The Happy Engineer | Career Success for Engineering Leadership

188: Sabbatical Secrets - How to Take an Intentional Career Break with Laura Nguyen

Sep 30, 2024

Laura Nguyen, a seasoned marketing executive and certified coach, shares her insights on the power of intentional sabbaticals. She reveals how breaks can enhance productivity and well-being, challenging the stigma around time off. The conversation delves into balancing work ethic with personal growth, the joy of problem-solving, and the necessity of mindfulness practices. Listeners learn about planning impactful career breaks, reflecting on values, and overcoming fears of re-entering the workforce, all key to fostering a fulfilled professional life.

56:49

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Episode guests

Laura Nguyen

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Quick takeaways

Taking intentional career breaks is essential for enhancing productivity and overall well-being, helping individuals recover from chronic burnout.

Societal norms often promote constant productivity over the necessity of rest, highlighting a cultural shift towards valuing structured time off in engineering fields.

Successful career breaks require careful planning and self-reflection, allowing individuals to redefine their self-worth beyond professional achievements and enrich personal growth.

Deep dives

The Importance of Career Breaks

Taking career breaks is increasingly recognized as a vital strategy for maintaining long-term professional success and personal fulfillment. Structured time off can lead to significant improvements in productivity and overall well-being, as it allows individuals to recover from burnout and chronic overwork. Many leaders hesitate to pursue breaks out of fear related to potential professional repercussions, yet conversations among engineering leaders are shifting toward celebrating intentional time off. This growing recognition highlights the need for a cultural shift in understanding the value of stepping away from work.

Intro

4min

Balancing Work and Rest

12min

Finding Joy in Problem-Solving: Exploring Fun Beyond Work

2min

The Power of Mindfulness

5min

Exploring Worthiness and Purpose Through Intentional Pauses

5min

Navigating Career Breaks and Personal Growth

17min

Exploring Intentional Career Breaks and Professional Growth

3min

Balancing Work Hours: The Importance of Intentional Breaks

3min

Embracing Intentional Time Off for Work-Life Balance

6min

When you’re ready, here are three ways I can help you build your engineering career:

1. Engineering Career Accelerator™️ Scorecard … foundational development actions and key points you can check, score, and apply immediately to stand out and excel at work.

2. Join us at Happy Hour … a limited-attendance LIVE monthly workshop where we dig deep into career growth strategies and provide 1:1 open coaching for you at the end of the session.

3. Work with me directly … start with a free chat and ensure it’s a great fit, then work with me and my team privately in our intensive coaching program, exclusively for engineers.

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In this episode, we look at the underestimated value of taking strategic career breaks with Laura Nguyen, author of “Career Break Compass: Navigating Your Path to a Balanced Life Through Intentional Time Off.”

Laura is an experienced marketing executive with an extensive background in data-driven marketing, digital marketing and communications for Fortune 500 companies. She is also a certified executive coach, helping mid-career, high-achieving leaders go from burned out to balanced.

Her book shares practical steps to plan and execute a fulfilling and career-enriching break, and how structured time off can lead to significant gains in productivity and personal well-being.

The challenge of maintaining career momentum and drive amidst chronic overwork and lack of work-life balance is a serious issue for many mid- and senior-level professionals. Career breaks are increasingly recognized as essential for long-term career success and personal happiness, yet many don’t pursue them for fear of professional repercussions.

So press play and let’s chat… Laura’s insights will offer strategies and practical advice for intentional career pauses that enhance both personal and professional growth!

> Full Show Notes, Resources, & More

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The Happy Engineer | Career Success for Engineering Leadership

188: Sabbatical Secrets - How to Take an Intentional Career Break with Laura Nguyen

Episode guests