This section is a collection of thoughts, meant to capture the internal chaos as I progress through this “gap” period. Kind of written for myself so probably gonna be boring…
On taking breaks from work
It seems to be increasingly common, seeing people take sabbaticals, gaps, whatever terminology you choose to use. It has long been common in other parts of the world, but something that surprisingly still seems to be taboo in SG.
Taking a break to pursue a different path has always been in my mind, and it took me 5 years post graduation before I decided to do it. It eventually felt like a now or never decision and I considered the following points before making a step.
In assessing risk vs opportunity: The downside is limited (lost time / lost money) but the upside is unknown and could potentially be huge and help shape my life in a way I choose.
Life: In some ways it felt like there was some urgency. I wanted to take a break while I had no responsibilities / no liabilities and while my parents were healthy
Practical Matters - Savings: I felt like I was comfortable and had sufficient savings after 5 years of work to sustain and travel over the course of a gap, and importantly to still have enough savings at the end of the break to feel comfortable
Work: I was open to shift away from the industry that I was in and try something new. The field I was in was niche and there is no guarantee I’ll get a job in the same field given the limited roles. I would not have stopped unless I was mentally ready to shift to something else if required
Taking the step is often not just a logical one but also an emotional one - it was also a trip to Melbourne that convinced me it was time to explore, and after doing a couple of internal self checks I submitted my notice shortly after that.
One of the things that surprised me was actually that some people are still negative about the idea of a work gap, even in this day and age. Comments such as “wah what are you going to do sleep at home” and people nitpicking on terminology “you can’t call that a sabbatical what you are not going back to the company”. Sometimes it may be the people you least expect, but ignore the naysayers! Another comment that I often got was “you need to have a plan of what you are going to do”, which I do not think is necessarily the case.
Selectively listen to the advice of others (one ear in, one ear out as they say), but some useful considerations may be:
Sabbatical or Quit?
This was not something I expected to think about, but if you enjoy your career and want to go back to it, there are options other than quitting. There is technically no defined age at which you take a sabbatical, and frankly no rush if you enjoy the work you are doing. Alternatively it may be possible to take a temporary sabbatical (or no pay leave) to explore while still having a job to return to for lower risk - something worth exploring with your employer. In my case, taking a sabbatical was more challenging given the set up in the team, and it made more sense to leave my role. Furthermore, I wanted the break to be an open ended opportunity for exploration, which a fixed term sabbatical did not necessarily allow for
When is the right time?
Everyone will say there is never a right time but think about what suits your level of comfort. I used to wonder if I should have taken a break earlier but I appreciate how taking a break now after working for a few years (with some savings) allows me a better sense of stability and gives me a longer runway for my gap. There may also be situations in future that may it more challenging (aka having more liabilities) so that is just something to keep in mind. “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans”.
What do I need to be ready for a gap?
So many people told me I needed a plan for my gap - it was the most common question that I received throughout the 2 months of my notice period. Frankly I disagree with this notion. It is helpful to have some ideas of what you are drawn to (e.g. travel) but you can figure it out along the way. Furthermore, if you already feel boxed into a certain mindset at work, planning your gap as you go along may allow you to better break out of your pre existing mindset to explore new ideas and activities.
Make sure you are doing it for the right reasons
Take the break to move towards something, not to run away from something! This is actually one of the more important pieces of advice that I received (although to be applied on a case by case basis and may be different if the team or boss is affecting your mental health).
I believe that taking a break to see the broader picture can only be helpful in the longer run, as we understand more about the world and learn to ask the right questions. Hope these questions help a bit if it is something you are considering as well!