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I just quit my job every few years for a 6 - 12 months. The only reason I work is to save money so I can be free for a year to pursue my hobbies, art, literatur

I just quit my job every few years for a 6 - 12 months. The only reason I work is to save money so I can be free for a year to pursue my hobbies, art, literature, education, friendships, recharge my mental health, physical body, and explore the wonders of life without my energy being sucked away half the day by meaningless work. I'd be a husk of personality if I didn't have this time to think slowly about life with full mental clarity. There was a month where I would wake up daily and go for an extremely long walk or bike ride and just sit next to the river for hours. Some of my best thoughts and ideas came from doing this. There was no work drama or deadlines ruining this thinking process.

wise0wl 4y ago
In my next life I think I will do this. I decided to get married and have kids, so this one is mostly spoken for---but next time round I am doing the sabbatical thing.
- CGamesPlay 4y ago
  It’s OK to spend your sabbatical with your family.
  - hackernewds 4y ago
    The antithesis of a sabbatical - having crying, yelling babies and a laundry list of chores and tasks
    - nick123567 4y ago
      Sounds like you really like your family
      - feoren 4y ago
        Sounds like you haven't had children. It's pretty universal. It's incredibly draining literally every minute that they're awake. You have no time nor mental power left at the end of the day. For years.
        konart 4y ago
        I think it's very indivildual. My daughter is 9 months old now and only first 1-2 months were pretty draining. But then you just get used to it. Note that I'm working from home (for 4 years now). So it's not like I was rushing to an office asap every day. This may be different if you have more that one kid or a different family situation of course.
        dorkwood 4y ago
        Might things change when she starts walking?
        csunbird 4y ago
        Exactly my thought. A well-sleeping kid who stays where you put them is not that much work for now. But when they start being mobile and explore the world on their own, you will need to keep an eye on them forever.
        konart 4y ago
        Well, fortunatelly or not: things always change. Not to mention we are planning more kids. But still: everything is individual.
        reitanqild 4y ago
        My first was daughter was very quiet and I thought I somehow had got something right on first try. The next four of my kids has not been even though they share both parents. I think I should be happy for this: If they'd all been as harmonic as my first one I could easily ended up giving well meant parenting advice telling others "just do as I did, be kind and careful and encouraging and it will sort itself out".
        subpixel 4y ago
        No judgement here - I’m a parent who continues to make mistakes. But it doesn’t matter if you’re building software or raising a family - it doesn’t have to be draining. In fact your best work will never show up when it is.
    - RobinL 4y ago
      I'm currently on long term parental leave, and my perspective differs. Sabbaticals are for changing your perspective and developing in different ways from full time work. I feel like I properly have time for my kids because they're the whole focus, so it doesn't feel like a list of chores at all, or something that is preventing from living life. Instead, it feels like the most fulfilling experience of my life so far.
    - culopatin 4y ago
      Daily duties are still going to be there during a sabbatical. You still have to cook and wash your clothes, your teeth and upkeep your environment, but you have full flexibility of when and how and where.
  - stochastastic 4y ago
    It’s different when you have people depending on you! Not OP but I’d love to spend a sabbatical with my family… if I could afford it. I’d need a much bigger cushion.
  - konart 4y ago
    THe thing is - your family needs them moneys. Can't have those without a job. And if you family is "wife+N small kids" - you can't really leave a job for long. Even if you are an IT guy with a good salary.
    - ahartmetz 4y ago
      Spendings don't expand to match earnings by magic or a law of nature. You let it happen. You don't have to.
      - stuporglue 4y ago
        Maybe that's true up until you have a kid. Once you have a kid, spending expands as the kid does. Baby require nothing but clothes, cheap food and love. Teenagers require all sorts of things for school and activities. I mean, technically you don't have to provide them, I guess, but if you want a well developed kid who will have their own success, you have to do some investing.
      - konart 4y ago
