#600: Jillian Johnsrud was falling apart. After suffering a miscarriage, she couldn't pull herself together to return to her job as a youth pastor in DC. She decided to take a month off.
That unexpected break became Jillian's first "mini-retirement" — a deliberate step away from work for at least 30 days to focus on something meaningful.
Today, Jillian is a mom of six who has taken more than a dozen mini-retirements with her kids, who currently range in age from 8 to 17.
During her first mini-retirement, she and her best friend piled into her green Honda Civic and drove from DC to Seattle, leaving her 13-year-old son Micah at home with her husband.
A couple years later, Jillian took Micah, then 15, to Glacier National Park in Montana for another mini-retirement. They saw mountain goats, kayaked together, and swam in ice-cold waters.
This trip created irreplaceable memories. Sadly, Micah died six years later.
His death changed how Jillian sees time. She now understands that meaningful moments don't wait for perfect timing - they either happen now or vanish forever.
Waiting for "someday" might mean missing chances forever.
This drives her philosophy about mini retirements — life contains fleeting seasons that we either embrace now or miss entirely.
"To be able to share those memories with him there is priceless," Jillian tells us.
This understanding shapes her approach with her other children too. From a 10-week road trip to 10 national parks in a pop-up camper to a recent six-month journey across the eastern United States with her five younger children (now ages 8-17), Jillian prioritizes experiences that fit each season of family life.
Planning your own mini retirement? Jillian recommends focusing on four key areas: managing your time (pick just 2-3 priorities), addressing career logistics (craft a compelling story for your employer), saving money (about 6.5 percent of your income for a month off every other year), and preparing for emotional revelations.
Jillian emphasizes the importance of separating your mini retirement fund from long-term retirement savings. This separate fund, which she calls the "in-between bucket," allows you to spend freely on experiences now rather than postponing all enjoyment until traditional retirement age.
As Jillian puts it: "You can't postpone every good thing in your life."
Timestamps:
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(0:00) Introduction to mini-retirements
(0:59) Definition of mini-retirement: stepping away from work for 30+ days to focus on something meaningful
(3:03) Jillian shares her first mini-retirement story after experiencing personal loss
(8:28) Taking time off to enjoy important life moments before they pass
(12:12) Jillian's trip to Glacier National Park with her son Micah before he passed away
(20:33) Four components of planning a mini-retirement: time, career, finances, unexpected challenges
(34:14) Time management: choosing 2-3 clear goals rather than trying to do everything
(42:39) Career strategies: how to present your mini-retirement to employers
(1:01:29) Financial planning: saving 6.5% of income for monthly breaks every other year
(1:14:34) Handling unexpected challenges that arise during your time off
(1:20:01) How mini-retirements reveal personal issues you've avoided through work
(1:33:32) Jillian's recent family adventures with five children
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