I have been working since past 6 years, ever since I finished my MBA in 2005. The maximum leave at a stretch that I have taken in these 6 years was the one during my wedding. I took about 15 days off then and they were spent in going from Bangalore to Ranchi, then to Punjab, then back to Ranchi and then back to Bangalore. The second time I took a long leave was in Feb this year for my BIL’s wedding.
In these 6 years of working, I have never taken a work break. Almost all vacations have been on extended weekends with a day or two added to it. Annual leaves have never been exhausted, in fact year on year the leaves have been wasted. Even the leaves that I have taken have never been completely devoid of work. I have been on calls and mails.
I have worked very hard in these 6 years. And therefore a sabbatical has been on my mind for some time now. I really do want to take off for 2 months, yes 60 full days. I don’t want to check my emails even once during this time. I don’t want to take a single work related call. Although I have no idea when I will be able to do this, I do have a fair idea of what I will be doing during these 2 months.
I will do lots and lots of travelling. I will spend time in Ranchi with parents. I will visit Italy and France with Aman, not a hurried trip but a more relaxed one, where I can take the flavor of these countries and not just tick mark the must sees. I will go on a vacation with my sister, a shopping vacation, where I will pamper her till I am broke. I will spend some time with my best friends R and A in either Goa or someplace where we can just talk and laugh like good old times.
I will read lots and lots of books. I will read all through my break, to my heart’s content.
I will cook. Maybe, I will even learn how to bake a cake. I will exercise. Maybe I will take up running.
I will learn to play a musical instrument. A guitar or maybe a violin.
I will get photographs printed. Almost all beautiful memories are just in softcopy now. But soft copies can never be as charming as printed glossy pictures. So I will sort and get some pictures printed and will put together albums.
I will go for lots of massages and spas. And I will relax. I will lie on the hammock, stare at the sea, sip on my coffee and read a book.
Yes, all that and much more. When? I don’t know. But one day I will…
Iya's Blog 
awesome idea go for it. I know what u mean by that before I took a break from work I fetl exactly the same way, with 10 yrs of working it felt like I was working forever…though I did take my vacations and during that no work, work hard play hard was my motive…. but still a break does good…
I am sure i will take a break one day, just not sure when!
amen to that iya 🙂 lets hope all that is soon and we can read about that on your blog.
Btw, I hope ur boss also follows ur blog ;-).
Ah, you are too sweet! thanks!
I dont think my boss is around here.. i hope he is not!!
Its just so amazing to make plans…I love making plans..I wish from the bottom of my heart that your wishes and best laid plans come true.
Well , isn’t day dreaming amazingly satisfying in itself?
Sounds awesome! Wish u get to go for it soon 🙂 Hugs!
Oh and I so love the photo album idea 🙂
Thanks Swaram!
That would be just awesome…Do that .. I wish all this comes true very soon for you.
Working for 11 yrs now and need one such break desperately..and i have plan in place for that already 🙂 Just waiting to execute.
About Italy and France – you bet..the proper relaxed stay rather than tick-marking places-to-see is the way to go. We have seen very few places in europe till now and all because when we go we just stay there and experience the life there. And we are happy how we have fallen in love with each one.
“I will go on a vacation with my sister, a shopping vacation, where I will pamper her till I am broke.” – That’s straight from my heart too. (Though she earns more than I do 😉 🙂 ) But somehow i still feel she is my baby sister.
Another thing I absolutely loved from your list is learning to play guitar or violin 🙂 🙂
Ok am going back to planning and executing mine now..you have given me a long list of most wonderful things to do.
OMG i almost wrote a whole post here 🙂 🙂
you are planning one too? tell us more about it..
Ok – am going to do a post on something on this line..perhaps good idea to put some things in writing.
Best of luck for the vacation…. I hope you get like this one pretty soon… As a matter of fact even I want one like this one 😀
dont we all want it??
Just go for it! The time is now :-). U know w fren of mine – a very successful CA did just that – 2 months! She went back to her love for painting and she looked so relaxed and happy. U know things can wait, work can wait, but life will not! So go ahead and re-claim it!
wow monu, u sound so thrilled. i think u need a break too!
I love that statement –
“things can wait, work can wait, but life will not!”
Reminds me the song from the movie “Badmash Company”….
कभी कभी ऐसा ळगे ये भी कम ही ख्वाहीसे…..
Amen!!! 🙂
Amen!
Aha! the idea is sounding so good!! I say do it ASAP! A break gives u a fresh lease of life and the ideas that u have will surely make your break the best possible break 🙂
yes, and i am sure i will come back more rejuvenated and raring to go!
I took a sabatical after 9 years of working, and although I was worried that I would be bored stiff- I loved it. Am still loving it 🙂 Go for it, when you are ready to enjoy it 🙂
i dont want to like quit work.. just go on a break and come back. i dont think i can stay at home for a longer period.. but then one never knows till it happens..
sounds very tempting, go for it.
🙂 Thanks! the plan is in place …
You need a break! Take one now!
i do need! but cant take now.. one day i will..
Not to burst the bubble , 60 days and so many plans:) Even if you do half of the items listed, it will be a dream vacation
haha, u think its a lot to do in 60 days?? lets see how much of that i can do..
Was wondering where you were. BTW, a bit confused – is this a sabbatical or shift? From your earlier posts, looks like you’re now living in Singapore? Kya hua? Bangalore nahin bhaaya? 😉
aah, nice to see you here! must have been a long long time since you showed up 🙂
well to cut a long story short – i moved to Singapore last September after staying in Bangalore for 5 yrs.
And in this post i am talking about a work break.
So much in two months? Take a year off! 🙂
a year?? hmmm… when i am 40, i will!
Go for it Iya 🙂
🙂
i thoroughly recommend this. tho my personal belief is as long as it is only a temporary holiday from work and you have something to come back to….you’ll enjoy the holiday even more then.
i totally agree, i do want to come back. i am not gonna quit..
All of that in 2 months? I’ve been slacking for nearly 8 now and still haven’t crammed all that in ’em. I gotta teach u how to slack and not have lists of things to do in your slack time :pp. I swear I traveled a lot more and did more stuff when I was working. But then the fact that I’ve been preparing for a new phase these last few months and that was a chore enough to keep me occupied or just that, and I would like to believe and gloat, I’m a kickass slacker!! muhahaha
woman, u r on a different mission all together!! the last 8 months for you have been totally different girl!!
i think i can do all that in 2 months.. but guess will need another 1 month to recover from the tiredness!
do all that.. aur chal goa chalte hain ~ sounds awesome!
and for the musical instrument, iya it has to be piano..
pakka, R will come na?? its ur responsibility to get her out for atleast 3 days!!
Go for it Iya. Speak to your boss. You know my story na – I was so tired, I just walked into my boss’s cabin & handed in my notice. I took some time off to spend with my family & to smell the roses and it really helped. Don’t think so much about it. I’m sure if you speak to your boss, he will understand. Its the best feeling in the world when you get up in the morning and know you have days of absolutely nothing to do ahead of you, you don’t have to get dressed and run to work. Do it Iya. You really need this break.