        Many people (in fact more than 50% even in the US according to cnbc [1]) live paycheck to paycheck. Not to mention that spending structure change over time. Back when I was 20 - I only needed that much money to buy myself some food and drinks, a pair of sneakers or boots once a few years + some here and there spending. Nothing big. Now I need to provide for my kid, wife who is on maternalily leave and I need to save some money for my mother (call it her additional pension) and my family because you can really have a family and no savings. God knows what will happen. And if you have a kid (even one) - you need to spend a ton of money on clothes alone. They grew really fast, they get dirty when they eat or shit (in case diaper was put in a wrong way at night for example) etc. Unless you are really rich - you won't be able to leave your job for long. I can imaginge 3-6 months leave if you are a Senior Developer or higher and you live in a country with stable economy\political situation. In any other case - I doubt anyone will take such risks unless they are literally about to go insane or something. [1]: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/24/more-americans-live-paycheck-to-paycheck-as-inflation-outpaces-income.html https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/24/more-americans-live-paycheck...
- amoss 4y ago
  I'm currently taking a sabbatical for a year. My son is still young enough that he finishes school in the early afternoon and we get to spend most of the day together. It is bliss. The projects that I'm working on still get time in the morning, and in the evening.
hackernewds 4y ago
What kinds of ideas if you wouldn't mind sharing?
- famahar 4y ago
  Countless creative projects. I was never much of an art type person before I started taking long breaks from work. With this free time I've been able to break away from mainstream thought towards creativity and consumption and started exploring the quiet, slow world of human perception and awareness. A stronger appreciation for the parts of society that capitalism doesn't care about because it's unprofitable. All my ideas relate to slowly engaging with an unfiltered reality. I've taken on more of an artists view of the world, and the world and nature is full of inspiration.
dopidopHN 4y ago
I’m doing the same. But ageism in the software industry start to concern me since it will inevitably apply to me. I wonder if I will always be able to find a job that easily.
sethammons 4y ago
What is your plan for retirement? Eating your savings regularly would erode compound growth.
- famahar 4y ago
  I honestly don't think too deeply about this. I'm not at the age where I need to maximize an optimal retirement plan (of course the earlier the better). I just hope that in the end everything will work out. I'd rather focus on growing as a person now than much later in life. Compound personal growth is my focus instead of the monetary kind. A lot can change in 30 years. Maybe I'll find an alternate stream of passive income given all this free time. Maybe I'll die in 5 years. Maybe I'll find myself living a happily extremely frugal retirement in a rural area. Or maybe I'll just continue this way of living until 80.
  - Smith42 4y ago
    Can I ask how old are you? I like your way of thinking
    - famahar 4y ago
      Thank you. I'm 30. Part of this thinking also comes from a place of privilege. I don't have kids and don't plan to have kids. I have a tech background and supportive family so worse case I just fall back on that. I'm not career driven though. I don't care to tie my identity, worth, personality, and life plans to my job. It's not the most secure mindset but it's what provides me the greatest sense of peace in life. Maybe "reality" will come for me. I'm too much in the present to care right now though.
  - smallerfish 4y ago
    > Compound personal growth is my focus instead of the monetary kind. A lot can change in 30 years. On the flip side, if you start working on retirement now, assuming you have no kids you could retire by 45. You'll still have your strength and fitness for 15-30 years after that point. You become less and less employable in this field the older you get beyond that, unless you're either a top N% engineer, you found your own company, or you go into senior management. The gravy train doesn't last forever.
sarojmoh1 4y ago
I've found that I've incidentally been doing this and am already planning on continuing the pattern. I've had some shame about not making most of my past year off though. My entrepreneurial ideas haven't taken off, I didn't quite cut it with freelancing, and I honestly didn't rest that much (just spent time worrying about $). All learning though, I now have an idea of how much I'll need to actually feel free next time. Any other insights though? Thanks!

