Press pause: why an extended break to recharge, reboot and refocus might be just what you need
The benefits of a sabbatical can’t be ignored – and you don’t have to travel for a year. Sometimes a few days away can make all the difference. Whatever you do, include a digital detox and time for relationships and reflection
In 2015, after a few years at the same job, Jeanne Tai felt that she needed a break. She had been writing and editing for a magazine – work that involved long hours and demanded plenty of creativity – and she felt like she was in a rut.
“I was required to bring my best ideas to the table, but my creative juices were running dry and I thought I had hit a wall in terms of what I could contribute,” says Tai, who turns 31 later this year.
“At the time I was single, and financially comfortable with no debts or big-ticket items to pay off, so I figured, why not go on a sabbatical? I felt that taking time off to recharge would make me a better storyteller and give me more life experiences that I could bring to my job after I came back.”
So take time off she did – her sabbatical lasted a whole year. During this time, Tai took Mandarin classes in Beijing and travelled through China (including Tibet) and Mongolia.
She was all the better for it, feeling that the 12 months away from work gave her the physical, mental and emotional reboot she desperately needed.
