Paid time off: three words every employee loves to hear. Hustle culture has warped our minds into thinking we must work non-stop. But guess what? There’s a term in the travel industry called a “travel sabbatical”. Life isn’t just about work. That’s not to say you can’t find fulfillment in your career, but it shouldn’t be all-consuming. For those who believe in taking time off and breaking away from the daily grind, a travel sabbatical might be your next power move. Especially if you’re a Black woman.
What is a travel sabbatical, anyway? A typical sabbatical is common in education, like when a university professor takes extended time off to travel, research, or teach abroad. A travel sabbatical is the same concept: an employee takes a break from work to pursue other interests, like exploring the world. Unlike quitting your job to travel, during a sabbatical, you’re still employed, but you’re not expected to be in the office or fulfill your regular duties. Remember those pupil-free days back in school? A sabbatical is like that, but longer, usually around 3 to 6 months (though the length depends on the person). The concept of freedom resonates deeply in the Black community. Our ancestors fought for it, and now we have the power to reshape what freedom means to us as Black women. In this case, freedom can mean breaking away from the restraints of a job, waking up when you want, setting your schedule, being spontaneous, and going through life a little lighter. Kathy Hampton, founder and creator of WellSide Retreats, took a four-month sabbatical and said that her number one reason was for freedom.
We often hear about the benefits of taking a break, but for Black women, a travel sabbatical offers a unique opportunity for rejuvenation and self-discovery. Moving abroad, as the author did to Spain, revealed a stark contrast in work culture compared to the United States. In many parts of the world, there’s a complete disconnection from work at the end of the day, a liberation often missing in the States where work can seep into every aspect of life. This constant pressure can lead to burnout, manifesting in insomnia, depression, and other illnesses. As Shar Wynter, founder and CEO of Xpat, Inc., aptly stated, “You can’t heal in the same environment that made you sick, so I think for many Black women, traveling is an essential part of our sabbatical process as it allows us to unplug from toxic environments and decompress in a safe space.” This highlights the profound impact of removing oneself from a detrimental environment.
While the United States is celebrated for its diversity, many have assimilated into the “American way of life,” which can limit exposure to the vast array of global cultures. A travel sabbatical provides a chance to truly witness another way of life. Hampton herself noted that her sabbatical allowed her to explore what she felt she was missing, even considering future places to live. Beyond broadening horizons, travel can ignite passions we didn’t know we had. The author recounts becoming more adventurous while traveling, eager to try new foods and engage with new experiences. This includes a transformative journey with dance, where exploring styles like salsa and flamenco abroad changed her relationship with her own body and opened her up to new rhythms and cultures in a way that simply couldn’t be replicated at home.
Whether you’re unhappy with your current job or simply feeling burnt out, a travel sabbatical offers a powerful solution. It’s not just about escaping; it’s about returning recharged and refocused, or even setting your life on an entirely new path. The opportunity for rest is paramount, allowing you to come back with renewed energy. But the second benefit of a travel sabbatical is even more profound. It’s an invitation to step outside the familiar, to shed the societal pressures that often weigh us down, and to reconnect with ourselves and the world on our own terms. For Black women, this act of intentional respite and exploration is not just a luxury, but a vital act of self-preservation and empowerment, a chance to reclaim our time and redefine our futures, perhaps even finding communities that embrace us in ways we haven’t experienced before. For more on this, search travel sabbatical on Facebook.
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Disclaimer:
For Education and discussion purposes. Please note no copyright infringement is intended, was recorded on BlkCosmo’s own equipment, and we do not own nor claim to own any of the original recordings used in this video and intend to use this as ‘fair use’.
