I started writing this post in September 2018 before I embarked on my journey but I only just finished writing the post now – post-sabbatical.
Deb
I’m taking a sabbatical leave this year! I can’t believe I’m actually saying those words!
The idea of taking a year off work to travel around the world started about 10 years ago. There are a bunch of reasons that propelled this idea into action this year. To those who don’t know me well, it may look like I’m sabotaging my career to leave my well-paying job mid-career. It may also look like I won the lottery and I’m blowing the winnings to jet-set around the world.
Neither of those cases are true. I want to share 10 reasons why I took a sabbatical and why you should take a sabbatical too.
1. To Burn Those Frequent Flier Miles
Do you have a collection of frequent flier miles just sitting there collecting dust? When I got my first full-time job, I set the goal of collecting enough frequent flyer miles to one day fly around the world in business class. The first thing I did was sign up for a credit card to help me collect those miles.
Fast forward to today, I earned more than enough points to reach my travel goals! But the timing to travel never aligned with work. It was a blessing in disguise because I was able to throw myself into my work and achieve specific career goals, which I’m proud to have done.
Having checked off certain career goals from my bucket list, I decided this is the year to take the leap. It’s time to burn those Frequent Flier Miles! (For those asking, I collect Aeroplan points.)
2. To Experience Bucket List Events Before Retirement
Do you have a travel bucket list? I do. And I take mine pretty seriously. For a few years, friends and I have talked about attending the Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand. This breathtaking Festival of Lights is based on the Lunar calendar and typically takes place in November. As a teacher, I could never just take vacation days during that time to fly to Thailand. It dawned on me that if I don’t take action, I would have to wait until retirement to see this festival!
Waiting until retirement to experience events and places seems ludicrous so taking a year off is very necessary.
3. To Travel More Deeply
Have you ever returned from a week-long vacation only to wish it was longer? It’s really hard to see and fully experience local cultures in one week. I’ve always reflected on my time studying abroad in Italy and teaching in Switzerland. I really got to know those cities on a deeper level having lived there for a period of time, rather than just pass through as a tourist. I want to re-live those similar experiences during the course of my sabbatical to travel more deeply as a traveler.
4. To Rediscover Passions & Reignite Creativity
I’ve been a creative person for as long as I can remember. But lately, I feel as though my creative spirit has been stifled and I’m desperately seeking new experiences to explore in hopes of finding new inspiration for my life.
I watched Stefan Sagmeister’s TED Talk, The Power of Time Off and I was totally inspired by how a career break can spark creativity and new ways of seeing things. I’m excited to see how new experiences on this journey will shape me and give me a new perspective.
5. To Reassess Priorities
Reassessing priorities ties in with the previous point. Sometimes when you step away from everything you know, your priorities and what you value become clearer. I always thought I wanted certain career goals but then I read a leadership book that said sometimes on your way to your destination, you realize it’s a different view you want at the top. That is so true.
6. To Sort Out a Mid-Life Crisis
I’m thirty-what?! How did I even get here? I admit that I’m going through a mid-life crisis. Just a little wee one. Ok, maybe a rather major one. I’m pretty sure that I come off as a hot mess to friends and family who seem like they have their shit together. Yes, I know you’re not supposed to compare yourself to others, but you know.
I don’t know any one of my friends who has even gone through a mid-life crisis. Everyone seems to be following the playbook of life, doing everything you’re “supposed” to. In true Aquarius fashion, I’m just the type of person who runs the other way when surrounded by convention and normalcy.
There’s something unknown that I’m searching for and a major change is exactly what my life needs right now. So this sabbatical will either help me sort out my mid-life crisis or complicate it further!
7. To Live the Millennial Lifestyle
So many millennials are now eschewing the idea of working a conventional 9-5 workday in favour of working remotely, traveling the globe, being entrepreneurs and most importantly, having experiences. I can’t even remember if that lifestyle was common when I first started working. Back then, it was expected that you find a 9-5 job upon graduation and practice your profession dutifully until retirement. This new lifestyle intrigues me and I want to step away from convention for a little while.
8. To Chase Dreams of the Past
I know I always say to live life with no regrets, so call me a hypocrite … but I’ve always regretted declining a job offer to teach in Singapore some years ago. The school gave me 24 hours to respond. Fresh out of university at the time, I couldn’t fathom picking up my life and moving across the world. I hadn’t even been to Asia at that time!
Fast forward to today: I am so ready to pick up and move somewhere far away. Maybe this year of travelling will show me missed opportunities and who knows? Maybe it’ll change the outcome of my future decisions. The world is your oyster, right?!
9. To Travel Solo
It’s been a while since I last traveled solo. When I traveled solo in my twenties, I was still very much a novice traveler. I remember eating alone at a restaurant in Bern, Switzerland and being so self-conscious that I looked like a loner. I’m so over that now. Life is great when zero fucks are given, LOL.
I’ve always been so blessed to travel with friends and family. But experiencing the world solo is a whole other feeling that’s so liberating and empowering. If you haven’t traveled solo before, there’s no time like the present!
10. To YOLO
You Only Live Once. Enough said.
The Anticipation
2018 is the year that I will live the life of my dreams. Just for one year. I’m a few countries away from reaching 60 countries in my 30’s so there’s no time like the present to see more of the world.
My first stop is Hong Kong to visit my sister. Then, I’ll be off to Guangzhou, China, South East Asia, and Australia. Most of my journey will be very open-ended, because that’s how I roll.
I’m looking forward to starting this journey with a blank slate – I don’t have any expectations of what will happen. I just know it will be awesome. I lost traces of myself somewhere along the way and I hope to rediscover myself this year. I’m excited for special moments of self-discovery, moments of learning, and people who I haven’t met yet.
Here I go …
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