The 8 Stages of a Career Break: Your Step-by-Step Sabbatical Roadmap
Taking a Career Break with Katrina McGhee
Episode 70 - The 8 Stages of a Career Break: Your Step-by-Step Sabbatical Roadmap
In this episode of Taking a Career Break with Katrina McGhee, Katrina and James break down the complete 8-stage career break journey and explore what it really takes to move from burnout and overwhelm to a more intentional and fulfilling life.
The conversation walks through the three major phases of taking a career break: before the break, during the break, and life after the break. Katrina shares her proven framework that has helped hundreds of people navigate sabbaticals, career breaks, and major life transitions with more clarity and confidence.
The episode explores the importance of dreaming before making the leap, how to decide if a career break is truly the right move, and why intentional planning can completely shape the experience. Katrina also discusses the emotional side of stepping away from work, the reality of decompression, and how people can reconnect with who they truly are outside of their careers.
Later in the episode, the focus shifts to reentry after a break, how to confidently return to work without losing the personal growth gained during time away, and how to build a healthier sense of work-life harmony moving forward.
For anyone considering a career break, feeling burned out in their current role, or wondering whether a sabbatical could help reset their life and career, this episode provides a practical roadmap to understand the different stages of the journey and what comes next.
Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction to the 8 stages of a career break
01:32 – Why this roadmap was created
05:30 – Phase 1: Before the break
06:00 – Stage 1: Dreaming about what’s possible
08:27 – Stage 2: Making the decision to take a break
10:30 – Stage 3: Planning your career break blueprint
13:15 – Stage 4: Organizing logistics and giving notice
15:18 – Phase 2: During the break
15:47 – Stage 5: Starting your break and decompressing
18:01 – Stage 6: Fully living into your break
19:16 – Dealing with boredom and spaciousness during a break
22:28 – Phase 3: Life after the break
22:55 – Stage 7: Reentering work with confidence
24:16 – Stage 8: Integrating your new lifestyle and habits
25:25 – Final reflections on the career break journey
Ready to stop "running on empty" and start running toward a life you actually love?
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🎧Produced by Winging It Productions - https://www.wingingitproductions.com