How ‘Micro-Retirements' Can Catapult Your Career

Forbes

17-06-2025

Lisa Christen is CEO @ Christen Coaching & Consulting . Exec Coach | Keynote Speaker | Leadership Development. getty
Three months. Four backpacks. Two kids. Six islands and three cities across Asia.
That was our family adventure earlier this year. My husband and I hit pause on our work calendars, pulled the kids out of school and boarded a flight to the unknown. There was no urgent crisis. No midlife meltdown. Just a quiet, intentional decision: What if we didn't wait until retirement to live our lives more fully?
I still remember the moment it clicked. Barefoot on a Bali beach, watching my daughters giggle as they ran through the waves. My inbox was, of course, overflowing. But my to-do list remained untouched. And for the first time in a long while, I wasn't stressed and on autopilot. I was rested, present and genuinely excited for what came next.
That three-month pause didn't derail my career; it took it to the next level of flourishing. The Traditional Career Timeline Is Broken
Academics have sabbaticals. Athletes have off-seasons. Even farmers rotate crops to let the soil rest and regenerate. So, why do we believe we have to power endlessly through our careers?
We've been taught a familiar script: Study hard, work harder, climb faster, retire at 65+. Then —and only then—will you have time to live your life the way you wanted. But that model doesn't fit anymore. The pace of work today is too unrelenting. The constant feeling of uncertainty and overwhelm is almost insurmountable. And the pressure to handle it all keeps mounting. Burnout has become so normalized, it's practically a badge of honor.
Even during our travels, I noticed nearly every other beachgoer was still checking Slack. Every sunset seemed to be watched through the glare of a laptop screen. Are we addicted to being needed? Or just afraid that stepping back means losing relevance?
What if the opposite is actually true? What if taking a real break wasn't a threat to your career but instead the best strategy to grow it faster and stronger? What Is A Micro-Retirement?
A micro-retirement is a self-directed pause from traditional work for an extended period of time, typically four weeks or more. It's not about checking out—it's about checking in.
Unlike a vacation, which often serves as temporary recovery, a micro-retirement is designed for transformation. It gives you space to be without the constant pressure to do . You're stepping outside your routine long enough to return to it—or rebuild it—with deeper purpose. It's about being brave enough to stop climbing long enough to ask: Is this even the right mountain?
There's no one-size-fits-all timing for micro-retirements. Some people take a micro-retirement once every few years or once a decade. Famed historian and philosopher Yuval Noah Harari takes part in a 60-day silent retreat each year. Whatever works for you is perfect.
For me, this most recent Asia trip was far from my first micro-retirement. In my 20s, I road-tripped from Alaska to San Diego and later across Scandinavia. In my 30s, I spent a season in Dubai exploring innovation culture and another season in New York's creative chaos. Each micro-retirement gave me the space to pause, reconnect and redesign what could come next. The Career Benefits Of A Micro-Retirement
When done intentionally, a micro-retirement becomes a powerful leadership and career accelerator. The most obvious benefit is an energy reset. We underestimate how long we've been running on fumes. Before the Asia trip, I wasn't just tired—I was depleted. Rest gave my nervous system space to breathe.
From there came clarity. With distance from the daily grind, I could finally see what mattered (and what didn't). I sharpened my priorities. I restructured my company offerings. I shifted the tone of my LinkedIn posts to sound more like the real me (less perfect, more honest) and the resonance deepened.
Without the pressure to "perform," I began to play again. I wrote. I meditated. I cooked Thai food. I created two new signature coaching products. I reached out to potential clients I hadn't previously considered. I came back sharper and more energized to bring big ideas to life. That's the real ROI of time off done right. How To Make A Micro-Retirement Work
Yes, a micro-retirement sounds ambitious—but it's often more feasible than you think. 1. Start small.
Even one or two weeks of focused time away from your normal patterns can provide major insight. You don't need a big or expensive travel plan. What matters is that you step outside your default mode long enough to see your life more clearly. 2. Find the time.
Treat this time like an investment in your leadership, not an indulgence. Could you negotiate unpaid leave to extend a vacation? Delay a new job start date? Work at 90% and take that extra 10% as mini-sabbatical time? No matter what time you can take, use it to your advantage. 3. Get creative financially.
Don't assume it has to be expensive. A micro-retirement isn't about luxury travel. You could drive across your state, take a class, rent a quiet cabin or have a staycation. The Courage To Pause
Too many brilliant professionals stay stuck in cycles that no longer serve them out of fear that stepping away will set them back. But rest can be the most radical form of progress. You don't need to wait until full retirement to find your true self. You can take a micro-retirement now—and come back more powerfully than ever.
I didn't lose three months of momentum. I found the next version of my purpose. My daughters became more resilient, curious and compassionate. My husband and I had long, unhurried dinners where we talked about dreams—not logistics. And when I returned to work, my voice felt clearer and my leadership felt bolder.
What if the best work of your life won't come from pushing harder, but from stepping back and returning stronger?
I didn't take time off from my career: I took time to level up.
Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?