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What is a sabbatical and why should you take one?

Have you ever come across the term “sabbatical” but never tried to look it up?

Well, a sabbatical is usually three to 12 months of unpaid leave from work, while some employers offer compensated breaks from work as recognition for a specific length of service. Because they are a workplace incentive rather than a legal right in most regions, offering one is not guaranteed.

But we’ve researched and realized its benefits. Here’s why you should take one.

Mental break

If you devote your sabbaticals away from your typical working and living setting, whether touring or staying with relatives in a place far away, the detachment might operate as a mental respite from your current stressful setting, allowing you to disengage and contemplate.

Return rejuvenated

Individuals often experience stress after holding the same position for a long period and no longer feel inspired or energized to go to the office. But research has shown that employees who take prolonged leave from work are better able to recharge and resume work with renewed energy.

Fresh perspectives

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Time away from the workplace might give some people a fresh outlook on the value of job and career advancement when compared to more meaningful time spent alone or with loved ones. Such folks may thus opt for a vocation that requires less of their time and attention, even if it implies a lower salary.

Independent teams

In an absolute sense, no work should grind to a halt due to dependency difficulties. In some ways, sabbatical aids teams in becoming self-sufficient. During your leave, other employees take over and dive into the responsibilities, meeting the workload and performance expectations. When you return, your coworkers should have picked up new skills for a more efficient work relationship.

Fine-tuning your health

Able to take time off during a particularly stressful moment in your life might have significant health advantages. Whether you were aware of it or not, your professional work life has brought about a significant amount of stress, which may have presented itself in a variety of ways.

Getting rid of anxiety can have some very real daily rewards, such as bettering your sleep routines, controlling your dietary patterns, and giving you more time for the gym. Furthermore, those of us who spend a significant amount of time slumped over a computer are more likely to suffer postural problems. A year away from the stresses of the workplace can provide considerable mental and positional alleviation.

Sabbatical years, which have traditionally been reserved for academics, were created to allow professors to take a rest from lecturing. They were usually granted leave every five years or more to pursue research or simply relax. However, allowing employees from diverse professions to leave for a certain period appears to be the most effective strategy to rejuvenate tired minds and increase overall employee retention. Why not suggest to the HR department a sabbatical leave policy if your company doesn’t have one yet?

These are the downsides of traveling you should be aware of

You can retreat through travel.

Occasionally, you just need to go away, whether it’s from a toxic relationship, a job you despise, or simply a monotonous, inactive lifestyle.

Yes, a change of environment can help you get over fatigue or melancholy, and being far away from the mess or stress factor might help you see it from a different perspective. But there’s no disputing that a coin always has two sides.

As the world opens up and people are packing their suitcases, these are the downsides of traveling you should be aware of.

Costly

Flights and accommodation can be costly unless you are willing to compromise with your trip dates and sacrifice your schedule and convenience. Another factor to bear in mind is that pricing for essential items like food, lodging, and transportation can change significantly from what we’re used to in sunny Singapore.

Jet lags

While many individuals mistake jet lag for just being extremely sleepy, it is a condition that occurs when your innate body clock becomes out of rhythm as a result of traveling across time differences. Jet lag can cause sleepiness or irritability, as well as difficulty resting sufficiently for some folks. Your body system may experience upsets as a result of this.

Health issues

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Though it can occur anywhere else in the universe, it occurs far more frequently when abroad. The explanation for this is that we are constantly confronted with new stimuli, which weakens our resistance to infection. Traveling exposes us to germs and viruses from all over the world, some of which are not exactly pleasant.

Disrupted routines

When you’re at home, your day has a set schedule and direction. You know what to anticipate and appreciate consistency. Traveling, unfortunately, is a fantastic way to disrupt this. And perhaps that’s a beneficial move… after all, we could do with a little spice now and then, yeah?

But what if you have strict dietary restrictions to keep up with? Or perhaps require certain hours of snooze to perform adequately? Norms and behavioral patterns can be beneficial at times, though we easily take them for granted. But because of the volatility and uncertainty of travel, comforting routines can be tough to maintain.

Traveling, without a doubt, aids in the expansion of perspectives while also allowing people to understand more about diverse cultures. We recognize, nevertheless, that travel, with its various uncontrollable circumstances, may sometimes be somewhat of a headache for some. If you’re still excited to plan that forthcoming trip, despite the drawbacks we’ve discussed in this article, go ahead! Just be sure to research in-depth before stepping into foreign lands. COVID-19 has changed the world very much, so unless you tread with an open mind, you might be rudely shocked to see the changes.

What is Generational Wealth?

Generational wealth pertains to assets passed by one generation of a family member to another. Assets can include stocks, bonds, and other investments such as real estate and family businesses.

Other terms for generational wealth include family wealth, legacy wealth, multigenerational wealth, and intergenerational wealth. Many people may associate generational wealth with financial wealth such as cash, bonds, real estate, and family businesses. However, generational wealth can include valuable possessions, heirlooms, educational legacy, traditions, and connections.

Generational wealth transfers after death by passing it down in the form of an inheritance. A generation does not always have to die off in order to enrich its heirs. Families can transfer much of their wealth in other ways such as gifts, educational expenses, and medical expenses.

For instance, your grandparent died. The Last Will and Testament specifies that the S$2 million fortune be divided evenly to five grandchildren. The funds and assets passed to these grandchildren would then be considered generational wealth.

