What is a Sabbatical? 7 Things to Know

You’re at your desk, putting the finishing touches on a presentation, when your thoughts detour to a hiking route in the Himalayas. You’re plugging numbers into a spreadsheet when your mind makes its way to a beach in Brazil. Before long, you’re mentally packing a suitcase while calculating how much PTO you actually have.

Are you finding yourself browsing Airbnb and Expedia more often than usual?

Maybe you don’t need a vacation. You need an extended break, time to explore new passions and places. You need a sabbatical.

And you need answers to some questions: How long is a sabbatical? How do you go about taking one?

Wait, what is a sabbatical, exactly?

You may associate sabbaticals with academia, where professors get to take a semester off to teach or do research at another university or in another country. But sabbaticals aren’t just for professors—and gap years aren’t just for graduating high school seniors. You can benefit from taking time to travel, no matter where you are in your career.

What is a sabbatical?

A sabbatical can be both a refreshing break and an opportunity for personal growth.

A sabbatical is an extended break from a job. Typically, employers guarantee an employee taking a sabbatical will have their job back when they return.

Sabbaticals are different from standard vacations—they offer more of an extended pause from work that lets you get real distance from your work life. They’re also not quite the same as taking a full break from your career by leaving your current role. A sabbatical means you intend to go back to your job, and your employer guarantees your position will remain open and waiting for you.

Taking a sabbatical can be transformative, setting you up to ultimately return to work with new perspectives, increased confidence, and more energy. With burnout at all-time highs (and a big factor spurring job turnover), sabbaticals offer a win-win for employers looking to retain talented employees and for employees looking for a way to reset and refresh.

Can I take a sabbatical from work?

Whether you can take a sabbatical from work depends a lot on your specific job. Some workplaces have built-in programs that set rules for employees interested in the experience, making it easy for you to figure out when—and for how long—you can go on sabbatical. Even places that don’t have standardized programs may be open to the possibility if you present your plan well, so don’t write off a sabbatical if you’re craving time to recharge.

To get started, check your company’s website for rules and ask HR about company policy before jetting off for an extended break. You’ll probably have to follow specific guidelines both when planning your time away and submitting your request to do it, and you want to make sure you’ll have a job waiting for you when you return home.

Can anyone take a sabbatical?

Even if your company doesn’t have a sabbatical policy, you can make your case for one.

Again, this will depend a lot on your company policy. Some companies offer paid sabbaticals after a certain period of employment or to encourage employees to pursue professional development while offering unpaid options at any time or for any reason. Other companies don’t have sabbatical programs or policies on paper, but they may be open to the idea.

It helps to set goals for your time away so you can show your employer you know why you’re asking for a sabbatical in the first place. People take sabbaticals for all sorts of reasons, from volunteering abroad to performing research for a paper or book to honing skills that will help their careers (like learning a second language). Still others use the time to explore other cultures, pursue creative projects, or get needed rest.

Sabbaticals can help employees come back to the job refreshed, happier, and more productive, with fresh ideas and new skills as an added bonus. If your company sees the idea as beneficial to both sides, you’re more likely to get your sabbatical approved.

How long is a sabbatical?

Sabbaticals generally span anywhere from one month to a couple of years, though your employer will ultimately determine how long your sabbatical can be. If you’re entitled to a paid sabbatical, it will likely be on the shorter side. Unpaid sabbaticals may run longer.

Companies sometimes design sabbatical policies to encourage employees to keep working for them, offering sabbaticals after a certain period of time. For example, some companies offer a sabbatical after five years, and then a longer sabbatical if the employee stays on for another set of years.

How to take a sabbatical

Play your cards right and this could be you for 6 months to a year (or more)!

