Whether you’ve quit your job, asked for a sabbatical while considering your options, or you’re between ventures, avoiding burnout is critical. When a good night’s sleep isn’t cutting it and you’ve been burning the candle at both ends, it’s time to pause and reflect.
Only when taking a sabbatical – or as some refer to it, a mini-retirement – is it possible to get some distance from your life. Then you can reconsider whether you’re where you want to be and do what you’d like with your time. Getting abroad is often the best way because it takes you away from the usual influences. Here are some suggestions on how to take a sabbatical abroad.
Get Your Money in Order First
The last thing that you need is to be worried about running short of funds when you’re in Europe or elsewhere. You’ll be a tourist, and so living costs somewhat reflect that. One of the main expenses will be food. It’s possible to reduce your food expenses by skipping expensive restaurant meals and making other plans. For instance, small local supermarkets in England offer affordable meal deals with a sandwich, a drink, and a snack for approximately $5. Purchasing fresh fruit is also a good idea since it is cheap and healthy.
Skip the Hotel Room
Taking a break from people, at least when you are trying to unwind, is important. It allows you to clear your head, recover from jetlag, and get your bearings. Trying to do that in the hustle and bustle of a busy hotel is the last thing you need. A London room rental can provide what’s required and still be central. There are places in Piccadilly Circus, the heart of the city, to enjoy the UK capital. A planned sabbatical of a couple of months is long enough to secure a room because they aren’t rented by the day. But if you’re serious about taking a long time out, then that shouldn’t be a problem either. For some examples of rooms in the capital, visit roomclub.com.
Know the Type of Person You Are
While your brain and/or body are telling you to give yourself a break, what should you do after settling into a new location? Certainly, you don’t want to return to set hours, deadlines, and other stressors. However, if you’re someone who is extremely goal-oriented or likes to keep busy, then having no plan for weeks at a time can be stressful too! If you’re this type of person, then gradually ease into adding structure back into your day. Make tentative plans for what you’d like to do the next day but keep them loose. Alternatively, if you’re happy to “play things by ear,” then do just that.
Don’t Think About Future Plans Right Away
It’s necessary to get enough distance from your regular life to gain some much-needed perspective. While the physical distance from normal stimuli is beneficial, mental distance is required too. Give yourself several weeks in a new place to clear your mind. Only when you feel refreshed and fully recovered will creative thinking kick in. Then it’s possible to figure out your next moves for after you’ve returned home.
Going abroad broadens your horizons. However, be sure not to turn your sabbatical into a hectic time with late nights out and a bad sleep pattern. Otherwise, you’ll feel no better once you get back.
