- Be prepared- write down your thoughts and what you want to achieve from the break/change. It helps crystallise them for you and helps in communicating them to others.
- Think hard about the real motivation for taking a break or making a change- make sure you are doing it for the right reasons.
- It is not a quick decision or a resort for not making one. It needs to be a step in a long process.
- Work out your financials, but be prepared to take a calculated risk.
- Talk to people, tell your friends about your thoughts and plans- it will make it more real and help you in actually taking the step.
- But make sure you talk to people who will understand you. Not the ones that will just add to your concerns and fears.
- Look for and seek the company of people who have done similar process to what you are going through; draw ideas and inspiration.
- As you get more mature and progressed with the plan, be on the lookout for friends in similar situation that may not be as progressed with their thinking- the ability to help and inspire others is great.
- Be positive and optimistic- don’t do it because you’ had enough’ and ready to throw everything in the air (even if you sometimes feel like that…).
- Be prepared for a long process. Don’t expect immediate and magic answers. Experience and experiment as much as you can and want to.
- Don’t start feeling insecure just because your inbox is getting empty- it takes time to get used to it and remember you are not being defined by the emails in your inbox.
- Enjoy it!! be excited about it and look at the difficult times as part of your new set of challenges.
Thinking of a long break or a change? here are some tips and advice
Thinking of a career change or a long break from your current job?
Here are some tips and advice from my experience and from reading other people’s experiences and advice: