How to take time off and use it well
Hi! I’m Molly. I write about what it actually takes to lead inside growing, changing companies: the frameworks that help, the honest truth about what it feels like, and the messy work of shaping a career that actually fits.
Lessons is where those ideas live — both the writing and the conversations around it. (If you want to learn more about how Lessons and the community work, you can read more here.)
This article is a companion to two others How you know when it’s time to leave and Choosing your next job. I hope they’re helpful to you!
I’ve been having a bunch of conversations with Glue People about how and whether to take time off between jobs. When I say take time off, I mean leaving a job without the next one lined up AND taking time to reset before starting the search for your next role. Ideally, a few months – sometimes more, sometimes less.
I’ve done this between every job since Facebook, and I’ve come to see it as a powerful tool to make a healthy choice for your next job, to start that job rested and ready to perform, and to strengthen your identity outside of work. I found myself giving the same advice about taking time off over and over again, so I realized it was time to write it down. (I’ve also learned some things this summer from some of the Glue People who have taken time off so their advice is incorporated in here too…)
I hear a lot of objections to taking time off, even from people who can afford it. Let’s talk about them and then I’ll share my tips for making sure you get what you want out of time off.
Finances, anxieties, and other blockers
Taking time off in this way is a big privilege and not everyone has access to the finances and support to do it. One Glue Person described time off as “a precious gift” she bought for herself — and she had to be mindful and protective to get the most out of it. I love that framing. I wish I could give the gift to more people, and I wish that more people who can afford it would take advantage of it.
To figure out if you can take time off, first do the math with a detailed budget and actual numbers. Many people don’t go through that step and they just get stalled at having financial anxiety, so I really encourage people to sit down and turn it into a concrete problem to solve. How much money do you need per month to not feel anxious, and then how much time off can you afford, if any? What would you need to make it possible?
