We’ve all been there… You take a week off for a vacation, but when you arrive at your tropical destination, you’re still thinking about work. It takes a few days to fully disconnect your brain from the projects, office drama, and acting all professional. Then after a few relaxing moments you’re suddenly already on your way back home, feeling no more refreshed than you were before you left.
Work can be a blessing in so many ways. Your job allows you to afford the things you need to live- and hopefully some of the things you really love! Income saved from work also helps build a comfortable and secure financial future. Work is a good thing to have, and hopefully you enjoy your job.
But sometimes, we really do need a break from the grind. Burn-out is extremely common, especially in fast-paced, high performance work cultures. If you know what I’m talking about, you’ve probably daydreamed about what it would be like to take an extended leave from work. Taking a full year – or longer – to disconnect completely and “reset”.
Though it may seem daunting, or even impossible, with a lot of planning (and guts), taking a year off work is entirely possible. And we’re going to show you how…
The Importance of Taking a Break
There are a lot of reasons why you might want to take a year off work. Maybe you first started working while you were in high school, and haven’t taken a break since. Maybe you’re considering a career shift, but lack the proper time to learn the new skills necessary for your desired field. Perhaps you’ve always dreamed of starting a business, or spending some extended time exploring your hobbies.
Many people also like to take time off of work to travel the world, or spend time out in nature. Some folks just want to take time away to strengthen their relationships with friends and family.
Whatever your reasons, it’s important to take breaks from working every once in a while. Overworking for a long period of time can negatively impact your health, and leave you feeling cynical about work in general. Taking a gap year can help you to improve that work-life balance. And it allows you to spend more time doing the things you value most. Plus, it can help to prevent burnout so that you can return to work with more energy and enthusiasm.
Potential Downsides of a Gap Year
Although taking a sabbatical can bring so many positives into your life, it also comes with a few downsides.
Firstly, if you’re taking a year off to travel, or spend more time with family, or even start your own business, you’re likely missing out on a year of steady income. This means putting a small dent in your retirement savings, possibly extending your time until retirement.
Plus, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to return to your job after a year off. Your company might quickly replace you, eliminate your position, or hire you back at a smaller salary. You’ll also have a gap in your resume you’ll need to explain.
Lastly, if you don’t plan well for a gap year, it’s possible that you may not make progress or actually achieve any of your bigger life goals. You might not even enjoy the silence, or suffer due to a lack of structure. Work is such a big component of our lives, when it’s removed completely, it’s possible to feel incredibly lost!
That’s why it’s so important to come up with a solid plan for taking a year off. Or at the very least a routine that you can stick to. Even if things don’t go 100% according to plan, thinking ahead pays off.
How to Take A Year Off Work
Taking a year off work ironically takes a lot of… well, work! Lol. But it’s totally possible as long as you start planning for it well in advance. Here are some steps you can follow and things to consider while designing your ideal sabbatical!
Step 1: Plan Your Ideal Year Off
When it comes to taking long breaks away from your career, the more thoroughly you plan it out, the more likely it is that it will meet your expectations. So take the time to start thinking through the important details that will define the outcome you want.
What are Your Goals and Objectives?
Having a few success metrics, even if they are loose, will help you to get the most out of your gap year. Knowing what you want to accomplish, and having it written down somewhere you can reference, will help you remember what it is that made you want to take a year off work in the first place.
Here are some examples:
- Travel to 10 different countries in the next 12 months.
- Work on my homebrew hobby to see if it’s worth building a small brewery business.
- Walk the kids to school every day, and support my spouse as they transition out of grad school
Whatever your reasons are for taking a year off work, write them down. And double check to make sure that they are things that are really important to you. Plus, writing down your goals is shown to make you more likely to achieve them!
Prepare Financially
Perhaps the most important thing to do before taking a year off work is to get your finances all squared away. Trust me, you don’t want to just “wing it” with no savings! That will quickly lead to you heading back to work with your tail between your legs.
What’s the point in taking a year off work if you’re going to be stressed about money the whole time?… That’s why it’s super important to start saving and budgeting well in advance. Don’t worry, we’ll talk more about exactly how to save and budget for a year off in step 3!
Set a Realistic Timeline
Next, try to envision exactly how much time you want to take off. This includes setting a realistic timeline for when you want your sabbatical to start and end.
Quitting on a whim can burn relationships. But if you carefully plot your exit from the workforce, you might be able to negotiate coming back after time away. How you leave is how you’ll be remembered, so planning a careful exit is necessary.
