Since the company she worked for had approved the sabbatical, Nelson wanted to ensure she took full advantage of retaining her employment status while traveling. Though she was entitled to five weeks of paid vacation, she saved that vacation time for the first five weeks of her trip so she could continue being paid normally during that time. She also made sure that the medical benefits that came with her job were applicable to overseas travel so that she didn’t need to purchase separate travel insurance.

Aside from the financial aspect of her planning, Nelson had to mentally prepare for potentially not coming back to a permanent full-time job.

“Though my place of employment did approve the sabbatical, they did flag that there was the chance that I may not come back to my exact same permanent full-time job. As someone that’s always been fiercely financially independent and working since I was 14, the thought of not coming back to steady employment was terrifying. When I did come back, they offered me a mat leave coverage role for one year. I took it, but decided to leave to pursue a new role in a new industry seven months after my return.”

Another thing she had to do in preparation for being away long-term was make peace with the fact that she was going to miss out on some big moments with her family and friends while away, including birthdays, weddings, holiday gatherings, and more.

“I had to remind myself that this was a temporary sacrifice I’d have to make in order to fulfill this long-term travel goal, but I’d be back soon enough.”

Coming back from her sabbatical, however, was a bittersweet experience for Nelson. On one hand, she felt more confident in herself than ever; like she could do anything she put her mind to.

“Traveling to six countries alone in Southeast Asia as a Black woman is pretty badass. I also felt a great sense of fulfillment from checking this massive goal off my bucket list. On the flip side, I felt sad and uninspired when I had to reintegrate into ‘normal life’. Going back to a 9-5 after spending six months on a dream trip felt like I took a step backward. After being able to rest and get a taste of living out my dreams of being a world explorer, I was sad when that period came to an end.”

Singapore