These short office absences take many forms, from adventure travels to working holidays that focus on passion projects|Marco Verch|CC BY 2.0 DE

Taking a sabbatical is no longer just prevalent among college-goers. Many professionals are pursuing “mini-sabbaticals” or “micro-retirements” to combat burnout.

These breaks take many forms, from adventure travel to working holidays focused on passion projects. Harvard researchers suggest that providing such paid breaks could be a useful tool for recruiting and retaining talent.

However, American work culture has historically prioritized constant output, while European counterparts have legal systems that require at least 20 paid days off per year. This is trickling down to the US.

Overall, workers who take such sabbaticals often have a permanent shift in perspective, leading to career pivots or improved work-life balance.