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In recent years, more and more organizations downsize due to the economic situation.  Many people are facing involuntary no-pay leave or even being laid off.  One of the possible ways for organizations to retain their employees is offering sabbaticals for their staff.  Sabbaticals are a long break from work with or without pay.  Usually, the duration of a Sabbatical varies, from one month to one year.  Sometimes, if a person is being laid off, he or she could also reframe the unemployment period as a long break from normal work.  Of course, this is not a Sabbatical, strictly speaking.  However, the person can still do what someone on a Sabbatical do.  This is a good chance for a person to recharge, reflect and transform. 

Research stated in the Harvard Business Review in February 2023, people taking sabbaticals might engage in a working holiday, a soul resetting adventure, or a slower pace rest and exploration.  These people could develop a complete relationship with oneself, gaining new perspectives in life, and have a transformation due to self-reflection and self-exploration.  For someone who engaged in a working holiday during a Sabbatical, he or she might work on a passionate project during the resting period.  For example, one may write a novel or engage in a startup.  For those choosing to have an adventure, they might choose to travel to special places they planned to visit long time ago.  These might also be backpackers who enjoy exploration and new experiences.  For those in a slower pace, first, they might sleep and eat more.  Doing nothing but just rest might give them space for recovering from a burnout. After taking ample rest, they might choose to engage in a working holiday or a soul-searching adventure.

If you are also considering taking a Sabbatical, you may consider the following:

1. Engaging in new projects other than one used to do at work – you may consider setting up an Instagram account to display your artwork and gain followers, you may also engage in new projects for charity or startup, or you may start a creative business such as writing a book, creating artwork, filmmaking, or enjoying photography.
2. Focusing on personal development – you may dive into reading many books of interest to you, reflect yourself through journaling and self-reflection for personal values or life goals, developing new hobbies or habits, such as learning musical instruments or developing exercising regime.
3. Working on professional development – you may take online courses, attend workshops and seminars, or even learn a new language.  Sometimes, you may also consider seeking mentor for personal development or spending time in skills enhancement for your professional domain.
4. Travelling to different places around the world or in your hometown – you may explores new cultures and countries, visit places in your hometown, enjoy hiking in new rural areas or embark on a road trip.
5. Transforming into an entrepreneur or doing side projects – you may start a new business and explore new entrepreneurial ideas, launch a new project, such as a new YouTube channel, work freelance, or develop a new product.
6. Spending more time with family and friends – you may deepen your relationships with your family members or friends through more gatherings or travelling, reach out to your old friends or meet new friends, or even give support to the relatives or friends who are in need.
7. Receiving counselling or psychoanalysis – you may also try to receive counselling to deal with some longstanding personal issues or see a Jungian analyst for self-exploration and new insights.
8. Exploring new career directions – you may work with a coach to find new career directions, reach out to other professionals for new information about the market, or exploring a new industry by internship or volunteering.

There is no best or perfect way to enjoy a Sabbatical.  No matter what you choose to do in this long break, be creative and flexible.  A Sabbatical is a period for us to refresh ourselves and reflect on our true self to gain more self-understanding.  Sometimes, a transformation will occur with thorough self-exploration and self-discovery.