Bossed Up How To Be Intentional About Taking Time Off From Your Career
Nov 12, 2024
Laura Nguyen, a certified executive coach and author of Career Break Compass, shares her journey from high-pressure marketing to advocating for intentional career breaks. She talks about balancing ambition with rest, addressing fears about taking time off, and discussing various leave options like sabbaticals and mental health leave. Laura unveils her four-step framework—Play, Pause, Plan, and Pursue—to structure breaks effectively. She emphasizes the importance of reclaiming joy and planning for a sustainable return, aiming to mainstream the concept of taking breaks in professional settings.
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From Rapid Promotions To Burnout
- Laura climbed corporate ladders fast, working 70-hour weeks and getting multiple promotions early in her career.
- That long-run hustle led her to extreme burnout and prompted reevaluation of what success means.
Three Core Fears That Block Breaks
- Common fears around career breaks are social judgment, financial strain, and re-entry uncertainty.
- Laura recommends starting with bite-sized breaks and using PTO more fully to normalize time off.
Don't Assume You Must Quit
- Explore options beyond quitting: leaves of absence, mental-health leave, or company sabbaticals.
- Check your employer's policies and negotiate a paid or unpaid sabbatical when possible.
