Sabbatical: A paid or unpaid extended leave of absence, lasting anywhere from one month to 2 years. 

Taking extended time off from work – is it a fever dream or just what the doctor ordered? 

There are two ways to attempt a sabbatical:  

The Easy Sabbatical Route:  

Many companies offer some form of extended leave to employees once they have reached certain employment milestones. Most often that means 5 years of continuous employment.  

This can be in the form of shorter paid time off, typically around 1 to 3 months, or longer unpaid or partially paid leave, which can be 6 months or longer. 

The Trickier Sabbatical Route: 

If you are not permanently employed, a sabbatical can still be beneficial, but you will have to be very precise in your planning. 

Don’t Rush Into A Sabbatical

Even with the support of your employer – a sabbatical isn’t something you do on a whim. The most successful and fruitful sabbaticals can take a couple of years to plan. 

Many people link their time off to a certain life event: 

Reaching a milestone age, like 40 or 50,  

Reaching an employment milestone or even;  

A personal milestone like an anniversary. 

The Dos And Don’ts Of Taking A Sabbatical: 

Don’t Lose Track Of Your Finances 

Even if you have the luxury of paid time off, be sure to apply the same level of financial discipline you had before. We strongly suggest discussing your sabbatical with a qualified financial planner. 

Expect The Unexpected  

This links to the finance caveat: Understand that work might stop, but life goes on. Ensure that things like medical aid payments, insurance and financial contributions aren’t forgotten. 

…But Don’t Expect Too Much! (Don’t Over Commit.) 

Don’t plan on a complete physical transformation within a month or decide to solve world hunger in six months. The stress to have a successful and rewarding sabbatical can lead you to overcommit yourself and end up falling short. Have a plan, set some goals and trust the process. 

Don’t Confuse Your Sabbatical With A Holiday Or A Dry Run At Retirement. 

This is serious business. Once you’ve set your goals, try your best to stick to your timelines, embrace the time off as an opportunity for personal growth and make sure you have a clear vision for your re-launch into the working environment.  

A sabbatical without a clear vision for a return to formal employment is basically just quitting. 

Unless that has been your plan all along…in which case, we wish you well! 

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