Sabbaticals were traditionally year-long, funded affairs reserved for scholars and professors. Today, most people consider any break from regular work lasting a month or more a sabbatical (though counting summer vacation is surely unconventional). A sabbatical might include long-term traveling vacations or goal-oriented career breaks. The trend is catching on: people are crafting their own sabbaticals and even companies are coming aboard. Nearly 17% of employers offered some form of sabbatical in 2017.

I used to take yearly sabbaticals. For three glorious months each summer my time was more or less my own. I did whatever took my fancy: running around the yard with my siblings, reading books, pestering my parents. You probably did, too. We were little, so the associated learning was not exactly productive. Luckily, sabbaticals don’t need to be productive to have benefits.

Sabbaticals were traditionally year-long, funded affairs reserved for scholars and professors. Today, most people consider any break from regular work lasting a month or more a sabbatical (though counting summer vacation is surely unconventional). A sabbatical might include long-term traveling vacations or goal-oriented career breaks. The trend is catching on: people are crafting their own sabbaticals and even companies are coming aboard. Nearly 17% of employers offered some form of sabbatical in 2017.

The goal of a sabbatical, even one that is goal-oriented, is to rejuvenate and reap the accompanying rewards. What does science have to say? Studies documenting the benefits of substantial breaks point to an increased sense of well-being, greater productivity, and a boost to creative thinking.

Sabbaticals enhance well-being and productivity

In a study of 129 faculty members who had completed a sabbatical, matched with 129 faculty members who had not, those who had taken time off reported a greater sense of well being. They indicated that their time spent away had not only been beneficial for their home lives and families but that their home institutions had also benefited. Scholars who had traveled overseas saw greater benefits.

A smaller, qualitative study of 70 medical school faculty members across seven universities echoed these findings. The study also identified tangible, institution-aiding accomplishments achieved by returning sabbatical participants. Three of four returnees accomplished something notable, such as writing books or reorganizing teaching programs, directly following their time away.

Though scientific study of sabbaticals, in particular, is limited, the benefits of its common components are well-documented. Viewing these components as a whole, we can begin to explain our professors’ experiences scientifically.

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