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What if everything we’ve been told about retirement is wrong? We work hard, we grind, and we save, all to eventually reach the golden years of retirement, where we’re promised freedom, relaxation, and enjoyment. But for many, that moment comes with a stark realization: I’ve spent the best years of my life waiting to start living.

What if there’s a better way? Instead of focusing on early retirement, consider something radically different: Take regular sabbaticals.

I would suggest, at least two, one in your early 40s and another in your early 50s. Don’t retire early – extend your career by two years, and in exchange, take time off at critical points in your life. This shift could transform both your career and personal fulfillment.

And I’m speaking from experience. I took a sabbatical in my early 40s and it completely transformed my perspective on life. It didn’t instantly change everything in the moment, but it set me on a path of deeper self-awareness, and that awareness is what has driven meaningful changes in my life since. It’s why I can confidently say that this approach will change the way you think about work, rest, and fulfillment.

Here are my reasons for why I believe this could change everything for you, too.

1. Stepping Away to Step Up: The Mental, Emotional, and Professional Workout You Need

Taking a sabbatical isn’t about pausing your career – it’s about recharging your mind, body, and spirit. We’re conditioned to value relentless progress, but stepping away offers something even more valuable: perspective.

When I took my break, I was in the thick of my career, moving fast and feeling confident. But stepping away gave me clarity I didn’t know I needed. It wasn’t just a mental break; it was a deeper reflection on what truly mattered. The changes didn’t all happen right away – like quitting drinking or picking up new activities such as gardening and collecting stamps or stepping away from the tech sector to build a new career in the philanthropic sector – but the sabbatical created the space for the mindframe to develop and for those shifts to unfold. It gave me the clarity to start seeing where I needed to make changes in my life.

The time away opened the door for self-reflection that continues to guide my life. It wasn’t a quick fix; it was a long-term awakening. It was the beginning of a journey, even if it was not an immediate transformation.

2. Seize Life at Its Peak: Don’t Wait for Retirement to Live

Retirement is often viewed as the time to finally live life, but why wait until then? By your 60s or 70s, often the energy wanes, and health might not always be on your side. The chresihed dreams of adventure are replaced by more subdued activities. Why postpone life’s greatest adventures when you could be embracing them in your 40s and 50s? Sabbaticals allow you to embrace the richness of life while you still have the energy and drive to fully engage with it.

To be clear, this isn’t a judgment on age. I’m not saying you can’t have a vibrant and fulfilling retirement. Rather, it’s a recognition of certain realities and an invitation to rethink the traditional timeline. Why wait for the later chapters to live fully, when you could seize those moments of vitality now?

During my sabbatical, I didn’t necessarily check off a bucket list – I reconnected with my family and began giving myself time to enjoy life more fully. In the years that followed, I made more time for the things that brought me joy. I started hobbies that, until then, I’d never made time for. I reconnected with family, not just in passing but in deep, meaningful ways. But even more importantly, I began to realize how much of life I had been putting on hold.

This isn’t about cramming in experiences – it’s about living life more deeply while you’re still at your peak. It’s about realizing that life doesn’t have to wait until retirement. Why wait until retirement to live when you can start shifting your life towards that balance now?

3. Two Breaks, Two Moments of Clarity: Reflect, Recalibrate, Refocus

Imagine this: in your early 40s, you’re feeling confident in your career, you’ve accumulated valuable skills, and you know your professional worth. That’s the perfect time to take stock, reflect on where you’ve been, and make conscious decisions about where you want to go next. It’s a moment of self-awareness that can lead to a clearer, more intentional next decade.

My sabbatical didn’t deliver instant answers, but it allowed me to step away from the noise and reflect on what was truly important. Over time, that reflection led to changes. It’s why I eventually made decisions to adjust my lifestyle and how I approached my work. It’s why I was able to take a long, hard look at my habits and choose a healthier path. And that’s why I encourage others to take the time to do the same.

Fast forward to your 50s. You’ve lived a bit more, seen the fruits of your labor, and have a much richer understanding of your impact on the world. Now it’s time for a second break – a moment to recalibrate before heading into the next phase of your career. This isn’t about winding down; it’s about aligning your efforts with what you really want to achieve for the rest of your professional life.

I’m approaching my early 50s now, and I’m planning to do it all over again. But this time, I’ll be armed with the insights I gained from my first sabbatical, ready to reflect on what’s worked and what hasn’t, and to recalibrate where necessary.

4. Disrupt the Routine: A Conscious Pivot You Didn’t Know You Needed

Let’s face it: life, especially in your 40s and 50s, can become a comfortable routine. You get good at what you do, you settle into the rhythm, and everything runs smoothly. But comfort isn’t the same as growth, and without disrupting that routine, you may never discover how much more there is to achieve or experience.