As for the length of your sabbatical, if you can’t afford to take a full year off work, you might just want to take an extended leave. Taking 3-6 months off can help you to avoid burnout, and come back to work feeling refreshed. The timeline is completely up to you.
And remember, it’s totally okay if this plan changes. Life throws us curve balls all the time, so you’ll need to get comfortable with making adjustments as needed.
Common Challenges of Taking Time Off
Taking a year off work can definitely come with potential challenges. But you’ll have an easier time rising to meet them if you prepare well ahead of time.
Here are some things you’ll need to overcome:
Dealing with Uncertainty
There’s always going to be that voice at the back of your head, saying “What if this hurts my career?” or, “What if nothing changes and I just end up in the same burned out position once I go back to work?”
When you are jobless (even by choice) sometimes you can become your worst enemy. There’s a lot of unknowns out there, so you need to find ways to live with that uncertainty and not let it affect your mindset.
While most of your concerns are probably valid, it’s worth noting that sometimes your greatest accomplishments or happiest years can follow a great risk. Plus, you can never truly avoid uncertainty in life, even if you don’t opt to take time off from work.
The truth is that sometimes people get laid off. People quit. Sometimes, you might take a new job and end up hating it. Life happens, whether or not you take a year off of work. Change is the only constant.
Feeling Lost With All Your New Time
You also might run the risk of feeling bored, lost, or unsatisfied while taking time off. This is far more common than most people think. Going from a tight schedule and routine to absolute freedom sounds incredible, but it can also be daunting.
That’s why giving yourself a loose structure can be a huge help to your early weeks of a sabbatical. Try signing up for a workout class, or setting up a weekly date with a friend where you talk about your goals. Having a few scheduled activities throughout the week to anchor you can help to eliminate that feeling of just floating through your year off.
What will other people think?
Taking a year off work is a rare luxury. And if you take this route you’re walking a path that many people don’t understand.
So when you tell people you’re unemployed by choice for a full year, they will probably have some questions (and opinions) whether you invite them or not. Don’t let their opinions distract you from the greater purpose behind your year off. It’s your year away, and you can live life however you choose. It really doesn’t matter if other people understand it or not.
Remember, it’s okay to admit to people that you were feeling burned out and needed a break. It’s okay to tell them that you want to travel while you’re young. It’s okay that you want to spend more time with your family.
Even if some people discourage you, you never know who you might inspire by telling them about your year off work.
What if You Run Out of Money?
One challenge you definitely want to prepare for is the possibility of draining your savings too quickly. If your funds dry up you’ll need to return to work early. Do not go into debt to continue your year off of work. It will never be worth it.
So, in addition to planning your upfront savings, be sure to check in every month and evaluate your burn rate. If it looks like you are spending money faster than you thought, you either want to make adjustments to your budget, or cut your sabbatical short.
On the flip side, you may even find that you’re underspending at your monthly check-ins. If so, maybe you could extend your break by a few months?
Step 2: Communicating with Your Employer
If you like your job (and they like you), there is a chance you may be able to return after your year away. If this sounds good to you, make sure you craft a convincing proposal to present to your employer. Explain to them how this year off could make you a more valuable player at work upon your return. Or how it can make you better suited to rise and meet any challenges your job may present.
And if you can, try and time your leave to begin at the completion of any major projects. Finish out the busy season to make it fair on your remaining coworkers.
Even if you’re quitting and plan to never return, you’ll still need to have a healthy conversation with your employer. Leaving them high and dry during a difficult time isn’t cool no matter how much disdain you may have for them. If you’re in the middle of any huge projects, finish them. Work your last few months just as hard as you worked during your first few months there.
Again, maintaining a good professional relationship with everyone should be your goal. You never know who might have your back later when a new exciting opportunity pops up. Burning bridges is something you always want to avoid.
Related: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Quitting Your Job
Engineering your own lay-off:
Sometimes, you might foresee layoffs happening in your industry and possibly at your company. This makes you think, “maybe being let go right now would be perfect timing to take a year off work!?”
If your employer is looking to reduce headcount anyway, could you negotiate an easy settlement? Could you get, say 3-6 months worth of severance for volunteering to get laid off? If so, that can make your transition that much easier from a money standpoint. It’ll also give you a great “reason you left your job” on your resume later.
