Should you take a sabbatical?

Have you reached that stage in your career where you're tired of doing the same thing day in and day out, week after week? Do you often feel that you could use a break that extends for more than just a few days? Perhaps it's time you took a sababticalto reassess your goals. Here's how you should prepare for one.

Leave on a good note

It's important to remember that the reason you're going on a sabbatical is YOU and not the company you work for or the people around you. Therefore, go through all the exit formalities in a mature manner. Do not give off an attitude that conveys the wrong idea about why you are leaving. Your coworkers might think you're fed up of them, but in reality, the reason is of course, personal.

Finances

Be sure to give your boss at least a month's notice so that your responsibilities can be duly reassigned to other people. The department can therefore make a good contingency plan in preparation for your absence. But apart from all of this, they will appreciate your fair warning. More importantly, as you will be without a primary source of income and all the lovely perks your job gave you, make sure you can afford it. Calculate how much savings you have by the number of months you can cover without making any money. Although some experts recommend saving up at least 12 months worth of expenses for every 3 months worth of sabbatical you are to take, problems can crop up at any time. So the more chips you have in the bank, the better it will be for you!

Why do you need one?

This reason is as holistic as it is practical. You keep reading stories in the newspapers about very successful people who, despite being in the prime of life, die of sudden heart attacks. So then the inevitable question is: what have they been slogging all along for? That lovelyretirement home? The world cruise? What good is all of it when it cannot be enjoyed, when ther is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Maybe you feel that time is passing you by and you should take some time off to enjoy - even if for a bit - the fruits of all that hard work.

Keeping mentally active

It might seem fun to not wake up at a time dictated by the alarm clock, but it is important to have a sense of discipline. This means you don't start to resemble an unwashed cave man when you are not going to the office. Substitute your work routine for something different but as productive.