You are on a Zoom call on a Monday morning, and someone is talking about “quarterly synergies.” You think to yourself, “What if I just quit?” or “Should I take career break”.
Not quit to take another job. Stop doing nothing. Or to go on a trip. Or to finally finish that book. Or just to sleep for a month without waking up in a panic.
People used to think that only rich people or professors could take a break from work, or “sabbatical,” as they like to call it. But by 2026, after everyone has been burned out for the last few years, it will be normal. People are worn out.
But is it the end of your career? Or is it the best thing you could do?
I’ve seen people take breaks and come back even stronger. I’ve also seen people take time off and then have a hard time getting hired again for a year. This isn’t a story from a fairy tale. It is a risk that has been thought about.
Here is the full list of the Pros and Cons, so you can decide if you are brave or crazy enough to go through with it.
Pros:
1. Hard Reset on Burnout A long weekend won’t help you get over burnout. You can’t fix it by taking a week off and checking your email “just in case.” Burnout really changes the chemicals in your brain. You get grumpy, slow, and cynical. Taking a break from work for at least three months is often the only way to reset your baseline. You remember who you are outside of your job title when you get off the hamster wheel. You remember that you like to cook, listen to music, or go hiking. You stop being just a productivity unit and become a person again.
2. Chance to Pivot When you’re running, it’s very hard to change direction. If you hate your job, you probably can’t change it while working 50 hours a week. You can’t think because you’re too tired. A break gives you the time to think about what’s next. I know a guy who quit his sales job, took six months off, and then learned to code for fun. Now he’s a developer. While working in sales, he wouldn’t have had time to learn.
3. Life Experience Will you remember the PowerPoint presentation you made in Q3 of 2026 when you turn 80? No. But you’ll remember the summer you spent helping your parents fix up their house or the month you spent backpacking through Vietnam. There will always be work. You won’t be young (or your knees).
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Cons:
1. Money loss This is the part that scares me. The bills don’t stop when the paycheck does. For most people, seeing their savings account go down every month instead of up is very scary. You might plan to spend $10,000, but then your car breaks down or you get a toothache. If you don’t have a lot of money saved up, being broke will ruin your break. You’ll just be out of work and scared, which is the opposite of what you want.
2. Gap Some recruiters are getting better at this, but some are still stuck in the past. They see a year-long gap and wonder, “Did he get fired?” Is he a slacker? Did he go to jail? You will need to explain it. You will have to stand up for it. You won’t get the job if you only say, “I watched Netflix for a year.” You need a story (we’ll get to that).
3. The Cold Start Problem There is real momentum. You are in the loop when you are working. You know the lingo and the latest trends, and your network is busy. The industry moves on without you when you leave for a year. It’s harder to get back in than it is to stay in. You may feel “rusty.” To get back in the door, you might have to accept a lower title or pay.
So, Should You Do It?
Don’t toss a coin. These are the three questions you should ask yourself.
1. Is it possible for me to buy my freedom? If you have credit card debt, don’t take a break from work. That’s it. You need:
- No debt, except maybe a mortgage, which is still a risk.
- Six months of “runway” costs (for the break).
- Three months of “re-entry” costs (for when you come back and look for work). Without money, you can’t take a break. You are in trouble.
2. What’s the story? Before you quit, you should know how you will sell this to a future employer.
- “I was tired” is a bad story.
- Good Story: “I took a planned break from work to travel and work on improving my skills in [Topic]. I’m ready to use that focus here now that I’ve recharged. They will respect it if you act like it’s a business decision.
3. What is the plan for getting out? Don’t just float. Make a firm end date. “I’m taking off from January to June. I will start applying on July 1st, no matter what. If you don’t have a deadline, a 6-month break can turn into a 12-month slump, which is where the “unemployable” danger zone is.
Take a break if this month has been bad for you. If your job is making you feel bad or you need to change the course of your life, take the break.
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Final Thoughts
You will never do anything scarier. It feels like you’re going to fall off a cliff. But most of the time, you find out that the ground wasn’t that far down after all.
It’s not all about making shareholders happy. You have to do what’s best for your own sanity sometimes. If you have the cash? Go ahead. When you get back, the emails will still be there.
FAQs
Q: How do I add a career break to my LinkedIn profile? Should I just leave a space?
A: Don’t leave a blank space. That makes recruiters think you were in jail or are hiding something. There is now a “Career Break” option on LinkedIn. Use it. Put “Planned Sabbatical” or “Personal Sabbatical” as the title. Add one line to the description about what you did: “I went to four countries and took professional development courses.” Don’t try to hide the gap; own it.
Q: How much money do I really need?
A: The article says 9 months of expenses, but if you want to sleep well, make it 12. Why? You don’t get paid on the first day after you get hired. You get your money three or four weeks later. That “cash flow gap” is deadly. Also, you’ll spend more money on your break than you think (for things like travel, coffee, and hobbies). Put a 20% “Oh Crap” buffer on your savings number.
Q: What if I stop working and realize I hate my whole field?
A: That’s actually the best thing that could happen. What if you didn’t take the break and had to work in a job you hate for another ten years? If you find out you don’t like your field, you can use the break to change your mind. If you don’t work 50 hours a week, it’s easier to learn a new skill. Take advantage of the time to change yourself.
Q: Will I have to take a pay cut when I get back?
A: Maybe. Get ready for it. You lose some power if you don’t play for a year. You may have to start out as a “step back” person to get in. But here’s the secret: Once you’re in, you usually get back to your old salary within 18 months because your experience didn’t go away; it just stopped.
Q: I’m 45. Am I too old to take a year off?
A: No. In fact, you are the right age. You probably have more money saved up than a 25-year-old, and you’ve been working hard for 20 years. Recruiters don’t care about your work ethic; they know you can do the job. Instead of calling it a “backpacking trip,” call it a “mid-career recharge.”
