In the last week alone, searches for ‘what is burnout’ and ‘burnout’ have risen 23 and 20% respectively, reflecting the rising cases of burnout and stress among the UK workforce. In an attempt to pre-emptively tackle this burnout epidemic, many Gen Z and Millennial employees have been turning to ‘micro-retirement’.  

Office space experts, at Instant Offices, have explored what micro-retirement is and how it can benefit you both mentally and financially.   

What is Micro-Retirement?   

Micro-retirement, more commonly known as a career break or even a sabbatical, is where employees take time off work, be that a few months or a whole year, to recharge. This time off often involves travel and exploring opportunities not usually available to you with the pressure of a 9-5.   

Why Micro-Retirement?   

In the last year, 1 in 5 UK workers have had to take time off work due to the impact of stress on their mental health, resulting in 16 million workdays lost in 2024. It seems that stress and burnout are the leading causes driving the ‘micro-retirement’ trend, with many employees looking to re-charge in order to prevent long-term burnout.  

Helen Godliman, head of HR operations at The Instant Group comments: “Burnout stems from chronic stress and lack of balance, not just a heavy workload. In flexible workspaces, we’ve seen how giving people the freedom to customize their work environment, and schedule can reduce stress and help to create a more sustainable work-life rhythm.”  

By taking this time off work, employees are completely re-charging, rather than keeping burnout at bay. This improves their productivity upon their return to the workforce and has the potential to increase their lifespan in the workforce.   

Preventing and overcoming burnout are not the only benefits of micro-retirement. Time away from your job can help:  

1. Increase creativity   

The new experiences you’ll have during a career break, plus the rest from your 9-5, will help to inspire you creatively. When you return to the workforce, you’ll be full of fresh new ideas and have the energy and motivation to take action on them.   

2. Improve your future work-life balance.   

Taking some time away should help you to reflect on what’s important. When the problem of a work-life balance arises again in the future, you’ll be more equipped to prioritise and manage your responsibilities in a healthier way.  

What Are the Financial Repercussions?  

Whilst for more people a career break also involves sacrificing your salary, a new study shows that it could benefit you financially in the long term. It showed that taking a more fluid approach to work can even lead you to stay in the workforce for up to 6 years longer than you would have pre-micro-retirement, which can lead to an additional £42,000 in the average pension pot.  

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