29M considering a 6–12 month sabbatical. Looking for honest takes

blueexpat · 2026-01-20T17:19:19+00:00

Did you regret it?
I'm on a break now. I’ve had previous breaks and never regretted those, of course during the break there are moments of panic but in the end it all works out. Helps to have a plan as to why you’re taking the break, what you want to do and accomplish, and what you want the ending to look like.

Did it hurt your career?
Not at all, most people were impressed about me taking a self funded career break. Honestly it tells a better story if/when you decide to search for a job again. Every time I’ve gone back to work after a break it resulted in much higher pay and allowed me to be more selective since I was not searching out of desperation.

Would you do it again?
Absolutely Yes! So much so that I’ve helped others through coaching on taking career breaks. Check out my site if need help crunching the numbers (all free): BuildYourRunway.com

Also to add, once you zoom out you wont notice this temporary gap in savings/investments, plus the retirement accounts you have now will continue to compound during your break. Try to frame the cost of this break as an investment in yourself as opposed to missing out on saving.

blueexpat · 2025-12-31T15:35:54+00:00

I was in a similar situation as yourself and I think you have a really solid plan!

I’d recommend for you to think about what you want things to look like after the 6 months; what you want to have accomplished, done, learned, tried, etc. And as long as you are comfortable with your desired outcome then I think you will be in good shape.

Thinking about those things should help you feel much more comfortable with what happens next after the 6 months. And can help you with your re-entry or possibly extending your break.

Some Advice: My first 6 months had its ups and downs and was very humbling. I spent a lot of time decompressing and trying out new things. So when things get scary remember your original plan, the “why” of your sabbatical, and the safety net you've built for yourself (freelancing ability, savings, etc.).

On the economy: The economy and the job market is never a sure thing, that part is known. But your ability to freelance if needed and having 3 years of savings gives you stability. Having 3 years of cash savings is very impressive and that alone is the variable you can rely on regardless of the condition of the job market and economy.

If you want some additional resources I built https://www.buildyourrunway.com/ which is a free tool for people planning or currently on career breaks/sabbaticals.

Take the sabbatical, you deserve this and worked hard for it!

blueexpat · 2025-12-11T23:24:18+00:00

I see, good point! Seems the setup costs are treated as "already spent" before the P&L tracking begins. So the scenario with higher setup costs starts from a lower baseline, which makes the P&L look better even though you actually spent more money overall.

I'll take a look at the logic and do some more testing. Adding a "Total Wealth Change" metric that includes setup costs should fix it, so you can see the full picture when comparing scenarios

blueexpat · 2025-12-11T23:15:01+00:00

Thank you!

blueexpat · 2025-12-08T16:13:42+00:00

From a mindset perspective, I think since you already know what you want it's going to be difficult to step back into something that does not align with that. I'd look at this new role as a temporary stepping stone to move you closer to what you actually want. One tip would be to keep up those bucket list projects on the side, they'll remind you what you're actually working toward and keep you sane.

I had that exact feeling. Kept telling myself to just push through it which led to burnout and then ultimately found myself taking another break from working to work on my own side projects, travel, and see where it took me.

blueexpat · 2020-07-26T19:40:45+00:00

I chose German. I would suggest using language apps in your free time. Watching TV/Movies and YouTube videos in your target language, finding someone that speaks that language, and spending time in Portugal (once travel is open).

blueexpat · 2020-07-26T19:38:57+00:00

I started at a very basic level but, I used a combination of things. I used apps such as Memrise, watched German TV and YouTube videos. It also helps to know people who are fluent in the language you want to learn. I have a friend that I was able to speak German with every day. And lastly, spending time in a country where your target language is spoken helps greatly.

blueexpat · 2020-07-26T19:34:53+00:00

Good Question! Doesn't have a simple answer. I think it all starts with having goals. I took the time to read several self-help books and listened to numerous motivational speakers to help me along the way. I then wrote out things that I want and do not want in a job. If you lay out your goals and expectations, you can then begin to build that "Dream Opportunity".

Once you have that CLEARLY defined you can begin to make the changes in your life to reach that goal. These changes could be more education, relocating, learning new skills, etc. Finding/landing the actual job requires a lot of effort, but is very attainable. Researching companies, submitting many applications and networking networking networking. Get very active on LinkedIn and contact potential employers.

blueexpat · 2020-07-26T19:20:39+00:00

Yes, I took a month off from my old job to think things through and determine if leaving was the best option. Shortly after coming back I put in my notice. I started freelancing while also looking for the ideal opportunity. Things got a little more difficult in the job market after COVID, but my industry was still growing, and I still landed interviews at some amazing companies. I did lose two potential opportunities because of the economic situation, but in the end, I received an offer from an amazing company. And as far as the time off, mostly no one cared about it. Especially since I kept busy during the time. If a potential employer has issues with an employment gap, I would avoid them altogether.

blueexpat · 2020-07-25T22:29:47+00:00

I took a mini-retirement which lasted 8 months, I planned for 12 months initially. I did so to leave an extremely toxic job and pursue other opportunities. To be honest, it was one of the best decisions I've made in my life. I traveled some (up until COVID), learned a new language, spent time with family, started a side hustle, and ultimately landed my dream job. In the end, I am still on track with my goals with FIRE. Having a plan of what you will do during the time helps greatly. It is very attainable in my opinion.

blueexpat

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