Taking a year off from work to rejuvenate

Sabbaticals are getting more popular with millennials and others, and companies are also more open to staff taking such breaks

Educator Georgiana Phua at a ceramics class in Madrid, Spain, during her sabbatical early this year. While there, she will also be brushing up on her Spanish and and learning user-experience design.
Educator Georgiana Phua at a ceramics class in Madrid, Spain, during her sabbatical early this year. While there, she will also be brushing up on her Spanish and and learning user-experience design. PHOTO: ADRIANA ALEJOS
Magazine writer Koh Eng Beng and his girlfriend Charmaine Wu, a photographer, at a pet cafe in Seoul, South Korea. They spent four months travelling around Seoul, Kyoto and Taipei during his sabbatical year in 2017.
Magazine writer Koh Eng Beng and his girlfriend Charmaine Wu, a photographer, at a pet cafe in Seoul, South Korea. They spent four months travelling around Seoul, Kyoto and Taipei during his sabbatical year in 2017. PHOTO: COURTESY OF KOH ENG BENG
Entrepreneur Koh Kai Xin helping to pack leftover food for distribution in a monastery in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, this year. She enjoys going on Buddhist retreats, often for a month at a time.
Entrepreneur Koh Kai Xin helping to pack leftover food for distribution in a monastery in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, this year. She enjoys going on Buddhist retreats, often for a month at a time. PHOTO: COURTESY OF KOH KAI XIN
Toh Wen Li
Updated
Apr 21, 2019, 08:31 AM
Published
Apr 21, 2019, 05:00 AM
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On a cool January morning this year, educator Georgiana Phua landed in Madrid with three suitcases and earnest plans for the months ahead - brush up on her Spanish, work on art projects and learn user-experience design.

The 33-year-old was about to start a year-long sabbatical in the city and her spirits were high.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on April 21, 2019, with the headline Taking a year off from work to rejuvenate. Subscribe

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