A growing number of young people are taking micro-retirements—short, self-funded career breaks—to travel and explore before traditional retirement. Zara Lim quit her job for 18 months, relying on savings and freelance work, then returned to full-time employment
Ever catch yourself staring out the window at work, thinking about all the places you would rather be? Beaches, mountains, cities, anywhere but stuck in a routine. There is this tiny, rebellious part of us that dreams of hitting pause on life, retiring early in spirit if not in reality, and travelling the world while we still have the energy and curiosity to truly enjoy it. It turns out, you are not alone. A growing number of young people are choosing what's called a "micro-retirement", a shorter, self-funded career break, to travel, explore, and live life a little differently before they hit the traditional retirement age.
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Take Zara Lim, a 30-year-old from Melbourne. In mid-2023, she quit her full-time digital marketing job to embark on an 18-month micro-retirement across Europe and Asia. She told Yahoo Finance that she had spent the pandemic period working and saving as much as she could and was eager to travel once the world started opening up again.
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Over her 18-month journey, Ms Lim relied on her savings and occasional freelance work to keep going. She experienced unforgettable moments, like watching the cherry blossoms bloom in Korea and catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights in Norway.
"Having a really long break allows you to do the things that you just normally wouldn't be able to," she said. "Having that flexibility to stay longer and to experience the thing you actually wanted to go there to experience is very, very privileged and I'm very grateful to be able to do that."
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Ms Lim returned from her travels earlier this year and has since secured another full-time digital marketing role, even starting to put feelers out while she was still on the road.
The concept of micro-retirements is becoming more appealing to younger generations who no longer want to wait until they are 60 to enjoy the fruits of their labour. Of course, there are financial risks involved, and it's not for everyone, but for those willing to plan, save, and take the leap, it can be a life-changing experience.
