What is micro-retirement?

  • You’ll need either plenty of money or time to plan
  • Micro-retirements are longer vacations but not exactly permanent
  • There are plenty of things to consider before quitting your job

A view of Playa los Cerritos, in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Two Americans vacationing in the nearby village of El Pescadero were found dead in their hotel room Tuesday, authorities in Mexico say. (Getty Images)

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(NewsNation) — Are you feeling burnt out at work? Need more than a vacation? If so, there’s an option, but you’ll need plenty of money.

Micro-retirements are longer than vacations but shorter than permanent retirement. It’s an extended period to recharge.

But for most, it’s easier said than done. First, you’ll need a sympathetic employer that allows extended periods of unpaid time off. With a micro-retirement, you aren’t using paid time off, you’re essentially on sabbatical.

If your employer doesn’t allow it? Time to start saving money and thinking about quitting. Many proponents of micro-retirements start saving money far in advance to accommodate the long, unpaid leave before leaving their job and re-entering the workforce after their break.

You will also have to do considerable research to determine how leaving your job will impact your health insurance, and the possibility of going without it for some time.

The Guardian reports that the concept of a micro-retirement was taken from the 2007 book, “The 4-Hour Workweek” by Timothy Ferriss. The self-help book was translated into 40 languages and sold more than 2 million copies.

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