Why a Sabbatical Could Change Your Life

Having seen the benefits of giving Richie McCaw a break before the 2013 World Cup, the New Zealand Rugby Union is open to All Black Captain Kieran Rea taking a sabbatical before playing in the 2019 tournament. It is believed that the time off will enable him to play and skipper better, and many people who have taken sabbaticals report that they feel fresh and ready to tackle new challenges when they return.

Sabbaticals come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and yours doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. Several celebrities have taken sabbaticals for different reasons, and all report feeling better for it. You can choose to do all kinds of things while you’re taking time off, from doing some DIY, catching up on your reading or even enjoying recreational activities like playing your favourite online casino games.

Tips for Taking Sabbaticals

• Decide what you want from your time: Are you taking a sabbatical to look after a sick family member, write a novel, explore new places or reset your entire life course? Knowing this will help you figure out how long to take, how much money you need, and where you should go. For some people, a sabbatical means going to the opposite end of the earth, while for others it means spending more time volunteering at local projects.
• Work out what you can and can’t live without: Whether you need to Skype with your family every day as you travel or you’re staying at home but you don’t want to give up your fancy coffee, once you’ve decided what you want to do think carefully about the comforts and amenities you’re going to need to do so.
• Plan for when you get back as well as while you’re away: Once again, when you know how long you’ll be away for and what you want your life to look like when you return, you’ll be able to take steps to make that happen. This might mean opening a savings account, or updating your resume and sending it to potential employees.

Take a Break Now

Whatever you want from your sabbatical, there has never been a better time to take it than now. Your world will be the same when you get back – but you’ll be different, more rounded and more equipped for new life challenges.