Do you feel trapped at your current job? Do you believe you took a wrong decision early on in your life?
Don’t worry. There are some brilliant ways to resurrect your career and get back on the path you naturally belong. Have you ever thought about taking a break to reflect upon your life? Figure out what changes need to be done?
Taking mini-retirement lets you do just that. You just need to stomach some risk. A mini-retirement is a time taken away from your current work to think and ponder about ways to enhance and super-charge your life. Sometimes it can be difficult to dissociate yourself from your role at work and think about your life in a diligent way. This is where a mini-retirement comes into play.
What are some good reasons to take a mini-retirement?
1. Restore balance in your life
Regaining your senses is the main reason for a mini-retirement. Most people want to take a break to heal from the burnout that they suffer at their current job. In some professions, burnout is inevitable. Professions like rig worker, video game developer, merchant navy, stockbroker, etc require you to dedicate your entire life to the organization. At least, until the project finishes.
2. Prepare for job interviews
This point might seem strange but some people need to take a break from work to prepare for a career change. How can a guy who works at a fast chain(8-10 hours a day) learn to write code? There is no way he/she is going to have to audacity to go back home and learn something that requires immense focus and concentration.
3. Start a small business
None of the above-mentioned reasons to take a mini-retirement are high-risk. All require you to put a certain amount of effort to stabilize and improve your life. Starting a small business can also be a risk-free reason to take a mini-retirement. It is very difficult for a full-time employee to start a small business while working 8-10 hours a day. Running a successful business requires you to put in more than 10 hours a day.
How long should your mini-retirement be?
This is the first question that should come to your mind before thinking about anything else. Usually, people take a 2-year break as anything less than that would be insufficient. But as I said, the duration depends on what you plan to do during your mini-retirement.
For things like backpacking around the globe, 1 year is more than sufficient but it might take you more than a year if you wish to go back to college or start a small business.
Are there any risks involved in taking a mini-retirement?
The biggest risk is going astray from your current career and not being able to get back on it after the break. It is not a wise decision to take a break from your career if you love and enjoy what you do. If you wish to learn some new skills to get better at your current job or get a college degree to get a promotion, accomplish those things by keeping your day job.