I Quit for a 3- year sabbatical — Here’s how and why

I quit my job in exchange for a 3-year sabbatical!

2022 is a different year. Totally different year. This year is the first year in my life since graduating from college, when I no longer have a monthly pay check. This is the first time in my life that I no longer need to wake up with work waiting for me.

My previous job was great. Not too much work, pay was okay (no one ever say their pay is fantastic right?) No work after office hours. Colleagues are good, company is doing well. I must be nuts to quit, ya?

But I did.

Here’s why.

1. I’m in a mid-life crisis. I realize nothing at work belongs to me, and I’ve nothing to show that’s mine. I want to create something that I could put my name. I want to use this sabbatical to create things that I resonate with, and am proud to put my name on.
2. While the many at my age are upgrading their homes, my house hunt tells me while pictures of beautiful homes always awe me, I realized, I only thought I want them. My desire for a luxurious home is low. I prefer freedom of time and just having a decent home to stay in. If that’s the case, I could afford an extended sabbatical, and why not take it now then later. Money is worth more now than later, so is time.
3. I want to homeschool my preschool kids. I never like school when I was a child, and find school excruciatingly painful, and a sheer waste of time. Do I really want my kids to be in childcare for (like 12 hours per day) even before formal school starts?
4. I’m lost.

I don’t see light at the end of what I’m doing at work. So what if I’ve completed this task? A next task awaits me. It’s just an endless conveyor belt of work waiting for me to do, and I don’t enjoy doing them. I want to spend my time and energy on things I truly want to do.

To prepare for the big day (where I leave corporate), I did some preparation.

Here’s how I prepared for my sabbatical.

1. Tell my husband. It’s going to be a big decision, and I may be less financially able for some time, so it’s important that he’s aligned and okay with this change. And yes, he’s supportive.
2. Get a feel of my finance

I looked at all my savings and non- property asset (I live in my only property, and have no intention of renting any part of it out nor sell it. Hence my property is an expense, no an asset), and look at how many years I could survive (financially) without a job. I realise, it’s 5 years based on current expenditure. To be conservative, I can take a 3 year sabbatical.

I tried to create some passive income by buying into ETFs and bonds. Lesson learnt on this is, this should be done way in advance, but at least I did something.

3. Asking myself whether what I’m replacing (my job with) is worth more than my job

I recalled my Economics lesson in high school, where we learn about opportunity cost — value of the best alternative forgone when we make one choice. So, I looked at what’s the opportunity cost of quitting my job. To me, it’s the pay check and the lifestyle and convenience that the money brings me. I tell myself, it’s only temporary.

What I intend to do for my sabbatical

Time pass very quickly. I’ve seen people who go on the sabbatical end up not living the life they want, and as they look back wondered where all the time has gone. No, that’s not what I want.

I want this 3 years to be preciously spent — with people I love, and projects I love.

I want to come out of this sabbatical telling myself that I’m glad I took the sabbatical. If I were to look for a job after that sabbatical, I want my prospective employer to see the things that I do during my sabbatical as value adding to my resume.