Why More Workers Are Taking Extended Career Breaks

Extended career breaks — often called mini-sabbaticals, adult gap years or micro-retirements — are becoming more common as professionals seek relief from burnout and daily routines.

While traditional time off might mean a weeklong vacation, some workers are stepping away for months or even a year to travel, pursue passion projects or simply rest.

Researchers studying non-academic sabbaticals have identified different types of breaks: “working holidays” centered on creative or professional projects, adventure-focused resets that mix travel with rest, and deeper personal quests taken by those recovering from burnout.

More than half of those studied funded their breaks independently.
Experts say the biggest barriers are cost, family responsibilities and fear of judgment from colleagues or loved ones.

Yet financial planners note that many of the same principles used to save for retirement can also be applied to funding a sabbatical.

Some employers are increasingly offering paid or unpaid extended leave as a retention strategy, though such policies remain uncommon in the United States compared with Europe.

For many who take the leap, the reward is perspective — a clearer sense of balance, priorities and purpose. For some, extended breaks become not just a reset, but a recurring way of life.