Everything You Need to Know About a Sabbatical & Your Career

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If you care about your job and value the security, financial freedom and success that comes from having a fulfilling career then I can fully empathise!

I love my job, but I also know I want to make the most of the years I have on the planet, which is why I’ve built some mini-retirements into my career, so I can explore the world with my wife.

In this section of the site, I will cover everything work-related, which will reassure you that it is possible to take a sabbatical without ruining your career.

Career-Related Posts

How To Take A Sabbatical From Work: Everything You Need To Know
This post walks through a sabbatical from start to finish starting with research moving on to planning and then finally how to request your leave.

Can I Take A Sabbatical? (How To Find Out)
Covers off how to find out your company policy on sabbaticals and what your choices are if a sabbatical policy isn’t in place.

How To Ask For A Sabbatical [And Get One!]
9 easy steps that guide you through the process of requesting a sabbatical. I cover building a plan to cover your job, choosing the best time and tips for making the meeting run smoothly.

How To Put A Sabbatical On Your CV (7 Practical Tips)
A comprehensive guide that walks through the various ways you should (or even shouldn’t) put your sabbatical on your CV or resume.

8 Examples Of People Who Took A Sabbatical And Returned To Their Jobs
If you’re worried your job might not be there when you return, here is some motivation, with eight people sharing their stores of how they took a sabbatical and resumed their job at the end.

Negotiating A Sabbatical When Your Company Has No Policy
Jennifer Fitzpatrick’s employer didn’t have a sabbatical policy but she managed to negotiate one anyway! Here is how she did it along with 9 top tips to replicate her success.

10 Ways a Sabbatical Could Enhance (Not Kill) Your Career
There are many ways a sabbatical can help your grow your career, if nothing else the break and perspective can be a real game-changer. Here I list 10 of the most common ways it can help.

Articles & Studies That Show The Increasing Sabbatical Trend

How Sabbaticals Have The Benefit Of Building Leadership Capacity
A study from the nonprofit sector that is based on 91 leaders who took sabbaticals and the benefit it had for both them and their companies.

22% Of The World’s Top Companies Now Offer a Sabbatical Program
You are not alone! 22% of the world’s companies now offer a sabbatical program and searches on Google for the term ‘sabbatical leave’ have nearly trebled in the last 15 years. You will not be the first to take a sabbatical or the last. It is possible to do so without it ruining your career.

How the HR Director for Amazon Devices Took a Sabbatical
This is one example of many I could have chosen of a top executive taken a sabbatical. If someone in a job this big is taking a sabbatical, what is stopping you?

Forbes: How Sabbaticals Help Our Careers
Research  from the University of Washington argues that sabbaticals can actually be hugely beneficial for employees and employers alike. The researchers found that people who take sabbaticals nearly always return with a fresh sense of confidence, renewed purpose, and a pronounced sense of voice.

MORE ARTICLES:

My Favourite Leadership Books

The Effective Executive (Peter Drucker)
There is one thing you can take complete control of, and that is your time and what you do with it. This book taught me more being productive and prioritisation than any other.

The Effective Executive (Classic Drucker Collection)
  • Drucker, Peter F. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)

Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way To Deal With Change in Work and Life (Spencer Johnson)
There is only one constant in life, and that’s change! This is a very simple, but very powerful book that changed my attitude to change forever.

Discipline Equals Freedom (Jocko Willink)
I feel you learn more from people who are very different to you than those that are similar. Jocko is an ex Navy SEAL commander, and a tough bastard. This book is an extreme view on mindset, health, leadership and much more. It does not pull any punches, but the way it is formatted and the tough messages make it an incredibly engaging read. I re-read it once a year to keep me focused.

Sale
Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual
  • Signed first edition by Jocko Willink
  • Hardcover Book

Getting Things Done (David Allen)
There is no book that will ever teach me more about time management than this one. Whilst I don’t follow it to the letter, I have had an ‘inbox’ ever since and strived to note down ideas quickly which I can review later.

Getting Things Done
  • David Allen (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)

The Power of the Pause (Nance Guilmartin)
I’ve grown up in incredibly busy, 24/7 workplaces where it is easy to react to situations rather than respond. This book taught me how to pause, think and take action rather than just reacting to what’s going on.

Useful Career Resources

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How Long Did You Take For A Sabbatical or Career Break?

If you have taken a sabbatical or career break (unpaid time off from work) how long did you take?