If you have a mature relationship with your management, this might be a great conversation to have. Solving their headcount problem might help solve some of your problems too.
Step 3. Consider the Finances of Taking a Year Off Work
Taking a year off work has a big financial impact on your life. This is one of the most critical things to plan out, because you don’t want to be filled with regret later. Failing to adequately plan your finances for a year off could leave you needing to return to work earlier than expected. Or at worst, it can seriously negatively impact your financial future.
How Much Does A Year Off Work Cost?
This question is a bit nuanced, and totally depends on your personal situation and outcome of your gap year.
First, you’ll need to consider the cost of your living expenses. This includes things like housing, food, transportation costs, insurance, utilities and phone bills. How much you plan to spend throughout your gap year makes up a great deal of the cost of a year off of work. For example, if you spend $40,000 in regular living costs each year, it’s going to cost you at least $40,000 to take that year off.
Next, you’ll need to consider the opportunity cost of taking a year off. While you’re enjoying your break from work, you won’t be earning the salary that you’re used to. So if you make $60,000 in a typical year, you’ll miss out on earning $60,000 as well. Not to mention, you could be missing out on the opportunity for a promotion, or bonus by not being in the office.
Plus, if you stop putting money towards your retirement during your year off, you’ll miss out on the returns that those retirement contributions could earn you over the course of your life. For example, let’s say you’re 30 years old, and usually max out your Roth IRA at $7,000 per year… You could potentially miss out on having an extra $96,497.41 at retirement!
All totalled up, a year off work could financially set you back hundreds of thousands of dollars. Scary to think about! 😳
But don’t freak out. You can still save up more than enough money to retire even with a gap year, because there’s a lot of potential upsides to the equation…
Remember what you could *gain*:
Sure, it costs a lot of money to take a year off work. But you could also gain invaluable knowledge and experience in the process. And the more you grow and learn as a person, the more it positively affects your future income potential.
For example, if you’re dedicating your year off work to starting your own business, you could stumble across a very lucrative path working for yourself for the rest of your life. Or if you continue down the career development path, this could help you with a promotion when you return to work and help you earn more than you otherwise would have.
What you get up to during your year off drastically changes the economics of it all.
In fact, sometimes just returning to work after a long break gives you more drive and passion. This can positively impact your income for the years ahead.
Invaluable life experiences
Some experiences in life are so wonderful that you just can’t quantify their worth. Like picking up your kid early from school and visiting a new park you’ve never been to. Or seeing the northern lights with a group of your closest friends.
Getting to meet and interact with new people, developing new skills, or even just becoming a better version of yourself could help you to make up for these costs later on, by allowing you to earn more. Or even if they don’t earn you more, it could still be money well spent.
Almost everyone I’ve ever talked to who’s taken a sabbatical does not regret the decision. They understand the huge financial set-back, but became totally zen with it.
All in all, it’s difficult to calculate the value of taking a year off. It’s something that you just can’t put into numbers. Getting to spend time with yourself apart from work can be a priceless and fulfilling experience. That can be well worth the money tradeoff for many folks.
Reducing the Costs of a Year Off Work?
Before you decide you can’t afford a year off work, consider some of these ways to reduce your expenses. There are plenty of tricks to completely slash the costs of your gap year. Here are just a few ideas to get you started!
Shorten the Time Frame
You don’t have to take a full year off work… People just pick that round number because it sounds nice. The reality is you can realize all the same benefits in a shorter amount of time. Could six months do the trick and allow you to meet your goals? It’ll be half the cost!
Work Part Time or Freelance
Continuing some part time work or taking on freelance gigs isn’t cheating. Any income you bring in can extend the time you take away from full time work. Plus, starting a side hustle or freelancing could be a great way to pivot to a field you’re more interested in!
Never Go Into Debt!
No matter what, avoid taking on debt to make a year off work a reality. If you don’t have the funds saved up for a prolonged vacation, you’ll need to keep working or to find income while taking time off. Delayed gratification is crucial and taking on debt will screw up your financial future.
Explore Insurance and Healthcare Options
If your health insurance is tied to your job, chances are you will need to find another way to get coverage during your gap year.
One option is to pursue private insurance, which can be very costly without an employer sponsoring your plan. You could also look to the Healthcare Marketplace. This offers subsidized plans based on your income in the form of tax credits. If you’re taking a year off this means your healthcare costs could be quite reasonable! Lastly, you could look to alternatives, like healthcare sharing plans. These may not work for everyone. But depending on your personal situation, they could be a great way to save big on healthcare costs.
