Taking a career break — options galore
I took a career break for 6-months in 2006; I’m still on it.
I often refer to job-quitting in my posts and always encourage it because I know (from personal experience) it sounds great but how DIFFICULT it is to do. The comfort bubble that your “career” allows you to bop in, often becomes too convenient to want to burst. Many people don’t — from fear, laziness, or their reluctance to shake comfort levels that come with complacency.
If you have the desire to take a halt from your “proper” life and explore your dreams, I find that you need to be consistently reminded that this is totally possible, without affecting your future career prospects. We seldom realize how such a step can in fact give us incomparable personal growth that will only enhance your future career / life prospects.
So, every time I find an article that encourages this frame of thought and gives you ample avenues and resources to explore, I feel it my responsibility to share it here on Vagablogging.
Here’s my latest find from The Independent on career breaks — devour it!
February 26th, 2008 at 4:15 am
I took my career break in 2005 by moving to Buenos Aires and am also still on “break”, though by now I guess one could call it a complete career change. And my life has never been better. Everyone really should try some type of break.
February 26th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Abha, I came to your blog for one reason (see the end of my monologue) and then found another reason, to tell my story of taking time off from “life” … Here it is: After college, I spent two years working in Boston for a Real Estate Investment Company. I knew that I wanted to travel, so I saved as much money as I could (only really got seriuos towards the end there) and in September of ’06 I left for a year long trip to Europe. I ran out of money by around month four (poor planning), but managed to survive on the Canary Island of La Gomera for two more months by selling popcorn on the beach and sleeping on rooftops and in caves (and met many amazing people who took me in). When I got back to the states I went west, abandoning my east coast life for a life less encumbered by materialism/consumerism/etc. I’ve lived in SW Colorado pretty much ever since. Now with a husband and two kids and a dog! I was initially attracted to my small town because I felt like I was still traveling as the sub-culture is very laid back (and I was able to camp out and still hold down several jobs my first summer here). People hang their laundry on clotheslines and it is not a sign of poverty but rather a sign of quality of life (no rush, and clothes feel better when air dried!). Thank you for letting me share this with you. I believe in what you are living/supporting. For me, it was about honoring my nature and living as close to nature as possible – and luckily, I’ve found a way to do that even without travel (for now!) Abha – I do have a question for you: Rolf told me that you live in Madrid and my family and I will be traveling to Spain/Portugal this summer. Any suggestions for travel, especially in Portugal. We’ll have around 10 days (going to a wedding in Mercer, France). Thanks!!!! Travel on/Live long! -Natalie
February 26th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Abha,
I’ve noticed you tackle this topic frequently recently…..what I wanna know is HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR MONEY? We are about to take off for a year with our eight kids…..I dream of staying away longer, hubby is the realist who reminds me we will need money eventually…..I argue we can work anywhere (and, in fact, have done in the past)plus we’ll have a rental income from our own home (no mortgage), but I’m wodnering what others do. Clearly supporting ten people on the road is harder than finding food and lodgings for just yourself, but I’m wondering about other options…..
February 26th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Jeff: Hats off to you. You seem to be settled and living the life you want, doing what you want! I am still unsettled and figuring out ways to generate a consistent revenue stream so I don’t have to worry about getting back into work in a “corporate career”.
Natalie: Could you email me at abha.malpani@gmail.com so I can write you recommendations for Portugal?
Rachael: Long live teaching English as a foreign language! Of course this only works when you are staying in one place for a while (at least 3-months).
I’m also working on finding ways to generate a consistent revenue stream. For instance, optimizing blogging opportunities (that can be done from anywhere in the world with an internet connection), creating my own website to offer a service OR something. Lea Woodward, fellow writer here, is a great example — you should check out her LIP website.
I just started reading Tim Ferriss’s “Four Hour Work Week” — you might want to get hold of it.
Evaluating what other people have done to have enough money to always be on the road is a good way to begin figuring out what you can do. Then you can copy or take what works for you and come up with your own thing.
Hope this helps!