Episode 35 - Sabbatical vs. Career Break: What Kind of Break Do You Need and For How Long?

In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, James Hammond sits down with career break coach Katrina McGhee to explore one of the biggest questions professionals face: what type of break should I take—and how long should it last?From stacking paid time off for a mini reset to negotiating a leave of absence or planning a full career break, Katrina shares the pros, cons, and practicalities of each option.

We unpack the real difference between a sabbatical and a career break, why “mini retirements” might not be the best term, and how some people use breaks as a stepping stone into semi-retirement or early retirement. Katrina explains why clarity on your purpose is key, how to decide on the right length of time off (from a few weeks to over a year), and why the average break her clients take is around 11 months.

James and Katrina also dive into financial planning, workplace policies, and even health care considerations when taking extended time away from work. They share real-life stories of employees negotiating paid leaves, examples of short versus long breaks, and the steps you can take to design a break that actually works for your life and career goals.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you need a sabbatical, career break, or just an extended vacation—and how to figure out the timing—this episode is packed with insights to help you create space for rest, reflection, and freedom.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: What kind of break should you take and how long should it last?
01:00 – Katrina joins the conversation and shares her thoughts on “hump day” culture
02:20 – Types of breaks overview: PTO blocks, leaves of absence, sabbaticals, and career breaks
03:30 – Stacking PTO for a mini reset vs. a true break
05:30 – Leaves of absence explained: burnout, caregiving, relocation, or higher education
07:45 – What a sabbatical really is (outside academia)
08:20 – Defining career breaks, gap years, and why “mini retirement” doesn’t sit right
09:40 – Career breaks as a transition into semi-retirement or early retirement
12:20 – Rethinking retirement: freedom, semi-retirement, and doing work you love
14:30 – Redefining “work” and finding purpose beyond a paycheck
17:20 – Why waiting until your 70s for fun isn’t realistic—spreading joy across decades
19:00 – Step 1: Clarifying your goal and why you need a break
20:30 – Step 2: Deciding how much time you actually need
22:40 – Step 3: Examining options—handbooks, finances, and healthcare
24:40 – Real stories of employers offering unexpected leave and flexibility
25:40 – Data points: average 11-month breaks, shortest 5 weeks, longest 2 years
26:45 – James shares his own sabbatical experience and company offer
27:30 – Risks and realities of negotiating breaks with your employer
28:50 – Wrapping up: practical advice, final reflections, and the “awkward endings” joke

Listen now and reclaim control of your career break journey.

🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into career growth, work-life balance, and mental resilience.

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📩 Got a story about your own career break journey? DM us or leave a review—we’d love to hear from you!

If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch today to start your journey!

BreakSpace - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.gobreakspace.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Schedule a call with Katrina - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kmcgheecoaching.as.me/schedule.php⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Order Katrina's book - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kmcgheecoaching.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email - takingacareerbreakwithkatrina@gmail.com