Take Your Break Strategically to Pay Less in Taxes
When you’re trying to reduce the cost of a leave from work, every penny counts! If you plan to take your leave from January to December, coinciding with the calendar year, you’ll pay very little (or no) taxes for that year of leave.
But, if you take your break from July to the following July, you’ll have two consecutive years where you make about half your regular salary. This will likely result in you being in a lower tax bracket in both years, which can save you some serious cash.
Everyone’s situation is different, and planning the exact month you leave/return can be hard. But it’s something to think about. Planning your sabbatical properly can result in a hefty tax break.
Live Car Free
Average car ownership costs are about $10,728 per year. Without the commute to work, is there a way you could sell your car and live car-free? Or if you are a 2-car household, could you get rid of one of those hulking pieces of metal in your driveway? Needless to say, anything you can do to slash your car costs is a big win for your year off work costs.
Rent Out Your Home While You Travel
A traveling gap year can be extra costly if you’re paying for two residences at the same time. Renting out your home or apartment while you are gone can help to offset the cost of travel. Airbnb might be a good option, or look to find a long term tenant who could occupy your space while you’re gone.
Travel like a local
While you’re at it, consider traveling like a local to cut back on vacation costs. You’ll experience some amazing new things along the way! Instead of staying in only touristy areas, visit the places less traveled to avoid inflated prices and tourist traps. Checking out and staying in some suburbs may be less expensive than staying in major cities. Ask locals for recommendations for activities and places to eat. They may even be able to help you pin down a few more affordable options.
Also, instead of visiting a bunch of different places in quick succession, spend more time in each place you visit. Typically, the longer you stay put, the less you will need to spend on transportation and lodging. Slow travel can be a big money saver!
Bonus- Saving Money on Travel: A HUGE List of Tips and Tricks
Negotiate Your Bills
Nobody likes paying their bills, but you can keep more of your hard earned cash if you negotiate your bills before (or during) your year off work. In fact, this is something you should probably be doing every few years anyway!
Use some of your newfound free time to call up companies like your phone, internet, and insurance providers, and ask them if they have any new customer offers or promotions you can take advantage of.
If you aren’t able to get a lower rate, it could be worth it to switch providers to take advantage of new customer offers. Trust me, it can save you hundreds and will be well worth the headache. Often, the inconvenience isn’t nearly as bad as you might think.
Plus, in some instances it may not be worth it to even negotiate if there are cheaper options available elsewhere. For example, switching to one of these low cost MVNOs is still significantly cheaper than introductory offers from the bigger cell phone players.
Perform a Subscription Audit
When you take a year off work, you don’t need to drag around the dead weight of subscription services that aren’t providing you with enough value. Challenge yourself to cancel any subscriptions you don’t use regularly. Remember, you can always sign back up later if you miss it!
Take Advantage of Freebies
Sometimes, I really do feel like I’ll end up spending $50-100 every single time I leave my home. And with more free time for activities, one might assume that a year off work might be accompanied by an increase in entertainment spending.
Here’s the thing though- there are so many free things that you can start taking advantage of if you know where to look. You can fill up your monthly calendar with hikes, trips to free public parks, or visit museums with free passes from your local library. You can even stream free movies and television shows using Hoopla.
Start to take advantage of free content, education and activities, and watch your entertainment spending shrink month over month.
Step 4: Plan Travel and Exploration
If you’ve decided you want to spend your sabbatical traveling and experiencing new cultures, make sure it’s meaningful travel. Don’t just go where other people tell you to go. Travel to places that peak your curiosity, and where you see yourself having the kinds of experiences you’ve dreamed of. Remember, this is YOUR time off, and you get to spend it however you want to.
That being said, it can be overwhelming to plan extensive travel, especially without any consistent income. Here are just a few tips you can use to get the most out of your gap year adventures.
Use Credit Card Rewards
Paying for travel using credit card rewards is basically using travel credit card miles in exchange for things like flights, accommodations, and even rental cars. This can significantly reduce the cost of travel for everyday folks! It usually starts with snagging a hefty credit card signup bonus, then earning more rewards for every day spending.
However, it’s important to note that this strategy only works if you follow the golden rules of plastic. Don’t overspend, and be sure to pay your cards off in full and on time each and every month. If you accrue interest, you’re losing the game. So be sure to only participate in credit card rewards programs if you can manage your cards responsibly.