BUILDING GENERATIONAL WEALTH

Creating generational wealth to hand down to future generations starts with establishing a solid financial footing. You can build your generational wealth by investing. Buying stocks, bonds, and other investments can help your money grow through the power of compound interest.

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Moreover, you must have an emergency fund that will prepare you for short-term goals such as down payments on a home. Eliminating high-interest debt such as credit cards can be a helpful strategy to build your savings too. Lastly, opening lucrative family business can provide opportunities for you to create a financially successful life. Pass these down to the future generation!

“When money realizes that it is in good hands, it wants to stay and multiply in those hands.”
― Idowu Koyenikan, Wealth for All: Living a Life of Success at the Edge of Your Ability

Sources: 1 & 2

Ways to stick to a monthly budget

It’s not simple to stick to a budget and even the most diligent savers have trouble staying the course at times.

The fact of the matter is that making mistakes is an inevitable process of learning. You will have a greater awareness of your connection with money and more command over your expenses once you get a hold of it. There isn’t a magic button that will keep your budgeting on schedule, but there are a few suggestions that can assist.

Keep scrolling for ways to stick to a monthly budget.

Side incomes

Budgeting is only half of the story; boosting your income can help you achieve your financial goals. Look for ways to make additional money by working or by taking on a side hustle. Admittedly, nothing feels more comfortable than regular contributions to your bank account.

Track the transactions

We all spend money in various categories daily: food, petrol, eating out, and so on. It’s better to develop the practice of recording these transactions as soon as they occur. For instance, do not leave the supermarket until you have done recording the purchase amount on your phone.

Plan your weekly meals

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The quickest method to protect your cash on hand is to plan your meals and follow a shopping list. You won’t overspend on products that will go stale fast in your refrigerator and then end up in the trash if you plan everything you need to cook for the week.

You will also most likely eat healthier if you avoid buying junk foods that don’t fit into your eating plan. Choose recipes that employ similar ingredients so that you will be able to make full use of them without letting them go to waste due to leftovers.

Say no when you need to

To be realistic, you do have to learn how to reject occasionally; it’s all a part of adulthood. You can’t just expect to acquire whatever you desire. It’s similar to declining social invitations to conserve your time and effort. Saying no to spending is the same—you don’t splurge to avoid draining your current account or your money for tomorrow.

Don’t be concerned about what everyone else claims to have on social networking sites. Some of them are heavily in debt to their luxury possessions, while others are struggling to gain control of their lives away from the camera. So put forth the attempt to protect your budget because being committed to it and your financial goals are more precious now than later.

It’s never a bad way to strictly adhere to your budget, maintain budgeting skills, and keep your save-spend proportion in check. While you may still do anything you want, whether it’s taking a quick trip during the holiday season or checking something off your wishlist from time to time, make sure you have a budget set up for each activity. And don’t forget to incorporate some of the abovementioned ways to help you stick to it.

Why Celebrating Small Triumphs Matter

Of all the things that can increase inner professional life, the most important is making progress in meaningful work. Celebrating small wins can give you the boost you need to be reminded that you are constantly making steady progress. Furthermore, it highlights that you are not behind on your goals and that what you are doing is enough.

This is how it works:

Action –> Result –> Feeling good –> More action –> Continued result

Small triumphs come in exist in different forms such as learning a new language, helping others in need, witnessing growth in a houseplant, working out for the first time, and cooking with ingredients that you grew yourself. Celebrate these small triumphs using the following creative ways.

#1: TAKE A WELLNESS BREAK

There is an urgency culture that exists in our current society. We often hear “hurry”, “be quick”, or “too late”. It is no wonder that many people find it hard to rest.

Rest is vital. You earned a day off! We are not meant to be rushing all the time. Having a personal day will help avoid burnout, realign your goals, and prioritize self-care.

#2: SHARE YOUR SUCCESS

Create a group chat where you and your friends can share work-related stories of successes and failures. When anyone shares a small triumph with the group, you can react in a celebratory fashion. If you are having an unpleasant day, your friends can provide you support and understanding.

#3: WRITE DOWN YOUR FEELINGS

Bust out your journal and write down all your feelings regarding your progress. Do not forget to include the important details of your triumph such as the issue that you solved. You can use this journal entry to motivate you or to help you land the coveted promotion.

#4: ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PROGRESS

Acknowledging your progress requires a change in your thinking. It is alright if you fail to produce the results you want or if you make mistakes along the way. If you are doing something to make a progress, you should be proud of yourself.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

#5: GIVE A YOURSELF A SIMPLE GIFT

Singapore’s longest-running annual sale called GSS ran from June 6 to July 7, 2021. During this period, Singaporeans were able to pamper themselves while enjoying great deals. A good way to reward yourself is to get a simple gift.

Whether you want to purchase a box of cupcakes or a new shirt, preferences will play a role in what is perceived as valuable. Remember that the value of the gift must be congruent with your point of progress.

#6: CREATE HELPFUL HABITS

You need to learn how to win consistently to make progress on a daily basis. This can be accomplished by using helpful habits. These habits come naturally to you because you have programmed your mind and body. Thus, you must strive to establish habits that ensure daily wins.

It is essential to acknowledge and celebrate your small triumphs to fuel your mental strength and keep going despite what you are facing. These triumphs will help you lean into the joy of why you are doing what you are doing.

Sources: 1 & 2

Mental break

Return rejuvenated

Fresh perspectives

Independent teams

Fine-tuning your health

Costly

Jet lags

Health issues

Disrupted routines

Side incomes

Track the transactions

Plan your weekly meals

Say no when you need to

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