Hassan and Manya

Blog Writer Pro

The Leap of Faith

Hey there, fellow wanderlusters and career-go-getters! Today, I want to share a story that’s a little different from the usual 9-to-5 grind. It’s about our sabbatical – a word that seemed so alien to us just a short while ago. We’re those people who’ve always been glued to our careers, striving to be the best, winning awards, and reaping the bonuses of hard work. The thought of hitting the pause button on our careers? Unheard of! But then, something shifted.

Investing in Ourselves

We started to feel it – the fatigue. Our jobs consumed us, filling every waking moment (and some non-waking ones too, thanks to those work dreams). That’s when we realized: we needed a break, not just for rest, but to invest in ourselves. To recharge our batteries, to come back stronger.

A key pre-requisite was support from our workplaces. We were incredibly lucky in this aspect. The strong support from our managers played a crucial role. We both had solid track records of performance over the years which was considered, and thankfully, our managers were the kind who valued personal goals and balance. They saw our sabbatical not as a break from work, but as an investment in our personal and professional growth.

Our Sabbatical Goals

Our sabbatical had three clear goals:

1. Travel: To see the world, experience new cultures, and make unforgettable memories. Our goal was to explore and embrace diverse cultures and landscapes. From experiencing vibrant streets of major cities to exploring beautiful vistas, we sought to experience the world in its vast and varied beauty.
2. Family Time: To spend quality time without the usual distractions. To create cherish memories away from the rush of work life. Sharing meals, travel together, recounting stories, and the simple comfort of just being together.
3. Mind Reset: This was perhaps the most crucial. We didn’t exactly know what we wanted to learn, and that was the beauty of it. It was about creating space in our lives to figure it out.

Just a side-note on what we have done for mind reset to make it real. Manya has dived into learning Spanish and exploring the world of AI Product Management. As for me, I’ve ignited a passion for reading – already devouring my 5th book in January – and started learning Python, just out of sheer interest. This time has allowed us to pursue learning for the sake of learning, to indulge our curiosities, and to rediscover passions we never knew we had or had lost in the hustle of daily life.

Planning the Dream

How did we go from daydreaming to actually doing it? We started with a simple question: “What would we do if we could do anything?” This led us to jot down our not-so-formal bucket list, transforming vague wishes into concrete plans:

• Epic Road Trips: We eyed the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand, imagining ourselves hiking and visiting those iconic ‘Lord of the Rings’ sites.
• Underwater Adventures: Diving in the Great Barrier Reef was a must.
• Cultural Immersion: We wanted to dive deep into Japan’s rich history, culture, and, of course, food.
• African Wonders: From the southern coasts of South Africa to the wildlife-rich Serengeti, we were ready for an African safari.
• Royal Encounters: Rajasthan’s palaces and history awaited us in India.
• Global Events: Watching world-class tennis players at grand slams

The planning itself helped us uncover new highlights that we hadn’t previous considered – like experiencing New Year’s Eve fireworks in Sydney and watching Pakistan play cricket, or more specifically Babar Azam play that cover drive for four runs.

We mapped our journey around these highlights, factoring in specific dates for events like the Australian Open. Our itinerary started to take shape, with flight paths emerging naturally. 2- week chunks formed for each major country we wanted to visit while keeping within our total 90-day plan. Then we added or subtracted days as if the countries were negotiating for our time. We left room for spontaneity too. While major flights were booked in advance, we kept our itinerary flexible, ready to linger a little longer in places we fell in love with.

Budgeting for the Dream

Let’s be real: a trip like this isn’t cheap. But recognizing it as an investment in ourselves made it easier. We dipped into our savings but were mindful of our spending. We used our 200,000 Marriott points that we had saved over the past 10 years for 11 free hotel nights and sought out every discount we could. We built a budget to estimate costs – factoring in major flight costs, hotel nights, where we needed a car, cost of food and major activities. Once we had a ball-park, we had to ask ourself – are we okay spending this money on ourselves? For us the answer was pretty clear.

Excel: Our Travel Buddy

Our planning tool? Good old Excel. Every detail – flights, hotels, car rentals, activities, visas, packing lists – was meticulously logged. 60 days in, and we’ve largely stuck to our plan, with a few delightful detours along the way. We tried to do as much planning before as possible, so we could just follow a Hassan-Manya built guide and not have to worry about what we’re doing each day. It has also been nice not having to plan while we’re on our sabbatical.

The Takeaway

Our sabbatical has been more than a break. It’s been a journey of rediscovery, connection, and adventure. We’ve learned that stepping away from work isn’t just a pause – it’s an opportunity to enrich our lives in ways we never imagined.

If you’re considering a sabbatical, our advice is simple: think about what truly matters to you, plan with both heart and mind, and don’t be afraid to invest in your own well-being. Trust us, it’s worth every penny and every second.

Until our next adventure, keep dreaming and planning!