Taking a sabbatical isn’t as ingrained in modern work culture as, say, emails or Zoom calls. Learn how to take a sabbatical to set yourself up for success, from the moment you ask your employer to your eventual return back home:

1. Learn about your company’s leave policy

First things first: You need to know if you can take a sabbatical from work at your company before you start planning your time away. Check out your employee manual, read your company’s website, or ask HR about sabbatical policies, then be prepared to follow any rules your company has.

Remember, your employer might still be open to the idea of a sabbatical if they don’t have a formal policy. If your employer doesn’t have an official policy for taking extended leave in place, brainstorm ways you can pitch a plan that makes everyone happy.

That includes getting creative with job perks and incentives. For instance, maybe you ask for a few months off instead of this year’s bonus or raise.

2. Prepare your ask

Can anyone take a sabbatical? Not always, but asking to take one the smart way will boost your chances of making it happen.

You need to come up with a plan before asking for significant time off, especially if your workplace doesn't already have a sabbatical policy. This starts with asking yourself why you’re taking the time away and knowing the benefits you’d like to get from taking a sabbatical so you can effectively share your goals.

From getting to know the local culture and learning the language in a market where your company wants to expand to taking a break to gain a fresh perspective when you’re feeling burnt out, there are plenty of good reasons to take a sabbatical. Know what yours are when you draft a proposal for your job to consider.

3. Choose a good time to travel

You may have to adjust your sabbatical based on the busy season at work.

Whether you’re planning to volunteer abroad, tapping into your sense of adventure, or eating your way through the ultimate foodie itinerary, your sabbatical is a time for you to recharge and explore your passions away from work. You’ll have the best chance of getting your leave approved if you select a time for your trip that doesn’t put your employer in a tough position.

Do you have a key teammate taking parental leave or a particularly busy season coming up at work? Now may not be the best time to pitch a sabbatical. Keep your professional reputation intact and ask for time off when it’ll work for both parties.

4. Check your finances

You’re in better shape if your company offers paid sabbaticals, but many companies don’t pay employees on sabbatical at their full rate (or at all!). Either way, you may need to pay bills at home in addition to financing your travel plans. Take a good look at your bank account—and take time now to calculate expenses you’ll need to cover during your time away from the office.

If you find that you can take a sabbatical from work only if you, well, work, you can build that into your plan. You might teach English abroad or go the digital nomad route; new kinds of work can add value to your experience while funding your break from your regular job.

5. Present your idea

Once you know your company’s policy and have a plan in place, it’s time to talk to your boss. Having a plan you’ve carefully thought out can show your company you have some real goals for taking meaningful time off.

Companies may even offer funds for travel that can get them good press (think: you’re planning to do research and publish something that positions you as an expert in your field), so make sure to take that angle if applicable. But don’t forget that recharging so you don’t get burnt out is a valid goal, too.

READ: 10 Sabbatical Ideas (For Making the Most of Your Time)

6. Hone your skills while you’re away

While you don’t want to lose sight of the recharging benefits sabbaticals offer, you do want to set yourself up for a seamless transition when you return to work. Make sure your skills are as sharp as when you left off—even better if you can use your sabbatical to gain skills that help you personally and professionally.

Maybe you want to work on a creative project, do research, or learn a language abroad. Use your time to tap into your passions and explore skills that will give your resume a boost, long after you’ve returned home from your sabbatical.

7. Stay in touch

A sabbatical is YOUR time, but don’t forget to touch base with work once in a while.

You’ll definitely want to get in touch with your employer before it’s time to come home to catch up and transition back to your job. During your sabbatical, you might also send some travel notes or take on the occasional freelance project to stay involved. It never hurts to remind folks back home you’re still part of their team.

Find and compare travel programs for your sabbatical with MyGoAbroad

Is it time to reset with a sabbatical?

If you’re craving a break from the day-to-day work grind and want to fill the time with new places, new perspectives, and personal growth, you’re ready to put your sabbatical plan in motion. You’ll come back feeling refreshed, sure, but you’ll also have the chance to explore the world around you in that deep way only possible when you have real time.