While there is a bit of a learning curve, reading up on a few travel using points strategies can save you thousands. Luckily, we have tons of resources that can help you learn to master the art of traveling on the cheap!
- Cheaper travel: How to Use Credit Card Rewards to Pay for Travel
- Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards for Beginners
Travel During “Shoulder Season”
Traveling during the summer and school break weeks often leads to higher prices and bigger crowds. Since you won’t be working this year, consider doing the bulk of your travel during the shoulder season!
Shoulder season is made up of the months in between peak and off-peak travel seasons. Basically, traveling in the Spring and Fall can save you meaningful amounts of money, especially if you’re from the U.S.
Depending on the destination, the weather can still be enjoyable during shoulder season. For example, in Europe the weather is often still very pleasant during Spring and Fall. And in some countries, you’ll avoid the sweltering Summer heat!
Let the Deals Guide You
If you aren’t very picky, or don’t have a particular destination in mind, try letting travel deals guide you to your destination!
Airlines and credit card travel portals often run promotions on getaways to specific destinations, which can save you hundreds to even thousands of dollars over the course of your travels. If you’re feeling adventurous, pick one of those deals and prepare to discover a new destination that might not have previously been on your radar.
If you’re looking to snag a super cheap deal on flights, make sure to sign up for flight alerts from Going and AirfareWatchdog. They’ll send the craziest deals right to your inbox. Keep an eye out for something that peaks your interest, and enjoy some spontaneity when you book!
You Don’t Need to Travel Far
And lastly, you don’t have to go far to broaden your horizons and enjoy the benefits of travel. Traveling can help to improve your confidence, broaden your horizons, and make meaningful connections with new people.
Even if you aren’t big on traveling, we encourage you to take a few domestic trips. You don’t need to jump right into a ten month European adventure. Step out of your comfort zone by staying with some friends a few states over. Or take a two week trip to that national park you’ve always wanted to see. Remember that there’s no right way to travel, and no rule that says you need to go to the other side of the planet to get something out of your trip.
Consider Traveling Full Time
If you fall in love with travel during your sabbatical, you may want to consider adopting a full time nomadic lifestyle. While this could be more difficult for some folks depending on their job industry, or whether or not they have kids, it could make perfect sense for the right people.
For example, Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung, authors of the book Quit Like A Millionaire, travel full time after achieving financial independence. Our friend Nomadic Matt also quit his job in 2006 to travel for a year. He ended up traveling full time since, all while working as a travel writer and author.
If you’re interested in traveling full time, start paying attention to the cost of living in the cities you’re visiting. Then start pursuing work options that could be available to you. If you’re able to work remotely, geographic arbitrage could be a real possibility for you.
Step 5: Keep Learning and Developing Skills
Taking a year off is a balancing act. You want to have fun and achieve the goals you set for yourself. But you also want to maintain the skills and connections that you’ll need when that sabbatical comes to an end.
A TON of life experience and personal development will be gained naturally while taking time off. But, it never hurts to make a conscious effort to increase knowledge and skills that will help you later professionally.
Online courses and skill enhancement workshops can be your best friend. Professional development events like conferences and retreats can be a great use of your time if you’re looking to progress in your career following your year off work.
Be sure to continue to network and stay in touch with your colleagues and professional connections. Remember that no one likes being reached out to only for favors. So be sure to get in touch with people regularly and before you need something.
It doesn’t have to cost a ton of money to keep improving either. Books, blogs and podcasts can be some of the most powerful tools when it comes to sucking up new information like a sponge. And with YouTube, and websites with free courses like Coursera and Udemy, you could learn something new 100% for free.
Again, remember that time off IS personal growth. You do not need to be busy all the time to make the most of your year off work. It’s okay to relax and reflect. Sometimes we have our greatest ideas when we are well rested enough to feel creative.
Step 6: Reflect and Journal
Some of the best advice we can give you is to keep a year-long journal during your time off from work. Journaling has so many benefits, like stress relief and self discovery. But it’s also a great way to keep track of all the awesome stuff you’re doing during your year off!
Trust me, if you don’t write it down, you’re more likely to forget or glaze over your accomplishments from the previous year. This is super important when it comes to your return into the workforce. Job interviewers are likely to ask you about what you did during this time. So you can refer to your journals to remind yourself about all the exciting things (and personal development) you did.
