Thinking about taking a break from the working world? You’re not alone. The “Sabbatical Sisters” — Catherine Allen, Nancy Bearg, Rita Foley and Jaye Smith — advocate people give themselves the “gift of time” by taking a sabbatical in their book, “Reboot Your Life: Energize Your Career & Life by Taking a Break.”
Reuters interviewed Bearg, a national security consultant, about incorporating sabbaticals into one’s life.
Why take a sabbatical?
We think everyone needs one. There are a number of different reasons to do it. People who are stressed out from work, tired, people who need a career change. People who are nearing retirement might want to take a break to contemplate what to do in retirement.
How popular are these sabbaticals in the private sector?
They’re becoming more popular. We’ve coined the term “reboot break,” because people associate sabbaticals with academia. We say sabbaticals — reboot breaks — are for everyone.
We’ve noticed more corporations are offering sabbaticals. There are three different kinds of sabbaticals. One is a workplace sabbatical, where you leave your job and come back to it. There is the between-gigs sabbatical, where you leave your job and go to something different. Then there’s the unexpected sabbatical, where you lose your job and take some time to figure out what you want to do.
