FOMO on Your Sabbatical. It's Normal.
You've done it. You've quit your job. You've packed up your flat. You've unanchored yourself, hauled in the rigging, and you're not adrift but rather sailing free around the world. Your sabbatical has begun. Exciting, right?
There has been so much reflection, heartache, and courage in reaching this point. Let's imagine you've arrived in Lombok—a beautiful island, touristy but not ruined. You've got a tan, a daily yoga practice. You're reading Jay Shetty, listening to Ram Dass.
The Unexpected Emotional Tide: FOMO Strikes
And then, quite suddenly, you feel like you are missing out on life back home.
The beaches of Lombok glow, but your best friend just had a kid. Watching children play in the sea, a metaphorical wave of fear floods you. 'I miss my friends, I'm wasting my life!' It's the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), and there's no defending against it. It laps at your ankles. You check Instagram, and another friend has just been promoted to Partner in his law firm. The fear rises like a strong tide right up to your waist.
You go for a swim and then take a call from your parents: they are in the pub with your brother and his girlfriend, laughing—happy and content. And you're on a beach! Alone! Twenty thousand kilometres away! In paradise! In agony!
Understanding Sabbatical FOMO
FOMO on your sabbatical is real. It's uncomfortable because:
It comes from a place of love—you'd genuinely love to be with your family on the other side of the world.
It stems from a sense of scarcity—you see others' lives progressing while you feel stagnant.
You think: Their lives have direction and purpose. They're getting somewhere. And here I am, surrounded by gleaming oceans and coral reefs, drowning in self-doubt!
The Gift of Discomfort
Here's the paradox: This sense that you must continuously make progress is precisely why a sabbatical is especially beneficial to you.
For me, it was about letting myself feel the doubt. By sitting with these sensations, the knot of anxiety loosened and became less tight and miserable.
These feelings weren't new—they existed when you were working, too. The difference? You were too burned out even to recognize them. Feeling FOMO is good news because you're reconnecting with yourself and feeling again.
Embracing the Fear
So, take another swim in that sea of fear and discomfort. It's normal, we all experience it from time to time. Trust that you'll be okay and know you'll return home a better version of yourself.