Should i take a Career Break
Taking a career break does not have to mean the end of your career. Your first and foremost job is to be true to yourself and to figure out your purpose in life. What you do for work can play a huge part in fulfilling what you believe to be your life purpose, however, there may come a time when you need to take a break from your career and asses your priorities. Taking a break from your career is a big decision, especially if you don’t have extra money saved and you depend upon your income to maintain your lifestyle. It is vital to your professional and financial situations that you examine a few factors first before you make the decision to take a brief or prolonged career break.
The first question you should ask yourself during your decision making period of whether or not to take a career break is what priorities are most important to you. Keep in mind that your priorities might change over time, but your present and future priorities should be factored into your career choices. If your current career is causing you stress and anxiety to the point where you dread getting out of bed to go to work, you should strongly consider taking a career break sooner rather than later. Nothing is more important than your health. Jobs can be replaced, but you only get one physical body. It is your responsibility to take care of your body, mind, and soul. Talk with your doctor and inform him or her that you don’t feel well enough to go to work and ask your doctor to support your request for a paid medical leave of absence from your workplace. If your request for a medical leave of absence is granted by your employer, take the time to focus on your health and get help dealing with your anxiety.
Health issues are not the only valid reasons for needing to take a career break. Feelings of boredom and frustration with your career are good enough reasons to take a break from your career and focus on finding a different line of work that interests you. Some jobs are not worth staying in even if the money is good. When the routine of a job becomes too tedious for you to stand anymore, taking a break from your career will give you the time you need to create an action plan for starting a new career. Brainstorm for new career ideas that interest you. If there was something you always wanted to try to do, the time to do it is when you are taking a career break. Perhaps there is a hobby that you enjoy and you have been considering turning your hobby into a business opportunity. If you take a break from your career you will have the time to test out new career ideas and seeing if they are appropriate matches for you before making a permanent decision about your current job.
Your personal life will impact your professional decisions too. A life-changing event like having a baby will affect your career decisions. Do you really want to continue working 8 hour days when you have a baby at home who needs your time, care, and attention? If not, then taking a break from your career to spend more time with your family might be the best decision for you to make until you feel comfortable going back to your job. Perhaps you will decide to never go back to your job and you will pursue a career that will make it possible for you towork from homeand spend more time with your family. Plan your career break carefully and examine the pros and cons of taking a career break. Set a date for when you want your career break to take place and be confident in your decision that taking a career break can be a positive decision that can help you change your financial, personal, and professional futures for the better.
