We all need to stop now and then to take stock of our professional life and see if we are still on the right track.
Many of us begin working in our late teens and early 20s and from that point onwards you could be looking at years – realistically, decades – of building yourself up professionally. While this can be an exciting and rewarding experience, as with all major life events, it can take its toll and it might become necessary to have a break of sorts.
If this sounds familiar, it might be time for you to consider a micro-retirement, which is a period across your career where you take an extended break, usually a few months or even years, where you use that time to realign yourself with your goals and work towards the next phase of your life, personally and professionally.
Particularly popular among the age groups that, for the most part, don’t meet the criteria for standard retirement, such as millennial and Gen Z employees, micro-retirement is the ideal opportunity for anyone looking to recharge themselves and their career. So, what do you need to know?
Financial requirements
If you are going to take a career hiatus, it is important that you plan ahead. It should not be a spur of the moment decision and before you even broach the idea with your employer, you should ensure that you either have savings you can dip into or a second income to make up for the months you will not be working.
For that reason, it can be difficult to take off as much time as you would like or need. However, by discussing your financial options with your employer, you might be able to come to an agreement that suits you both.
For example, you could discuss the options available regarding paid and unpaid leave, or perhaps the assurance that, after your break, your job is still waiting for you.
Banishing burnout
Burnout can be incredibly debilitating, especially if it is an ongoing issue. From fatigue and stress, to poor mental health and even physical symptoms such as headaches and a sick stomach, burnout can damage far more than your career.
As a young person, or indeed an older person who isn’t yet ready to retire fully, a micro-retirement can give you the time and space you need to recover mentally and physically, so your burnout doesn’t have you flaming out.
Sometimes all you need to reinvigorate yourself and your career is to take a break, step back and reassess why you chose this path. Micro-retirement gives you that freedom.
Don’t waste the time
While a micro-retirement is the perfect time to stop and take a breath, you should also use the time wisely. Basically, so you don’t become apathetic, make sure that you have a list of goals you aim to accomplish before returning to work. By no means do they have to be lofty or outrageous, but they should be a step towards your next big life choice, from a professional point of view.
Additionally, if you are the type that likes to stay busy, despite how badly in need of a break you might be, the sudden spare time could be a bit shocking at first, prompting you to undertake a new project, that doesn’t really help you relax, destress or realign. The trick is to find balance and to make sure that however you are spending your time, it is to your benefit.
Market it wisely
The world has changed greatly since the baby boomers were the main group making up the majority of the workforce. Since then the working landscape has evolved far beyond what anyone likely thought possible, but that doesn’t mean that traditional values have no place in the working environment.
That is to say, a gap in your CV might still raise a few eyebrows when your break comes to an end and if you decide to rejoin the workforce. That being said, honesty and transparency are key to a successful interview and as long as you are able to explain the reason for the gap and you can show that you are eager and ready to jump back in, then a recruiter or employer will likely see past it.
At the end of the day, a micro-retirement is the perfect solution for someone who is ambitious and wants to propel their career forward, but is also capable of recognising when they need to slow down and reprioritise. So, if you feel as though you could use a break, why not do some research and look into your options?
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