To want a year off

[AmberDuckBlue]

I know it's probably a terrible idea as maybe I wouldn't get back into what I do and so on, but I'm sat looking at old photos from my 20s and thinking how nice would it be to take a whole year off when I turn 50. I'm 45.

I'm trying to save as much as possible to be able to retire which as it currently stands may be around 62. But I'm so tired as is.

Has anyone just done it and taken a year off?

I have just taken 2 years off after a generous redundancy deal. If you can afford it, do it is my advice. Planning for retirement is important, but doing things while you can matters as well. Life is for living.

Does your job allow sabbaticals? I know quite a few people who have taken a year to travel knowing that they have their job to return to

YANBU I’d love a year off, I’ve worked straight through from school, uni, work, never had a gap year or even maternity leave to break it up. I just can’t see how I’m going to do this for another 20 years!!

I would look into taking a sabbatical OP - many companies allow this. I had a big career break to raise my kids and only just returned to work, but many people around our age who've worked all the way through are feeling utterly fed up, burnt out and demotivated and still facing another couple of decades in the workforce. Do it! You only live once.

I did this when I was 30, quit my job and went travelling for a year. I'm now 45 and absolutely ready for another year off. Planning to take one when I am 50, not sure yet what I will do though! Although this time I will take a career break rather than quit.

I’m 45 and have worked pretty much consistently since I was 18, most of it full time. Have two kids but youngest is only 9. I’m tired! 😂 My plan is to partially retire in about ten years, work part time and enjoy my life!

Id be wary of getting another job in a years time so id only do this if you can take a sabbatical.

I took 9 months off in my mid 20s and went backpacking around Latin America. I came back fluent in Spanish and having seen and done some amazing things.

i left my high paying corporate job a month ago. It was making me miserable. My plan is to take 3 months off then look for a less stressful (and most likely lower paid) role that I can hopefully contain to set working hours and not let it take over my every waking moment. I’m 49. Hopefully I won’t be regretting this in 6 months time.

Similar, but for me the time off was because of burnout. I have been off for 3 months and have started looking for a new job: I am still employed but off sick until November (end of my notice)

It is nice to have the time off to recover but not so nice to start job hunting again; hopefully something less stressful will come up. I am worried about having a long gap in my CV and thinking if if I leave it too long it may be harder going back at my age, early 50s.

I don’t regret leaving my corporate job, it was making me miserable and consuming my life, even if I wasn’t working it was on my mind most of the time.

Time flies though whether you are working or not. Shame I didn’t plan a bit better financially for this stage in my life,

I was 47, quit my job and went travelling. Had saved up so the bills could still be paid. Basically locked my housr up and went. Got 7 months before pandemic struck and brought it to an abrupt stop.

Been back in work for a few years but in my mind I haven't finished and am saving for the next chapter.

Best thing I ever did😀

I took a years unpaid leave from work at a similar age. It was such a good thing to do. At the time I was had so many competing priorities and it let me focus and reset.

I took a sabbatical for a few months. My employer agreed to this and I returned. Would do it again for sure.

Sometimes you really need to take some time off to reset, recharge and prioritise your wellbeing. If you can afford it ir if your company allow a sabbatical even better.

Our stories sound similar! I think I had/have burnout. I was a contractor, so no sick leave. Constantly thinking about work, waking up in the night thinking about what has gone wrong/is going to go wrong. It was all consuming. I don’t want to feel that way anymore. I’ve had one month off, and my husband tells me I look much healthier. I’ve been going to the gym, walking the dog, cooking healthy meals and just generally looking after myself. I can feel I am so much happier, more positive, and just generally better to be around. I’m laughing, singing and dancing (much to my children’s embarrassment 🤣).

I am not yet ready to even think about applying for jobs. I’ve got some holidays coming up, so will not do anything about it until I get back.

Glad you are looking after yourself. I am doing the same, swimming, eating healthy, walks, sleeping better, so much happier and relaxed. Some people say I look much better too.

I have only recently started looking for jobs, after 3 months off, but certainly not rushing into it. You will know when you are ready.

My fixed term contract ends next March and I will hopefully be able to fund myself to take a year off. I will be 58 though and so worried about finding another job after even a years gap. I really feel like a need a break after working in mentally and physically draining jobs for 40 years without a break and bringing up 4 kids.

Do it.

Life is short & I keep hearing of people in their 50s having serious health issues.

I am 55 and I just negotiated a financial settlement to leave my current job as it was making me physically and mentally ill and I ended up on long term sick leave. My self confidence was also slowly being destroyed in that environment although I am in a senior role with years of experience in my field.

I am keeping my freelance activities going so I will still have an income but I won't be job hunting to replace my job as an employee for a few months.

Health is so important and life should not just be about working long hours.

I have a friend of a similar age who has recent taken a six month break from her teaching career again because of the toll it was having on her health and the amount of toxicity she was facing. She is now looking to move into a different career/starting her own business.

I know of someone who took either 6 months or a year sabbatical. They came back but still hated their job , and were lucky enough to retire aged about 54.

Have heard of someone else negotiating a working pattern whereby they were on 0.8 hours but instead of working a 4 day week, they did 5 day weeks but had long holidays.

At 45 needing a 3rd operation in 2 years and having worked since 18 non stop except for 2 x 12 week maternity leaves I quit my middle management job. Had my op and spent 6 months recovering and doing stuff just for me. I thought I would have a job to go back to but the company had other ideas so I had to enter the job market again. That was tough but I found a position after a couple of months.

I have moved companies a couple of times since then climbing back up the corporate ladder but with a different focus knowing that I was trying to achieve a better balance.

Then at 55 I went part time so I could do more for me again and I am now preparing for retirement by 60.

This may sound very me me me but my me time includes travel and doing stuff with my DH without being exhausted from working. Plus spending loads of time with friends and family including my 2 DC. It is all about not being a corporate wage slave.

I recently took 4 months off aged 40 between jobs. There was a restructure at work and I basically pushed to get made redundant because I sniffed a chance of a package!

I have to caveat and say that the job hunting was difficult and I'm now on a lower salary. However, during those 4 months I woke up every day feeling happy and just so light. I'd do it all again for that feeling of freedom.

It's also encouraged me with my savings so I can drop to part time in a few years and also retire as early as possible.