you aren’t used to it. So it’s no surprise that facing days during which anything is possible can be daunting. “I recommend taking a two-week vacation before committing to a months long break, to see how you operate with no structure,” says Ford.
3) CAN I LEAVE WORK IN A GOOD PLACE?
Ford says that the last thing you want to do is leave your coworkers or manager hanging— especially if you want a job to return to. The key is planning: Get ahead on assignments, ask co-workers to cover for you on major projects, and talk to your boss in-depth about what could come up while you’re away—and how you suggest it be handled. “If there’s a risk you may not have a position when you come back, that’s something to really consider,” she says.
4) WHAT MIGHT I HAVE TO GIVE UP?
Taking a long-term break from your routine means you may have to make sacrifices, like adhering to a strict budget or using up all of your paid time off (read: no break later in the year when you’re fried). And while these concessions may be worth it, you’ll still want to list them beforehand, and then assess whether or not your sabbatical is still merited, says Ford. “The more realistic you are about all that your sabbatical will entail, the less likely you’ll be to get sidetracked by the unexpected—and the more you’ll get out of your time off,”she says.
Picture Credits : Unsplash
This article was first published in the print edition of Yoga Journal Singapore,which is now Yogahood Online
