The prospect of a continuous career after years of education and exploring interests can be overwhelming. As a result, young adults are beginning to push back against this notion.
The term ‘microretirement’ is gaining traction on TikTok, where users are sharing how they are taking brief retirements long before the traditional end of a career.
This concept involves taking one or more extended breaks from work to enjoy life and travel while still young, instead of waiting until the typical retirement age in one’s 50s or 60s. It is akin to a sabbatical and has also been referred to as an ‘adult gap year’.
TikTok creator Anaïs Felt is among those experimenting with ‘microretirement’, as she shared in a video earlier this year.
Anaïs, at 31, realized she was in a ‘microretirement’ after choosing to step away from her corporate job in tech.
“I actually took off six months ago […] and I’ve just started interviewing again,” she said, noting that potential employers were not concerned about her career hiatus.
Another individual trying out microretirement is 27-year-old Morgan Sanner, who told The Cut: “I think Gen Z is interested in less traditional models of employment, in general. For example, we’re far more likely to freelance or do contract work than previous generations. I hope that as we become a bigger part of the workforce, mini-retirements become more doable and more normalized.”
Regarding her work hiatus, Anaïs mentioned she has ‘never felt better’.
“I’ve never felt healthier, I’ve never felt more rested, it’s been amazing, I highly recommend it,” she said, expressing her belief that millennials in leadership roles are beginning to recognize the importance of allowing younger staff members time to rest and recover.
While the notion of stepping away from work is alluring, it is not without its challenges, particularly when it comes to managing living expenses.
Those undertaking ‘microretirements’ emphasize the importance of planning. Anaïs, for instance, prepared by paying off a significant portion of her student loans and saving a substantial amount of money.
She also highlighted that she is childfree and mentioned her background, stating: “I come from a low-income background and am the first person in my family to go to college and do this….so it is possible with the right strategy, grit and resilience.”
Similarly, Sanner intends to finance her time off by saving up a year’s worth of living expenses along with a ‘fund’ for her break. While traveling, she plans to continue freelance work to support her savings.
Cara Nicole, a 28-year-old planning a career break, advised The Cut: “Do the math. If you can figure out how to take a few months off every couple of years without dipping into your nest egg, it’s worth prioritizing.”