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Ask HN: What would you do if given a sabbatical?

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21–26 of 26 posts

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if given a sabbatical?

#22

I’ve been considering taking a leave of absence. I’m single, no partner, no kids, I have savings and I feel my performance at coding is declining. I would go on some through hikes and travel to national parks, and car camp in BLM land along the way. I would try to have very inexpensive traveling experiences, build up stories to tell, and meet new people. This could be a good time to reset. Because of inflation and st…

> I’m single, no partner, no kids

> I’ve been considering taking a leave of absence

Do it. You have no obligations dragging you down. This is the perfect time to take the leave.

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if given a sabbatical?

#23

When I was a kid, my father got a sabbatical - he was a professor in a respected design program in a relatively well known area of the US. I struggled to comprehend how it is possible and this sounded like an incredible luxury; offered only to tenured, old respected faculty. Without the constraints and demands of his normal 10-2 academia job he wound down into a productivity-free state in which he did very little asi…

> Without the constraints and demands of his normal 10-2 academia job he

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.? Was that a full workday for your father?

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if given a sabbatical?

#24

I’ve been considering taking a leave of absence. I’m single, no partner, no kids, I have savings and I feel my performance at coding is declining. I would go on some through hikes and travel to national parks, and car camp in BLM land along the way. I would try to have very inexpensive traveling experiences, build up stories to tell, and meet new people. This could be a good time to reset. Because of inflation and st…

> and car camp in BLM land

What's a BLM land?

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if given a sabbatical?

#25
post #24

I’ve been considering taking a leave of absence. I’m single, no partner, no kids, I have savings and I feel my performance at coding is declining. I would go on some through hikes and travel to national parks, and car camp in BLM land along the way. I would try to have very inexpensive traveling experiences, build up stories to tell, and meet new people. This could be a good time to reset. Because of inflation and st…

> and car camp in BLM land What's a BLM land?

Bureau of Land Management:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Land_Management

Among other things,

> "The BLM administers 205,498 miles (330,717 km) of fishable streams, 2.2 million acres (8,900 km2) of lakes and reservoirs, 6,600 miles (10,600 km) of floatable rivers, over 500 boating access points, 69 National Back Country Byways, and 300 Watchable Wildlife sites. The agency also manages 4,500 miles (7,200 km) of National Scenic, National Historic and National Recreation Trails, as well as thousands of miles of multiple use trails used by motorcyclists, hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers.[61] In 2013, BLM lands received an estimated 61.7 million recreational visitors. Over 99% of BLM-managed lands are open to hunting, recreational shooting opportunities, and fishing."

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if given a sabbatical?

#26
I recently took some significant time off from work and it was a game-changer for my psyche. Tbh I didn't do any trips, I didn't have any absurd adventures planned (although if the circumstances were a little different I might have planned some), but I really just hung out with my kids and spent time bonding with them. It was extremely recharging to have that time to spend with them and also for my hobbies. A great reminder about how I can improve on work-life balance.
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