How Taking Six Months Off Full-Time Work Can Be the Best Decision for Your Career

Have you ever felt like slowing down and prioritising your well-being might be selfish? I did - for a long time. In a world that constantly pushes us to hustle, I believed that rest equaled laziness. But after ten years of working as a digital designer in the corporate world, I hit a wall. My creativity was fading, my energy was depleted, and I was still quietly carrying the weight of personal grief and loss. Work had been a helpful distraction, but eventually, the cracks started to show. My body was screaming for rest - through stress-induced acne and painful stomach inflammation - and I finally had to listen.

It wasn’t easy. Giving myself permission to take a break felt terrifying. I worried what people would think. Would my team feel abandoned? Would my bosses laugh at my request for six months off? But I knew something had to change. To my surprise, when I finally opened up and asked, my managers were completely supportive.

So, in January 2021, I stepped away from full-time work for the first time in my adult life. The first few weeks felt slow and awkward. I battled guilt and self-doubt daily - what was I even doing with my time? But gradually, I began to reconnect with creativity. I picked up my iPad and started drawing again - just for me. The process became therapeutic. I posted my art on social media, and was blown away by how many people resonated with it. I wasn’t alone in my heavy emotions - and expressing them through art became deeply healing.

I also challenged myself by saying yes to a community mural project. I didn’t know it then, but that small “yes” would go on to shape my next career chapter. It reminded me how good it felt to create something with heart, and for a purpose. By month three, I felt more rested, grounded, and eager to return to work - but with a new clarity: I didn’t want to go back to the old way of working.

So, I began planning. I prayed, journaled, and slowly created a financial and business strategy that would let me leave corporate life and launch my own small creative business. When I returned to my job at the end of the six months, I knew in my gut it was time. I handed in my resignation and officially launched my freelance career in early 2022.

I won’t sugarcoat it - making the leap to freelance was scary. I’m not naturally a risk-taker. But something deeper in me said, “You’re ready.” And honestly? I was. Taking that sabbatical didn’t derail my career - it saved it. It gave me space to heal, realign with my values, and build a business rooted in purpose and creativity.

If you’re feeling the urge to rest, listen. You’re not lazy. You’re human. And sometimes the bravest thing you can do is stop, breathe, and begin again.

5 Practical Ways to Take a Sabbath From Work

Taking an intentional break from work - a modern-day sabbatical - can feel radical in today’s hustle culture. But the idea of rest isn’t new. In fact, it’s ancient and biblically backed. In the Old Testament, God instructed His people to take a sabbath every seven days - and even mandated sabbatical years every seven years, where the land (and the people) would rest. Rest wasn’t optional - it was holy.

Somewhere along the way, we traded this rhythm for constant productivity, believing busyness equals effectiveness. But now, more than ever, we’re seeing the cost: stress, burnout, and disconnection from ourselves, God, and others. Here’s how to reclaim rest in your own life, practically and intentionally.

1. Plan and Save With Purpose

Taking time off work, especially unpaid, requires planning. Just as farmers in biblical times prepared for a sabbatical year by storing up resources, we can do the same. Start small: create a savings goal, simplify expenses, and be intentional about what you truly need. This kind of stewardship allows you to enter a season of rest without financial anxiety. It’s not about luxury - it’s about creating space to breathe. Don’t fret if you’re savings don’t equal a whole year’s worth of money that equates to a year off - aiming for enough savings to take one or two months off is an incredible start. As a disclaimer, I’m definitely not a financial adviser, so what’s written here is general advice. Only you know your finances best, and what will work for you and your partner/family. I’d suggest praying about what it looks like for you, and plan accordingly.

2. Be Courageously Honest With Your Workplace, Family & Friends.

Many of us fear what others will think if we ask for extended time off. But honesty often opens more doors than we expect. When you speak openly about your reasons - whether burnout or physical health realignment - your workplace and relationships might surprise you with support. Frame your sabbatical not as checking out, but as an investment in becoming a healthier, more focused version of you in the long run.

3. Pursue Life-Giving (Not Work-Like) Hobbies

This time isn’t about ticking off goals or building a brand. It’s about restoration. Revisit hobbies that fill your soul without pressure. Paint, walk, bake, write, garden - anything that invites you to be present and playful again. This kind of creativity reconnects us to God’s joy and reminds us that we are more than what we produce.

4. Get Comfortable With Stillness and Discomfort

Stillness can feel strange. At first, you might battle guilt or feel like you're wasting time. But in God’s design, stillness isn’t emptiness - it’s preparation. It’s often in the quiet that He speaks the loudest. Let yourself feel the discomfort. Journal, pray, and let your nervous system begin to recalibrate. You’re not falling behind - you’re stepping into His divine peace and alignment.

5. Trust God With the Outcome

Ultimately, rest is an act of trust. Taking a sabbatical means believing that God will provide - not just financially, but emotionally, spiritually, and creatively. You may not know exactly where your rest will lead, but He does. The fruit of sabbath rest often shows up long after the break is over.

If the idea of rest is stirring something in you, lean in. You don’t need to have it all figured out. Start small, trust big, and remember: rest isn’t a reward - it’s a rhythm God built into creation for your good.