Even a short career break/sabbatical can be transformational.
My break allowed me to explore the things that make me happiest and be the person I always wanted to be.
What Sparked a Career Break
My career became my identity and taking a break allowed me to creatively explore new parts of myself and re-focus on parts of myself I had been neglecting. My break reminded me just how capable I am of building the life I want and on my own terms.
I had been with my employer for nearly 8 years and was experiencing “boreout”. There was no growth and my career, which was a big part of my identity, was no longer fulfilling and started to impact my mental and physical health.
I paid off the remainder of my grad school loans in November 2023 and then started to aggressively save for my outdoor adventure career break. I budgeted for 4 months traveling around the U.S. with 6 months savings for my job search since I decided to quit my job.
A Solo Career Break Road Trip
I did it solo and did all the outdoor things I wanted to – kayaking, hiking, canyoneering, rock climbing, whitewater rafting with plenty of lazy days of reading, journaling, and visiting farmer’s markets.
When I finished my road trip, I thought I would go back to corporate America but realized that environment isn’t for me anymore. I rather be self-employed and make my side hustle – career coaching – my full-time hustle. I’m now a full-time job hunt coach for social impact professionals.
While I’m still in that post-career break honeymoon bliss stage, I’m continuing to prioritize more of my creative pursuits including photography and writing, and will now get to set my daily schedule around other physical pursuits like hiking and rock climbing.
Activities You Engaged in During Your Career Break
I did adult summer camp for 3.5 months and road tripped from San Diego to Maine doing all the outdoor things: hiking, canyoneering, rock climbing, kayaking, and whitewater rafting. Also had lazy days in the park where I read and journaled for hours. I picked up new hobbies like photography and met lot of wonderful strangers who shared similar experiences and beamed with pride as they shared their own stories of retirement, career breaks, and career transitions.
Life After a Career Break
How long was your sabbatical?
16 weeks
What were you most concerned about when contemplating a sabbatical?
Money – it’ll cost too much!
Optics – what will colleagues, friends and family think of me?!
Did HOW you work change at all, post-sabbatical?
Went from company employed to self-employed
What changes did you make in your life post-sabbatical?
Greater commitment to creative pursuits – I signed up and continue to take photography classes and take myself on weekly “artist dates” as suggested in The Artist’s Way. I also changed jobs – I quite my corporate job and became self-employed as a career coach. I’m utilizing my 15+ corporate career to help others navigate theirs.
How did your sabbatical experience change the way you thought about your employer?
I had been with my employer for nearly 8 years and there was nowhere for me to grow. The corporate environment and lack of growth was uninspiring, though I did have a good boss and co-workers. I was experiencing “boreout” rather than the oft talked about burnout. It got to a point where a career break was the only option. The fear and stagnation of staying in my dead end job far outweighed any fear or apprehension of “what if I don’t find a better job?” or “what will I do next?”
Why do you think others should (or shouldn’t) take sabbaticals? Are there occasions in life where it’s particularly helpful?
I think sabbaticals and career breaks are especially beneficial when you’re having an identity crisis or you’ve completely neglected key aspects of yourself.
You can connect with Stephanie Mansueto here.