When I stepped away from my day-to-day work, it was both disorienting and freeing. The daily grind had provided a sense of security and accomplishment, but it also kept me from seeing opportunities for growth in other areas of my life. My sabbatical wasn’t just a break – it was a conscious disruption that allowed me to reassess my direction. This time away gave me the perspective to consider a pivot in my professional life and gave me the courage to pursue a career I truly love.

5. Retirement Rehearsal: Test Drive Your Future

One of the biggest fears I’ve seen among retirees is the sudden abundance of time. People spend years longing for the freedom of retirement, only to find themselves unprepared for how to fill their days meaningfully. Sabbaticals are like a “test drive” for retirement, giving you a chance to experience what it’s like to have time without the pressure of work.

During my sabbatical, I learned how to enjoy having time. I embraced new hobbies and finally had the space to appreciate the small moments that often slip by unnoticed. This “retirement rehearsal” wasn’t just an exercise in relaxation – it was a critical step in helping me plan for a future where I wouldn’t feel adrift. When the time comes to retire, I’ll already know how to fill my days with purpose and joy.

6. The Financial Reality: It’s Not as Costly as You Think

The biggest concern many people have about taking time off mid-career is financial. “How can I afford to take two years off?” But the reality is that it’s not as expensive as you might think. Yes, you’ll miss out on income and some potential investment gains, but it balances out.

Here’s why: In your early 40s and 50s, you’re likely at the peak of your career, starting to move towards your highest professional salary. When you add two years to the end of your professional life, I would contend that, you’ll more than make up for the financial gap caused by your sabbaticals, especially considering that you will be making a higher salary in the two added years as compared to the income you would have earned in your earlier years when you took the sabbatical. Plus, by taking time off during the earlier years, you’re not really drawing from your retirement savings – you’re just shifting the timeline. The two extra years of highest drawn salary will more than make up for the two years of previously missed income.

Financially, it makes sense.

Professionally, it makes even more sense.

Personally, it changes you and your life.

You’re essentially buying yourself the freedom to live fully in the present while still having a plan in place to secure your future.

Addressing the Fears and Challenges

I won’t pretend that the idea of a mid-career break is easy. There are very real concerns – financial, professional, and societal – that often hold us back. Will my career stagnate? Will I lose momentum? How will I manage financially? What will others think? These are valid fears, but they are not insurmountable.

The first step is planning. A break should never be an impulsive decision; it should be carefully mapped out, both financially and strategically. Set aside savings, develop a timeline, and have a clear sense of what you hope to gain from the experience. But beyond that, recognize that the fear of stepping away is often rooted in a fear of change itself. We’ve been conditioned to believe that success comes from a straight, upward trajectory, when in reality, the most successful people are often those who take the time to reflect, reset, and pivot.

After I decided to take my break, I realized that the world didn’t stop turning because I wasn’t there. I returned not to a stagnant career, but to one that was richer, more aligned with my goals, and filled with new opportunities I hadn’t even considered before. That’s the beauty of a well-timed pause: it creates space for the unexpected, for possibilities that don’t exist when you’re constantly running on autopilot.

A Strategic Choice for Long-Term Success

What many don’t realize is that a break isn’t about giving up – it’s about preparing for what’s next. It’s a strategic move for those who understand that success is a marathon, not a sprint. A break allows you to regain control of the narrative, to ask yourself what kind of career you want to build moving forward. Is this the path you want to continue on? Or is it time to explore new directions, gain new skills, or even transition into a different industry?

When you return, you’re not starting from scratch. You’re returning with a fresh perspective, new insights, and the clarity to make more informed decisions. Your break becomes an investment in yourself – one that pays dividends in the form of renewed passion, creativity, and direction.

Build a Framework, Trust the Process, Embrace the Break

This is my advice: Embrace mid-life sabbaticals.

Taking two sabbaticals – one in your early 40s and another in your early 50s – might sound and feel unconventional, but, I believe that, it’s a strategy that can lead to profound personal and professional growth. Instead of saving all your living for retirement, give yourself the chance to do it now.

I’ve lived this. I can confidently say it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. My first sabbatical didn’t just recharge me – it reshaped me. It gave me the tools to live more intentionally, to pursue the things that matter, and to align my life with my true values. The break set me on a path of long-term self-awareness, and I’m better for it. It wasn’t just about recharging. It was about rethinking, realigning, and rediscovering what matters most. It was about creating a life that’s not only successful by traditional standards but deeply fulfilling and purpose-driven.

So instead of dreaming of early retirement, let’s consider intentional well-thoughtout mid-career breaks. Opportunities to step back, reflect, and return with more purpose. The time you’ll gain in perspective and fulfillment is far greater than anything you’ll lose.

And this is not just my perspective, you will hear my loved ones tell you that the Manu who came back from his sabbatical was a better Manu.