If I had it to do all over again, I would have planned on taking sabbaticals. If you think about it, the American model is to get out of school (high school or college) and work until age 65 and retire. In the intervening 40+ years, you take very little time off and seldom more than a week at a time.
My proposal is to plan to work to age 70ish and plan in full year breaks at severn year intervals along the way. This requires a forced savings plan (like retirement) or an employer willing to pay you during the sabbatical time. The latter seems unlikely.
The idea of sabbatical only really exists on any large scale in academia. In universities and colleges it if common for faculty members to take sabbaticals, which they are eligible for every seven years. Most universities expect the faculty members to propose and carry out research during the leave period. This has evolved from the original concept which began with Jewish farmers letting their land go fallow every seventh year. By allowing the land to rest, it regenerated its nutrients, though it’s not clear what they knew about plant biology at the time.
The idea of regeneration and renewal is central to why we should be taking sabbaticals. Work for seven years take a year to reflect, travel, putz around, you may return with a renewed energy or you may decide not to return — to start afresh at something else.
Prior to now, I have had one full year off in my work life: 2010. I was laid off after 20 years as an engineer and was out of work for about one year. What did I do? I scrounged for work where it could be found and did a few side projects. I also went to Ghana with my wife for a month. She was planning to go on a grant and wanted me to come. I was laid off in May and she was leaving in July. The timing was perfect. After I returned, I took 12 hours of college credit at KU. I took several classes I didn’t get around to the first time (statistics and macroeconomics) and a couple of newer interests (African Studies and Creative Nonfiction). Overall, I had a good year.
So, looking back what would my life have looked like had I taken sabbaticals? Well, I graduated from college at 22. At 29, my son was born, so I likely would have spent my first sabbatical caring for him.
At 36, I was getting divorced and buying real estate. On the divorce front, I would have had more time to think and reflect. On the real estate front, I would have had time during the day to work on properties and not have had to kill myself nights and weekends.
At, 43, I married my second wife. This would have been 2009, so I was about to get layed off. This probably would have been a stressful time.
At 50, I would have traveled, like I am about to do.
But we never know what life is going to throw at us or how long it’s going to last. I just don’t think it’s a good idea to put everything off until the end.