So, the question is “Should I take a career break?”. Career breaks are important, and if timed right, they can provide you with experiences you might not have otherwise. While working and building your career are important, taking time off to experience life and take care of yourself are also extremely valuable.
Many people today, work to the point of burnout where their bodies and mind take a turn for the worst. Finding balance in life is crucial, and sometimes cutting back the amount of work you have might be the right thing to do. But let’s focus on what you can do to stay productive and healthy if you do decide to take a career break.
First things first…
Before you go on a career break, make sure that all your major commitments are taken care of, and don’t take on any large commitments within several months of going on your career break. With this being said, the point of a career break is to clear your calendar and make time for yourself. So, ensure that you complete all your commitments, or let others that you expect to be off during a certain period. Not only will this make being off less stressful, but it will also help keep your reputation as a reliable employee intact.
In addition to this after you have announced your career break, ensure that you fill your colleagues in on important information and where projects stand before you leave. Also, have a productive meeting with your manager about why you are leaving and your options for returning to work after your career break. Career breaks typically last between 6 months to a year.
Determining your reason for a career break…
When determining your reasons for taking a break, things you will want to look at are how you are feeling (both physically and mentally), how your work/life balance is and if you need to adjust, if you are on the verge of burnout, or if you feel stuck in your current job, among many more reasons.
Ask yourself the below questions to help guide your reasoning and transition into a career break:
- What is my main goal in taking time off?
- Am I looking for more downtime or to rediscover certain aspects of myself that I need time for?
- Will I be leaving my current job, or will I be looking to come back after time off?
- Do I have the financial support needed while taking a career break?
- Am I considering self-employment in the future as an aspect of taking a career break?
These are some of the considerations you can ponder before you go full force into your career break. Taking a career break is a big consideration, and to get the most benefits from it you should be prepared and planned out during your time off. This does not mean to say that you should not take some time to simply relax, but the main prospects of career breaks are to realign your life and refresh your perspective.
Planning your career break…
Since you are taking a career break you will want to make sure that you tackle the things you want to accomplish. This could range from taking care of your mental health to traveling the world, or a little bit of in-between.
Things you can do during a career break:
- Travel to places you have always wanted to see for an extended period.
- Learn a new language or skill.
- Selfcare such as exercise, fitness challenges, or relaxation.
- Work on a passion project.
- Volunteer within your community or abroad.
- Get perspective on life and where you want to go with your life.
Regardless of what you choose to do during your time off, you will want to ensure that your goals for your career break are set out and that you will separate from your workplace with everything intact to continue good relationships with your previous colleagues and employers. Taking a career break is important for your well-being and health and should be explored at some point in your career.
Bliss + You 