If you know me, this isn’t my first sabbatical – I’m currently on my second one. The first time I took a career break –though I did plan it out to a certain extent– it was whimsical and all happened almost accidentally. It was one of the most transformative experiences of my life, but looking back 10 years later, I realize it was also filled with avoidable mistakes and challenges that better preparation could have helped me navigate. There were so many things I wish someone had told me before I took that leap.
If you’re also considering a sabbatical – whether for career exploration, personal growth, or simply to step back and reassess your path – I’m leaving them here in hopes you will avoid some of the pitfalls I encountered.
From High-Pressure Trading to Life-Changing Revelation
I took my first sabbatical back in 2013. At that time, I was living in Tokyo working for hedge fund trading at Credit Suisse. It was a great job – excellent salary (Japanese yen was at an all-time high) with a posh Tokyo lifestyle and a nice apartment. Plus, a great social life with good colleagues and friends.
But it came at a cost. It was a 10–12-hour job with frequent client drinks and partying with coworkers; notably incredibly intense work managing 6 screens, coordinating with teams in 4 countries, and transactions of 10,000 trades per day.
After almost 6 years with the company, starting as an assistant and worked my way up as a junior trader, I was at a crossroad with a potential promotion on the way. This meant at least a 15% salary increase and bonuses, but also more responsibilities, longer hours, and more clients.
Then I went on a trip to Bhutan with 2 friends in March. I didn’t think too deep over this trip as it was my friend who really wanted to go see Bhutan.
If you’re not familiar, Bhutan is a very tiny country nestled in the Himalayas. It’s one of the economically poorest countries in the world at that time (since then it has left the Least Developed Country category of the UN) , yet it’s also said to be one of the happiest. You may have heard they measure Gross Domestic Happiness. The Bhutanese people have a simple life but are kind, deeply spiritual, and have profound love for their King.
The Moment Where Everything Changed
Towards the end of our trip, we went to Tiger’s Nest, one of the holiest temples in the country. It’s not an easy journey – no cars allowed (only donkeys), and it’s a challenging 6-hour hike (though the locals who wore nothing but sandals up the steep hills).
When I arrived at the monastery and entered the main prayer room, I saw a monk bow down in prayer. He bowed down deeply into prostration as dozens of candles made out of yak butter flickered around him. I am not a particularly religious person — maybe it was the incense, maybe it was the spiritual atmosphere of the temple — but that sight completely shifted my perspective. The questions hit me like a revelation: Do I really need to maintain my posh life in Tokyo to be happy? Do I need to keep my current career trajectory to do what I want?
And just like that, I made my decision. The clarity was immediate and undeniable. It was time to go.
Within 6 weeks I submitted my resignation letter, 6 weeks after that I moved out of Japan, and 4 weeks later I found myself in Cambodia for what would be a transformative 1-year sabbatical (more about my year in Cambodia in a future post). Looking back 10 years later, now on my second sabbatical, here are the essential lessons I wish I’d known the first time.
6 Critical Sabbatical Lessons (Learn from my mistakes and also what I did right)
1. Create a Comprehensive Financial Safety Net
Finance is absolutely the number one consideration when taking a sabbatical since you won’t be earning income. My biggest mistake: When I decided to quit, I had about 3 months salary in savings. I figured I could save aggressively during my final 2 months, but I completely overlooked the hidden costs.
What I didn’t account for: Moving expenses from Japan to San Francisco, annual taxes, and cancellation fees for phone, internet, and other services. All those unexpected costs reduced my savings to just 2 months’ salary. While Cambodia’s low cost of living helped, I still had to cut my sabbatical short to return to work in the US.
What I should have done: Calculated all transition costs upfront and maintained a minimum 6-month salary buffer.
2. Build a Dedicated "Sabbatical Emergency Fund"
I know this isn’t easy to achieve, but having a fund that I can essentially change my plans in a drop of a hat is what I really wish I’d had for my first sabbatical. Because the matter of the fact is, while ideally sabbaticals are planned months or years in advance, sometimes life presents unexpected opportunities (or unexpected challenges).
To be honest, I never expected I would take a sabbatical, let alone move to a country I’d never visited. But sometimes you get a gut feeling that this is your moment to move on. I was fortunate to quit and uproot myself within 3 months, but it was a huge struggle with many hurdles, especially financial ones. Just having an emergency fund of 3-6 months (in addition to the 6 month salary buffer) would have eliminated that stress entirely. I’ve heard many similar stories from others who had to care for sick family members or suddenly had suffered burn out and thrown into an unexpected sabbatical situation
I learned my lesson: I implemented this for my current sabbatical. Throughout my UN career, I made sure I had enough savings for quick career changes or work breaks. This preparation enabled my current sabbatical and removed financial anxiety from the decision-making process.
3. Set Clear Goals for What You Want to Achieve
Before deciding on a sabbatical, define your end goals clearly. What do you want to achieve? Once you’ve set goals, honestly evaluate whether stopping work is necessary. Could you pursue that part-time certificate? Is remote work possible for family caregiving? Sabbaticals don’t come easy or cheap, so ensure your reasons justify the investment.
My three first sabbatical goals were:
- Try working in the international development sector
- Study for the GMAT and apply to graduate school
- Get out of my comfort zone and challenging myself
4. Research Your Company's Sabbatical Policies First
Don’t immediately hand in your resignation. Many companies now offer sabbatical policies, paid or unpaid leave programs, or flexible arrangements for valuable employees. Unless you’re desperate to leave, discuss alternatives with your boss or HR first.
In my case, even though I intended to leave permanently, I had honest conversations with my boss and supervisor at Credit Suisse about my intentions. As you can imagine it was a terrifying discussion but it resulted in understanding and support that maintained positive relationships long after my departure. I got their blessing. They were genuinely happy for me, and we stayed in touch even after I left the company.
Key takeaway: Leave on good terms whenever possible, even if departing permanently.
5. Stay Flexible and Embrace the Unexpected
Sabbaticals are full of twists and turns, meant for exploring new ideas and expanding your comfort zone. My Cambodia experience was exactly this. What started as a 3-month volunteer activity evolved into becoming a full pro bono staff, helping out with creating instructional materials, managing accounting tasks, and onboarding volunteers.
I also made a habit of saying yes. Local Cambodians invited me for lunch, I ended up on a remote island with a Cambodian family, rode on a back of a motorcycles for 4 hours through rice paddies in the countryside. I still stay in touch with my old colleagues and friends, and actually celebrated our 10 year reunion with them back in Cambodia in 2023! So unless you’re recovering from health issues or burnout, don’t limit yourself to staying home. It’s not a “staybattical”. Make yourself open to detours and unexpected experiences a core sabbatical goal.
6. Document Your Journey for Future Reflection
During my first sabbatical, I started a blog on Blogspot (remember those?) originally intended for worried friends and family. Rereading it years later brought back vivid memories and reminded me of both struggles and growth from that period. Those documented thoughts and experiences directly motivated me and informed my current sabbatical planning.
Documentation provides invaluable insights into future career decisions and personal growth. Looking back at it taught me a lot of valuable lessons.
Ready to Plan Your Own Sabbatical?
Taking a career sabbatical can be transformative when done right. The key is thorough financial preparation, clear goal-setting, and openness to unexpected experiences. Whether you’re considering a career break for personal growth, skill development, or reassessing your path, these lessons can help you avoid common pitfalls and maximize your sabbatical success.
Are you planning a sabbatical or considering a career break? Have you taken one in the past? I’d love to hear about your aspirations and experiences!