204. So You Want to Take a Sabbatical?
Choosing Freedom Over Fear
Walking away from the norm takes courage. But questioning routine and prioritizing freedom can lead to a life that aligns with your desires. Here we address three concerns people have about taking a work-break.
1. Courage to Step Away
Humans are irrational creatures. The ultimate evidence? We spend almost our entire lives working jobs we don't love. Imagine how absurd we must seem to people from other cultures. We dedicate most of our lives to work-related tasks, only to rush to Target and spend $300 on Christmas decorations and a tree-shaped advent calendar.
We wonder how to get the balls to leave our jobs but we don’t question how we got the kahunas to spend $45 on a festive three-dimensional cardboard cut-out with 24 doors of daily trash to uncover. Precious life force energy wasted!
What if we radically prioritized our freedom and lived a life that truly aligned with our deepest desires? We may not be able to quit our job tomorrow, but we could find a way to get there eventually.
2. Financial Foundation
Money matters—but maybe not in the way you think. A sabbatical isn't about having millions, but about strategic planning. There are a few key numbers to understand:
Monthly Spending: How much do you spend each month? Start with an initial guess, then track your expenses for a few months to get a more accurate picture.
FI Number: This is your retirement number. Typically calculated using the 4% rule, which suggests you can safely withdraw 4% of your investments annually without depleting your principal. For quick math, multiply your annual spending by 25.
You don't need to reach your full FI number to take a sabbatical. These numbers provide clarity about your financial security. How many months can you sustain yourself? How does your current savings compare to your retirement needs? This transforms your money goals from ambiguous to specific, helping you prepare for your break or determine if you need to save more.
3. Follow Your Highest Excitement
I’m good at setting goals and creating steps to achieve them—often at all costs. My pursuit of financial independence led me to live with my parents and move to the middle of nowhere. Many sabbatical-seekers are ambitious individuals who create their own reality, but I've learned an important lesson: don't set overly lofty goals during your sabbatical.
Previously, I followed clear goals: go to school, get a job, become financially independent, etc. Now, I make small goals that allow me to explore my interests without commitment. I've discovered that forcing a specific outcome can limit serendipity.
Take my salsa dancing experience. Initially, I imagined dedicating hours to practice and potentially competing. However, I quickly realized salsa is a night-time activity, and I'm a morning person. So, I "canned" salsa (pun intended this time). The key is to hold your sabbatical goals loosely. An entire world of discovery awaits once you step away from work.
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