Are work sabbaticals good for career growth?

We spoke with some professionals who took a long break from work to focus on health and pursue creative interests. This is what they learnt

Rachna Sharma has spent the past few months coaching people for triathlons and teaching swimming, while training regularly to realise her 50th birthday goal in June: to swim the English Channel.

Three months ago, she decided to take a yearlong sabbatical from work so she could spend more time with her son before he leaves for college and work towards her athletic goals. So, she resigned as the national logistics officer at an international development agency. It's her first long break in a three decade-long career. With enough financial savings, support from husband and steady income from teaching swimming, Sharma is comfortable taking the break.

"Before this, I was not ready earlier to walk away from a steady salary. But I got to a point when I realized this is not enough. I wanted the space to pursue other things," says the Gurugram resident, adding that she intends to explore flexible work options after the break that will allow her to pursue more interests.

A sabbatical is an extended period away from a job. Some companies offer employees the option to take a sabbatical, with policies varying on offering the breaks with or without pay. Often, workers quit their jobs to take time off and fulfil personal goals, or to take a break from their hectic work lives. There's no right age to take a sabbatical. Some take it earlier, when they don't have any family responsibilities or a home loan to worry about. Many take it when they reach senior positions and feel burnt out and want to reconsider career direction.

It is, however, not an easy choice. For, you need some sort of financial security to help you sail through the break period.

Delhi's Tilottama Shome, for instance, took a sabbatical in 2016 when she was 45, working with a sportswear brand in a project management and design role. Reason: Eleven years of a demanding schedule, which included managing time between her young daughters and her job.