wise0wl 4y ago

In my next life I think I will do this. I decided to get married and have kids, so this one is mostly spoken for---but next time round I am doing the sabbatical thing.

CGamesPlay 4y ago
It’s OK to spend your sabbatical with your family.
- hackernewds 4y ago
  The antithesis of a sabbatical - having crying, yelling babies and a laundry list of chores and tasks
  - nick123567 4y ago
    Sounds like you really like your family
    - feoren 4y ago
      Sounds like you haven't had children. It's pretty universal. It's incredibly draining literally every minute that they're awake. You have no time nor mental power left at the end of the day. For years.
      - konart 4y ago
        I think it's very indivildual. My daughter is 9 months old now and only first 1-2 months were pretty draining. But then you just get used to it. Note that I'm working from home (for 4 years now). So it's not like I was rushing to an office asap every day. This may be different if you have more that one kid or a different family situation of course.
        dorkwood 4y ago
        Might things change when she starts walking?
        csunbird 4y ago
        Exactly my thought. A well-sleeping kid who stays where you put them is not that much work for now. But when they start being mobile and explore the world on their own, you will need to keep an eye on them forever.
        konart 4y ago
        Well, fortunatelly or not: things always change. Not to mention we are planning more kids. But still: everything is individual.
        reitanqild 4y ago
        My first was daughter was very quiet and I thought I somehow had got something right on first try. The next four of my kids has not been even though they share both parents. I think I should be happy for this: If they'd all been as harmonic as my first one I could easily ended up giving well meant parenting advice telling others "just do as I did, be kind and careful and encouraging and it will sort itself out".
      - subpixel 4y ago
        No judgement here - I’m a parent who continues to make mistakes. But it doesn’t matter if you’re building software or raising a family - it doesn’t have to be draining. In fact your best work will never show up when it is.
  - RobinL 4y ago
    I'm currently on long term parental leave, and my perspective differs. Sabbaticals are for changing your perspective and developing in different ways from full time work. I feel like I properly have time for my kids because they're the whole focus, so it doesn't feel like a list of chores at all, or something that is preventing from living life. Instead, it feels like the most fulfilling experience of my life so far.
  - culopatin 4y ago
    Daily duties are still going to be there during a sabbatical. You still have to cook and wash your clothes, your teeth and upkeep your environment, but you have full flexibility of when and how and where.
- stochastastic 4y ago
  It’s different when you have people depending on you! Not OP but I’d love to spend a sabbatical with my family… if I could afford it. I’d need a much bigger cushion.
- konart 4y ago
  THe thing is - your family needs them moneys. Can't have those without a job. And if you family is "wife+N small kids" - you can't really leave a job for long. Even if you are an IT guy with a good salary.
  - ahartmetz 4y ago
    Spendings don't expand to match earnings by magic or a law of nature. You let it happen. You don't have to.
    - stuporglue 4y ago
      Maybe that's true up until you have a kid. Once you have a kid, spending expands as the kid does. Baby require nothing but clothes, cheap food and love. Teenagers require all sorts of things for school and activities. I mean, technically you don't have to provide them, I guess, but if you want a well developed kid who will have their own success, you have to do some investing.
    - konart 4y ago
      Many people (in fact more than 50% even in the US according to cnbc [1]) live paycheck to paycheck. Not to mention that spending structure change over time. Back when I was 20 - I only needed that much money to buy myself some food and drinks, a pair of sneakers or boots once a few years + some here and there spending. Nothing big. Now I need to provide for my kid, wife who is on maternalily leave and I need to save some money for my mother (call it her additional pension) and my family because you can really have a family and no savings. God knows what will happen. And if you have a kid (even one) - you need to spend a ton of money on clothes alone. They grew really fast, they get dirty when they eat or shit (in case diaper was put in a wrong way at night for example) etc. Unless you are really rich - you won't be able to leave your job for long. I can imaginge 3-6 months leave if you are a Senior Developer or higher and you live in a country with stable economy\political situation. In any other case - I doubt anyone will take such risks unless they are literally about to go insane or something. [1]: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/24/more-americans-live-paycheck-to-paycheck-as-inflation-outpaces-income.html https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/24/more-americans-live-paycheck...
amoss 4y ago
I'm currently taking a sabbatical for a year. My son is still young enough that he finishes school in the early afternoon and we get to spend most of the day together. It is bliss. The projects that I'm working on still get time in the morning, and in the evening.

hackernewds 4y ago

What kinds of ideas if you wouldn't mind sharing?

famahar 4y ago
Countless creative projects. I was never much of an art type person before I started taking long breaks from work. With this free time I've been able to break away from mainstream thought towards creativity and consumption and started exploring the quiet, slow world of human perception and awareness. A stronger appreciation for the parts of society that capitalism doesn't care about because it's unprofitable. All my ideas relate to slowly engaging with an unfiltered reality. I've taken on more of an artists view of the world, and the world and nature is full of inspiration.

dopidopHN 4y ago

I’m doing the same. But ageism in the software industry start to concern me since it will inevitably apply to me. I wonder if I will always be able to find a job that easily.

sethammons 4y ago

What is your plan for retirement? Eating your savings regularly would erode compound growth.

famahar 4y ago
I honestly don't think too deeply about this. I'm not at the age where I need to maximize an optimal retirement plan (of course the earlier the better). I just hope that in the end everything will work out. I'd rather focus on growing as a person now than much later in life. Compound personal growth is my focus instead of the monetary kind. A lot can change in 30 years. Maybe I'll find an alternate stream of passive income given all this free time. Maybe I'll die in 5 years. Maybe I'll find myself living a happily extremely frugal retirement in a rural area. Or maybe I'll just continue this way of living until 80.
- Smith42 4y ago
  Can I ask how old are you? I like your way of thinking
  - famahar 4y ago
    Thank you. I'm 30. Part of this thinking also comes from a place of privilege. I don't have kids and don't plan to have kids. I have a tech background and supportive family so worse case I just fall back on that. I'm not career driven though. I don't care to tie my identity, worth, personality, and life plans to my job. It's not the most secure mindset but it's what provides me the greatest sense of peace in life. Maybe "reality" will come for me. I'm too much in the present to care right now though.
- smallerfish 4y ago
  > Compound personal growth is my focus instead of the monetary kind. A lot can change in 30 years. On the flip side, if you start working on retirement now, assuming you have no kids you could retire by 45. You'll still have your strength and fitness for 15-30 years after that point. You become less and less employable in this field the older you get beyond that, unless you're either a top N% engineer, you found your own company, or you go into senior management. The gravy train doesn't last forever.

sarojmoh1 4y ago

I've found that I've incidentally been doing this and am already planning on continuing the pattern. I've had some shame about not making most of my past year off though. My entrepreneurial ideas haven't taken off, I didn't quite cut it with freelancing, and I honestly didn't rest that much (just spent time worrying about $). All learning though, I now have an idea of how much I'll need to actually feel free next time. Any other insights though? Thanks!