I am going to take a year off and do nothing. Feels so good to say that out loud. I made the decision today. Tomorrow is my last day at work. I have been working for the past 15 years non stop and have enough savings to just say fuck it for a few years. So far this is the extent of my plan: 2020: do whatever I want, or nothing at all 2021: look for a job A voice in the back of my mind is telling me to work on my startup idea next year, but I am not gonna commit to anything until l am in a better state of mind. I hate making decisions from a position of fear. Have you done something like this? If you haven't, do you think you would do it in the future? Other than Travel, what would you do if you had a year off?
Are you single?
No. But my SO is supportive of whatever I want to do and wants me to make this decision without taking them into consideration.
https://giphy.com/gifs/its-a-trap-admiral-ackbar-8McNH1aXZnVyE
How much do you have saved?
Happy to hear! I have taken two nine month sabbaticals over the course of my 15 year career and they have been the best years of my life. Both times I allowed my brain to wander where it wanted in my own time and both times the personal work I did led me to my next big career changes... Including how I landed in tech. I was also able to spend time with dear family... Visit friends... Travel and pursue hobbies. Wife and I are planning kids so I want to take one more sabbatical before I get locked into family... It's harder when you have kids. Most importantly I think doing something like quitting without 'a plan' teaches you that, despite what everyone says, it isn't so bad and that you can always find a another job.
How do you request sabbatical? Is it available to all employees?
Some workplaces allow unpaid sabbaticals... Check your company docs
Congrats man..sounds great! Planning to do the same in 2020, will be worth it!
Nice! What do you want to do during the time off?
Planning to do few things: 1) travel to a few selected locations for extended time 2) take my time, relax, be kind to myself, spend time doing things that make me happy 3) implement a couple of side hustles that I have in mind as well as learn new skills in areas completely unrelated to tech (just because I’m interested in them with no other expectation)
That is not FIRE...you are coming back. But great choice. Life is too short.
Right..but I think this si better than fire..fire concept is basically do shit you hate for 20 years and then do nothing and get bored for 40 years..this concept of balancing time off and work throughout life seems more attractive
I might not come back. Who knows?
I am happy for you..there’s nothing better than doing what you want to do !
Are you going to live off savings? Your SO is still working and will support you then? I desperately want to do this but it would cost me $5k/month.
Why would it? You can rent out your place and spend sabbatical in lower col areas
I have savings. Do you have any? My company is a startup and they don't offer sabbatical. I am sure Google does. You can take a sabbatical and have a job to come back to. How long have you been working for?
Congratulations man! Hope it goes well. We deserve a break in Tech.
Congratulations man, here I can't take sabbatical of even a month. Fear of fucking EMI kills me.
Omg just white ppl things
Definitely not white. Also second generation American.
Omg Microsoft, such Indian people comment