Sabbatical - Career Builder
Making the decision
The majority of us tend to go into a bit of a pre-holiday frenzy, even when we are just going away for a week or two. For many, the idea of taking a massive break, which may involve quitting a job, appears a tad insane. However, a career break, generally known as a 'sabbatical' (from the word, sabbath, meaning rest) can have significant benefits in the long run. Indeed, many companies now offer employees the chance of a long break. In some cases, they may even get paid.
The hardest part is to make the decision and then to have the determination to stick to it. The rest is actually surprisingly easy. Furthermore, the benefits are numerous and may include the chance to recover from 'burnout', to make fresh decisions regarding life paths or simply to learn new skills. Indeed, the consensus now is that the traditional way of life whereby you work for forty years before retiring is now seriously outdated.
Nonetheless, there are going to be plenty of obstacles to overcome before making the decision to take a career break. Most of them, however, will be entirely in the mind. For one, most people believe that taking a break during an economic downturn, one of which we are all currently experiencing, is a bad idea. However, many argue that, in fact, the opposite is true. Whilst this may especially apply to those who have a good track record, the possibility of wasting talent during a downturn makes a great case for making a break. Contrary to popular belief, taking a break doesn't necessarily mean your life savings will be gone or your career will never get back on track.
What to do during the break
Once you have made the decision to go ahead with the break, you will next need to decide what you are going to do with it. Fortunately, there is certainly no shortage of options here. However, in order to make the right decision it will be vital to know why you have decided on a break. For some, it will just be a question of having a prolonged holiday before returning to their old job or career. For others, however, it may be a question of wanting to find an entirely new direction in life. In this case, the break could be used to develop new skills or to gain new qualifications.
Finally - The Plan
Having made the decision of what to do, it will be time for some planning. The first step, of course, will be to set up a savings plan. Decide on an amount you can feasibly put aside each month and then stick to it. Next, set a date for departure and a date for the return and again, stick to it. Finally, tell everyone you can about your plans. Not only will this allow them to help if need be, but it will also ensure you go ahead with the plan. After all, backing down is always the easiest thing to do.
The majority of us tend to go into a bit of a pre-holiday frenzy, even when we are just going away for a week or two. For many, the idea of taking a massive break, which may involve quitting a job, appears a tad insane. However, a career break, generally known as a 'sabbatical' (from the word, sabbath, meaning rest) can have significant benefits in the long run. Indeed, many companies now offer employees the chance of a long break. In some cases, they may even get paid.
The hardest part is to make the decision and then to have the determination to stick to it. The rest is actually surprisingly easy. Furthermore, the benefits are numerous and may include the chance to recover from 'burnout', to make fresh decisions regarding life paths or simply to learn new skills. Indeed, the consensus now is that the traditional way of life whereby you work for forty years before retiring is now seriously outdated.
Nonetheless, there are going to be plenty of obstacles to overcome before making the decision to take a career break. Most of them, however, will be entirely in the mind. For one, most people believe that taking a break during an economic downturn, one of which we are all currently experiencing, is a bad idea. However, many argue that, in fact, the opposite is true. Whilst this may especially apply to those who have a good track record, the possibility of wasting talent during a downturn makes a great case for making a break. Contrary to popular belief, taking a break doesn't necessarily mean your life savings will be gone or your career will never get back on track.
What to do during the break
Once you have made the decision to go ahead with the break, you will next need to decide what you are going to do with it. Fortunately, there is certainly no shortage of options here. However, in order to make the right decision it will be vital to know why you have decided on a break. For some, it will just be a question of having a prolonged holiday before returning to their old job or career. For others, however, it may be a question of wanting to find an entirely new direction in life. In this case, the break could be used to develop new skills or to gain new qualifications.
Finally - The Plan
Having made the decision of what to do, it will be time for some planning. The first step, of course, will be to set up a savings plan. Decide on an amount you can feasibly put aside each month and then stick to it. Next, set a date for departure and a date for the return and again, stick to it. Finally, tell everyone you can about your plans. Not only will this allow them to help if need be, but it will also ensure you go ahead with the plan. After all, backing down is always the easiest thing to do.
Source...