A software engineer has sparked a thoughtful discussion on Reddit after sharing how a sabbatical transformed his health and personal life. After 11 years of continuous work in the IT industry, he took a break and described the past two months as “pure relaxation, growth, and joy.”
From Deadlines to Family Time
In his post, the engineer revealed how his health improved during the sabbatical, with cholesterol levels dropping and stress significantly reduced. For the first time in years, he found himself free from nonstop deadlines. Instead, he devoted time to family, particularly his one-year-old child, noting the joy of watching small milestones and cherishing everyday moments.
He also mentioned putting some of his free time into personal projects, writing, “In the free time, I automated my F&O strategy. It’s been working quite well, which feels like a nice bonus while I enjoy this downtime.”
Community Shares Their Experiences
The post resonated with many Reddit users, who shared their own experiences of stepping away from work. One commenter recalled, “Not really a sabbatical, but long back when I was burnt out, I quit my job and went for Mtech. Going back to living in college campus really recharged me. Living in any typical huge campus of engineering colleges like IIT Kharagpur or any IIT/NIT is just therapeutic. All the amenities, security and the type of people you’re surrounded with is amazing.”
Another user shared a more challenging path to their break, writing, “Got pushed out of my last job due to internal politics and bad market led me to a forced sabbatical for 6 months. But I’m glad that happened since it gave me the opportunity to focus on my life, wife, house and time to think what I want to do over long term. Couldn’t have done that without the support of my wife. Forever grateful and indebted to her.”
A Call to Pause and Reflect
The original poster summed up his perspective by encouraging others to pause and reflect if they feel overworked. He noted that stepping back from the hustle made him see life “in high resolution,” adding that while not everyone can quit their job, prioritizing health and family can be just as important as career goals.
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