Has anyone taken a sabbatical before and would like to share their experience? I'm wondering what types of things people do. Currently debating if I should just travel the world, or volunteer at an organization like the Peace Corps, or do something else to get me out of my SV / big tech company bubble :)
Eventually, I went back to work in tech, no longer burned out. It was a good time in my life. If you can manage the finances of not working, I do recommend it.
I'm on a 1.5 year sabbatical right now, just starting to get back into the job market. I did gardening, hiking, biking. Hobbies other than computers. Reading every evening. Spending time visiting friends in nearby places after their work hours so that they don't have to travel. Domestic travel allows you to get to know the country you live in, at a lower cost than international travel would get you. I don't like people who save up and travel 1 week visits to other countries. You don't really get how people live there, think there. You are just a 'fucking tourist' that most people don't want around themselves. These people tend to be shallow in their knowledge of anything besides their touristy impressions, making them less desirable as friends and partners.
I would love to just do whatever I want for a year.