Career Break Compass: Navigating Your Path to a Balanced Life Through Intentional Time Off

Career Break Compass is for mid- to high-level executives who are high achievers and goal oriented decision makers who find themselves losing momentum and drive from overwork, lack of work-life balance, emotional exhaustion and more. By telling her own story, the author shows how after recognizing that she was burned out in her career, she decided to take a three month break. Rather than just taking the time off, she planned that time, breaking it into four sections: Play, Pause, Plan, and Pursue. She felt it was essential to first take the time to disengage from work and spend time with her family in Play. For Pause, she spent time on her own to slow down, meditate, and work on herself. That got her ready to Plan, in which she investigated what her core values were and how she could incorporate those into her career. Pursue prepared her to re-enter the workforce.

By interviewing others who have taken career breaks and sharing their stories, Laura gives readers the wide varieties of options they have to take their own breaks-short or long. There are even a series of bite-sized break ideas for those who need a break but don't have the time or money to take off for three months.

Each chapter ends with questions for the reader that will help them thoughtfully plan their own break that works for them. A QR code at the back of the book will lead readers to templates and worksheets online plus a developing community of like-minded people also exploring and/or taking career breaks.

By the end of the book, readers will have the tools they need to plan and execute a career break and then return, either to their existing job or maybe something completely new, refreshed, motivated, and ready to work with a plan that will keep them from falling into old burnout traps.