Dreaming of more than just a quick weekend escape or two weeks of vacation? You're not alone. Many people are embracing **extended career breaks**—whether called **mini-sabbaticals**, **adult gap years**, **micro-retirements**, or simply sabbaticals—to step away from the daily grind, recharge, and gain fresh perspectives.
These longer pauses aren't just fantasies anymore. They're becoming a viable way to reset mentally, physically, or spiritually, often leading to profound life changes.
Shifting Attitudes Toward Time Off
In the U.S., the culture around work and rest differs from much of Europe, where laws guarantee at least 20 days of paid vacation annually. Here, burnout is common, but attitudes are evolving. More companies now offer extended paid or unpaid leave to retain top talent.
Experts like Kira Schrabram, an assistant professor at the University of Washington's business school, highlight this shift. Through the **Sabbatical Project**—founded by Harvard Business School's DJ DiDonna—she and collaborators interviewed dozens of professionals who took non-academic breaks. They identified three main types:
- **Working holidays**: Pursuing passion projects while traveling or exploring.
- **Free dives**: Mixing adventure with true rest.
- **Quests**: Deep, transformative explorations, often after burnout recovery.
The project pushes back against the notion that sabbaticals must be employer-sponsored, building a network of coaches and mentors for anyone "sabbatical-curious."
Many who take the leap find it transformative—and surprisingly accessible.
Roshida Dowe, a former corporate lawyer, got laid off in 2018 at age 39. Instead of jumping back into the job hunt, she traveled for a year. The frequent questions about "how she managed it" inspired her to become a career-break coach. Along with Stephanie Perry (a former pharmacy technician who discovered long-term travel on a 2014 Brazil trip), she co-founded the **ExodUS Summit**. This virtual event empowers Black women to explore sabbaticals, moving abroad, finances, safety, health care, rest, and breaking intergenerational patterns.
Perry emphasizes creative funding like housesitting, which lets her travel extensively while working minimally. She even uses her YouTube channel to sponsor other Black women on sabbaticals.
Ashley Graham planned a road trip during her nonprofit break, staying with friends to keep costs low—and ended up relocating to New Orleans after falling in love with it.
Artists Eric Rewitzer and Annie Galvin left their San Francisco gallery in trusted hands for a summer in France and Ireland. The "terrifying" trust exercise shifted their perspective, leading to a life change: buying a weekend home that became their full-time residence post-pandemic.
Gregory Du Bois negotiated mini-sabbaticals throughout his IT career, treating them as essential for peak performance. Now retired and coaching in Sedona, he views them as spiritual regeneration.
Overcoming the Barriers
Cost, responsibilities, and fear of judgment top the list of obstacles. But experts say creative solutions exist.
Financial planner Taylor Anderson, who specializes in sabbatical planning, compares it to retirement saving: discipline plus knowing when it's safe to "exhale" your savings. Many have more resources than they think but hesitate to spend. "What is enough?" is tough, but the true cost is often lower than feared.
Housesitting, budget travel ($40/day is possible!), staying with friends, or self-funding via savings bridge the gap. More than half in the research self-funded their breaks.
While not everyone can swing months without pay, those with a nest egg find the rewards—renewed energy, new perspectives, even career pivots—outweigh the risks.
Is a Sabbatical Right for You?
In a world of constant hustle, intentional breaks are a radical act of self-care. They combat burnout, spark creativity, and remind us life isn't just about work.
If you're daydreaming about hitting pause, start small: research finances, talk to others who've done it, or join communities like the Sabbatical Project or ExodUS Summit. You might just find the permission you've been waiting for.
What about you—have you taken (or considered) an extended break? Share in the comments!