Episode 72 - How to Start Living Your Career Break Before You Quit Your Job

What if you didn’t have to wait until your career break or sabbatical officially started to begin changing your life?

In this episode of Taking a Career Break, Katrina and James explore the powerful idea of living your break life early. Through the story of one of Katrina’s coaching clients, they discuss how gaining clarity around your values, goals, and vision can create immediate momentum—even years before your planned break begins.

The client in this episode was nearly two years away from leaving work, yet within just four weeks of creating a clear break vision, he had started building community, improving his health, spending more meaningful time with family, and creating a life that already reflected many of his career break goals.

Whether you're actively planning a sabbatical, dreaming about taking time off work, or simply feeling stuck and burned out, this conversation shows why you don't need permission—or a future date on the calendar—to start designing a more fulfilling life today.

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Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction and today's topic: living your break life early
01:47 – Why some people start planning their career break years in advance
02:23 – Katrina's philosophy: don't wait for your break to start living differently
03:56 – The client story that inspired this episode
05:48 – Testing a version of FIRE and designing a future break
06:45 – Creating a clear break purpose and vision
07:30 – The four themes that shaped the client's break plan
08:23 – Why these themes resonate with so many career breakers
10:30 – What happened after just one coaching session
12:50 – Building community and meaningful connections
13:30 – Creating healthier habits before taking a break
14:13 – Prioritising family and showing up for what matters most
15:55 – How clarity influenced relationships and intentional living
16:28 – Why clarity creates momentum and action
17:41 – Why it's never too early to start planning your break
18:22 – The incredible progress made in just four weeks
18:58 – Imagine what could happen in six months
19:18 – Final thoughts and what's coming next

Ready to stop "running on empty" and start running toward a life you actually love?

📞Schedule a call with Katrina - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kmcgheecoaching.as.me/freeconsult⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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🎧Produced by Winging It Productions - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wingingitproductions.com