Could a Sabbatical Help You Enjoy the Simple Things?

Neverending wanderlust and CVS-receipt-length bucket lists are what drive so many of us to dream of quitting our jobs to travel. Taking a sabbatical is very different from a nonstop vacation though and it’s not all about racking up accomplishments. To keep myself from getting lost in my search for the big, life-affirming travel moments, all I have to do is remember that some of my favorite past travel moments were the little ones. These are some of my favorites from before and during my year-long round-the-world trip. Do you think a sabbatical could help you enjoy the simple things more?

The BYOB movie theater my friends and I would go to after class in Bath.

Winding around the West Virginia highway with my then-boyfriend (now husband) behind the wheel and ’90s R&B on an offline playlist.

The kids watching that giant bubble street performer in Prague’s Old Town Square.

Walking down the street in Aix-en-Provence eating a two-euro tomato and mozzarella sandwich.

Being stuck on the bank of the River Cherwell because my flatmates couldn’t quite get the hang of punting.

Getting caught by a crazy sudden hail storm in Berlin on our way to see Checkpoint Charlie.

Balancing on a wobbly stool at a Union Square counter in front of a bowl of pad thai in NYC

Learning how to cross the street in Rome

Learning how to cross the street in Vietnam

Wasting an entire afternoon at Budapest’s Szechenyi Baths learning the lyrics to Brazilian pop music

If these tiny things became moments that I took away from my past travels, why would my future travels be any different? Staying in the present and paying attention to the little moments is one of the great benefits of slow travel, and taking a sabbatical offers loads of time for it.

Want to know more about my travel philosophy? Read on to see how timing is everything on the road.