Taking a sabbatical is an event that can be life-changing in many ways.
As marketing manager at Fearless Adventures, I was fortunate to play a significant role in shaping the brand since its launch in 2021.
Watching it grow from strength to strength is an experience I always felt very grateful to be a part of.
However, after years of dedicating my time and energy to my career, I always felt the pull of wanderlust and the urge to explore the world – yet hesitant to take time off work and potentially lose a job I loved.
Last year, I asked co-founder Dominic McGregor how Fearless Adventures felt about offering me a sabbatical to solo travel to Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia.
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As you can imagine, asking for an extended period of time off work and being transparent with my appetite to travel was quite daunting, so I couldn’t be more grateful when his answer was a confident ‘ yes’.
Sabbaticals have been shown to improve mental health, increase productivity, and enhance creativity.
But most importantly, sabbaticals provide the opportunity to discover new passions and reignite existing ones.
There’s something about taking a step back from the day-to-day work routine that allows you to see the bigger picture and bring fresh ideas back to the table.
This experience allowed me to grow personally, gain new perspectives, and discover a new sense of confidence and independence.
I was able to challenge myself in ways that I never would have imagined and pursue hobbies that had taken a backseat to my career.
After six months, I’ve come back to work with a renewed energy that I didn’t even know I needed.
I feel recharged, inspired and ready to hit new targets.
I think in today’s fast-paced digital marketing industry, it’s easy to forget about the importance of work-life balance.
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Nevertheless, taking a sabbatical or investing time into self-reflection and personal growth, is definitely a powerful tool that positively impacts both your work life and attitude.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have taken one, and I look forward to continuing to bring my passion and insights to Fearless Adventures.”
Dominic McGregor, founding partner at Fearless Adventures, said: “When Hattie asked me if she could take a sabbatical for six months to go travelling, I didn’t even think twice and said ‘yes’
“She joined The Social Chain AG at 17 years old as an apprentice and I knew it was something she wanted to always do
“Last week she came back to Fearless Adventures after travelling the world for six months.
“Good people are very difficult to find, when you have them make sure you create a culture where they can thrive and continue to grow as a person.
“Hattie is such an asset and although we missed her, we knew it was the best thing for her.”