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.Timestamps00:00 – 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” culture02:20 – Types of breaks overview: PTO blocks, leaves of absence, sabbaticals, and career breaks03:30 – Stacking PTO for a mini reset vs. a true break05:30 – Leaves of absence explained: burnout, caregiving, relocation, or higher education07:45 – What a sabbatical really is (outside academia)08:20 – Defining career breaks, gap years, and why “mini retirement” doesn’t sit right09:40 – Career breaks as a transition into semi-retirement or early retirement12:20 – Rethinking retirement: freedom, semi-retirement, and doing work you love14:30 – Redefining “work” and finding purpose beyond a paycheck17:20 – Why waiting until your 70s for fun isn’t realistic—spreading joy across decades19:00 – Step 1: Clarifying your goal and why you need a break20:30 – Step 2: Deciding how much time you actually need22:40 – Step 3: Examining options—handbooks, finances, and healthcare24:40 – Real stories of employers offering unexpected leave and flexibility25:40 – Data points: average 11-month breaks, shortest 5 weeks, longest 2 years26:45 – James shares his own sabbatical experience and company offer27:30 – Risks and realities of negotiating breaks with your employer28:50 – Wrapping up: practical advice, final reflections, and the “awkward endings” jokeListen now and reclaim control of your career break journey.🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into career growth, work-life balance, and mental resilience.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and every podcast app!📩 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.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Schedule a call with Katrina - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kmcgheecoaching.as.me/schedule.php⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Order Katrina's book - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kmcgheecoaching.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email - [email protected]

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