Your Month-by-Month Sabbatical Prep Checklist

Planning a sabbatical takes more than just booking a flight. Between work, money, housing, insurance, and gear, there are a lot of moving parts to track. This month-by-month sabbatical prep checklist will keep you on track, so you can launch into your sabbatical feeling calm and ready.

6+ Months Before Departure

✅ Choose a rough departure date
✅ Start mapping out your sabbatical itinerary
✅ Estimate your budget and start a dedicated savings fund
✅ Start telling trusted friends and family
✅ Research recommended travel vaccines and book a clinic appointment
✅ Block off time to declutter, organize paperwork, and sell things you no longer need

4–6 Months Before Departure

✅ Renew your passport, Global Entry, and/or TSA Pre-Check
✅ Check visa requirements for the countries on your itinerary
✅ Continue building your savings
✅ Get travel insurance
✅ Consider how you’ll manage your finances while away
✅ Decide what to do about your house or apartment

2–4 Months Before Departure

✅ Book your first flights and accommodations
✅ Register for absentee voting
✅ Complete a packing test run with your backpack
✅ Cancel unnecessary subscriptions or memberships
✅ Schedule an end date on all your utilities
✅ Set up international phone plans or research SIM card options
✅ Arrange pet care or storage solutions if needed

1 Month Before Departure

✅ Make sure prescriptions are filled for the duration of your trip
✅ Set up mail forwarding
✅ Give notice, update your resume, and wrap up final work projects
✅ Consider your after-sabbatical plans

2 Weeks Before Departure

✅ Arrange final hangouts or goodbyes with loved ones
✅ Scan copies of important documents (passport, insurance, medical records)
✅ Notify your bank of travel plans and order foreign currency
✅ Set up automatic bill payments

1 Week Before Departure

✅ Clean out your house
✅ Download some offline entertainment

1–3 Days Before Departure

✅ Pack your bags
✅ Charge all your devices
✅ Confirm your flight status and check in online

Departure Day!

✅ Grab your jacket, toothbrush, phone charger, and any other last-minute packing items
✅ Deep breaths <3
✅ Head to the airport and the adventure ahead

Want a printable copy of this sabbatical prep checklist? Grab one here.