Plus, journaling is a great way to reflect on all the lessons you’ll learn away from work. It doesn’t have to take all day. Just jot down a few notes for 5-10 minutes at the beginning or end of each day!
Returning to Work After a Year Off
If you want to leave work and never come back to it, check out some of our other articles on early retirement!
But if you need to continue earning income, here are a few things you should keep in mind when it comes to returning to the workforce.
Don’t be intimidated
Although you might think that taking a year off might hurt your career, it can actually positively impact your career trajectory now, and down the line!
Growth takes time. Between working, family commitments, hobbies and all those small life maintenance tasks like getting groceries and paying bills, sometimes you can lose sight of what’s important to you, and what gets you excited to wake up in the morning. Having more clarity about what you want out of life, or how you want to spend your time can actually help you to approach career decisions in a more intentional way.
Having more time to learn new career and life skills can also help you to be a more attractive candidate in the job market. In a competitive job field, being well rounded and able to fill many roles can help you to stand out.
Plus, I believe that taking a career break can be a great way to show potential employers that you are a leader. It demonstrates that you are willing to take initiative to create change. If the time of your break was well utilized, employers will be able to see that you are intrinsically motivated to take action, even without someone directly overseeing you.
Consider a Career Change
If you’ve ever thought about switching careers, now is a great time to do so. A year off work can completely change who you are as a person. So if you have any doubts about returning to the same job title you left, now is the time to explore the idea of a career change.
Great Podcast Episode – The Good Enough Job with Simone Stolzoff- Episode 667
Ease Back Into the Work Routine:
Going from complete time freedom back into a 9-5 job can be jarring. Sometimes, abrupt changes to our routines can send us spiraling. So give yourself grace when it comes to re-entering the workforce. Easing into things is more realistic than flipping a switch.
Remember, you want to come back from this break feeling refreshed. So be sure to carve out time for yourself throughout your work week. Continue any new hobbies you’ve developed from your time away. It would be completely counterproductive to burn yourself out immediately after returning to work.
All in all, take the lessons you’ve learned from your break, and incorporate them into your working life to the best of your ability.
Step 7: Showcase Your Sabbatical Experience on Your Resume
While some might be hesitant to discuss their gap year during an interview, you should address it proudly. In fact, highlighting a career break on your resume is a way to tell future employers more about you and what you’ve achieved over the year off. Addressing the gap year in a positive, confident way lets you control the narrative.
Your sabbatical should be listed under the Experience section on your resume. If it makes sense, you can create a name for it that best describes what you were up to during that time. For example “Professional Development,” “Volunteer,” “Education Break,” or “Family Break.”
Then, list off some of your biggest accomplishments from your time away from work. These can be personal or professional. Like any workshops or conferences attended, certification courses earned, or any hard or soft skills you acquired during travel.
Real-Life Experiences From Taking a Year Off Work
If you’re debating whether or not a year off work could be a good move for you, it could be helpful to read up on stories of people who have actually done it.
For example, Jillian Johnsrud promotes “mini-retirements,” encouraging her readers and clients to take a year off every decade.
Our friend “5am Joel,” who took a two year sabbatical, wrote about multiple lessons he learned in the process of taking a substantial work break.
Coach Carson is a big advocate of sabbaticals. He helps folks build a life they love by investing in real estate to fund their time away from work.
If you want to read more stories about real life people who took time away from work and the ways it changed their lives, be sure to check out the stories page at the Sabbatical Project.
More Helpful Resources:
Looking for more info or inspiration? Here are a few of our favorite resources related to taking a year off work!
Articles/Blogs:
- Financial Independence Exists on a Spectrum
- Mini-Retirement: How to Retire Before You’re Ready- Chad Carson
- How to Take a Sabbatical- Get Rich Slowly
Books:
- The Four Hour Work Week- Timothy Ferriss
- How to Travel the World on $50 A Day by Matt Kepnes
- The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying- Bronnie Ware
- Quit Like a Millionaire- Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung
We would also recommend checking out the podcast, Retire Often with Jillian Johnsrud, which focuses heavily on the idea of “mini-retirements!”
The Bottom Line:
Taking a year off work can help you recover from burnout, enjoy more autonomy, and spend more time doing what you love. If planned correctly and executed intentionally, it can also benefit your career and finances in the long term.
That being said, it’s extremely important to have a solid plan and get your finances in order. If you just wing it, the financial implications of quitting your job can be extremely costly, hurting you for years (or decades) in the future.
