Experts have issued a warning to Gen Zers and millennials who might be tempted to embark on a 'microretirement'.
The trend, which is reportedly growing in popularity, has been picked up by generations of people who aren't anywhere near retirement age yet, but who want to make more of their lives outside the confinements of a nine-to-five.
After years of changing schools, trying out hobbies, and eventually starting a new job, it can be daunting to think that this is 'it' - so, young people are now fighting back.
Essentially, the trend refers to taking a chunk, or multiple chunks, of time off work to experience life and travel while you're young, rather than waiting until actual retirement age in your 50s or 60s.
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Similar to a sabbatical, it's also been dubbed an 'adult gap year'.
Microretirement has worked wonders for some, including 31-year-old content creator Anaïs Felt, who has been sharing her journey on TikTok.
When it comes to her break from work, Anaïs said she has 'never felt better'.
She explained: "I've never felt healthier, I've never felt more rested, it's been amazing, I highly recommend it."
She also reckons that millennials who are in leadership roles are 'really starting to respect' the need of younger staff members to take time off and 'recuperate'.
But experts have warned of a number of factors to take into consideration before you go handing in your notice - and no, it's not all about money either.
Justina Raskauskiene, HR team lead at ecommerce marketing platform Omnisend, told WorkLife of a major, often overlooked risk of microretirement.
She warned: "The greatest risk is over-idealizing the break. Many people expect it to be transformative, but without a routine or a challenge, it can quickly make you feel unfulfilled.”
Highlighting the important of re-entry into the workplace, she suggested: "Set a timeline for when you’ll rejoin the job market and think of alternative income sources.
"Freelancing or even a passion project will help you to stay professionally sharp.”
Meanwhile, Stephen Dwyer, president of the ASA, told the publication: "A long career gap can sometimes make it difficult to re-enter the workforce, especially in areas with rapidly changing technological advancements.
He highlighted that taking a microretirement might mean people miss out on their actual retirement contributions, healthcare coverage and, of course, income they would've accumulated had they not taken the break - something we might take for granted.
“It’s up to each individual to decide if the benefits of a microretirement outweigh the drawbacks," he added.
Topics: Jobs, World News, Travel
Ellie Kemp