Taking a sabbatical can sound glamorous and dreamy, but planning a sabbatical requires presence, dedicated effort, and some serious logistical groundwork. Before you can get to the exciting part of deciding what you’ll actually do on your sabbatical, you’ll need to plan how you’re going to put your life on hold and leave!
1. Create your escape plan
Decide on a sabbatical experience that aligns with your goals, and then consider the steps you need to take towards making your escape feasible. If asking for an extended leave from work or quitting your job altogether is too much for you, Worldpackers is a great way to make your travel and sabbatical dreams a reality.
Worldpackers connects you with hosts around the world where you can travel exchanging your skills for accommodation. The platform was founded on the idea that travel is a pure form of education, and is represented by a worldwide collaborative travel community that strives to make travel easier and more accessible to all.
Using Worldpackers to travel allows you to enjoy some of the world’s more unique sabbatical experiences, while cutting your expenses up to 70%! Maybe you want to travel the world full-time as a digital nomad, and use your sabbatical to give time to creative pursuits that will help you build your digital portfolio. Maybe you’re seeking a calmer, quieter pace of life, and would like to immerse yourself in a natural environment. Whatever your chosen sabbatical experience, Worldpackers has a project that’s right for you.
As create your sabbatical escape plan and confront the logistics of work, time, and money, having the support of the Worldpackers community behind you is an invaluable resource.
2. Decide what kind of sabbatical you need
This is undoubtedly the most important aspect of planning a sabbatical.
Contemplate your purpose in taking a sabbatical; ask yourself what you need and what you want to accomplish. Journal about your reasons for taking a sabbatical. Examine your expectations for your time away, and be both realistic and brave about your aspirations. Make a list of all the things you want to achieve. If you have a clear idea of what you hope to get out of your sabbatical, determining the sabbatical experience that’s right for you will be much easier.
If you want to maximize the benefits of taking a sabbatical, doing a work exchange is a great way to learn new skills and actively participate in your destination’s local community. Moreover, if the focus of your sabbatical is travel, exploring the world via work exchange is an incredibly fulfilling way to see new places and have a profound cultural experience, while also practicing responsible travel!
3. Decide where you want to go and research hosts
Finally, the fun part! If you’ve made it this far, you’re committed to reaping the rewards of a one-of-a-kind sabbatical experience.
Consider the appropriate backdrop and environment for your sabbatical’s purpose and needs. Make a list of the destinations that call to you. Whether you want to take a sabbatical in a faraway place or venture somewhere new in your own country, work in a dynamic city or up your self-care practices in a sustainable community, chances are there’s a Worldpackers project to suit your needs.
Once you have sufficient destination inspiration, start browsing the Worldpackers site to narrow down your options. Each Worldpackers work exchange, social impact effort, and eco program has something truly unique to offer. You’ll find hostels, guesthouses, NGOs, sustainable communities, and permaculture projects where you can help out and receive stay, food, and other benefits in exchange for a few hours of volunteer work each day.