Ditch everything and just go !

So, what's wrong with taking a career break? Apparently, we all live longer now, so we have more time on our hands. I did it a few years ago - and it changed my life. Do you like the idea of a long, mid-career break to go do something really different?

India is surprisingly the most popular of these locations thanks perhaps to the film, The First Exotic Marigold Hotel. Whilst this article is not about India it’s about the why - which is almost as important as the journey itself.

Many of us obsess over our careers, work painfully long and anti-social hours putting both our health and relationships at risk. We fret about our pension pots, often terrified we won't have enough money to ever retire.

This is a logic behind the notion of the mid-term career break. See it as a late gap year. But this time you can afford it and it will put life and all its entrapments into perspective.

Doing this at the end of a 40 plus year career, as you near retirement is ideal. Probably when you raid your pension pot at 55 and get this insatiable urge to do a runner with your 25% tax free lump sum. After all we could be working until we are 80!

Ask yourself why you shouldn't take some of your retirement at a time when you can really enjoy it - that is, before you retire. I've spoken to many clients in the past year who have told me they want to "do it now...before they get too old to enjoy it".

The sabbatical is hardly a new idea, but the mid-life sabbatical as opposed to the mid-life crisis is gaining momentum - but why aren't more of us doing it?

Until recently most people would not dream of quitting their jobs just to have fun for a year or two. For workers in a high demand-high stress career the idea is catching on fast. Why not talk to your financial advisor and see how you can do this alongside other goals such as retirement or buying a home. Don't just rule it out.

In the last year I have had numerous come to me asking for such a trip - all ready for a change, an adventure and challenged me to push the boundaries on extraordinary for them.

Pushing your boundaries outside of the work place can prove you to a be a stronger human being, more mindful, more focused and more complete as a person.

Remember that retirement is no longer the ultimate goal - live an enriched live today rather than waiting for life to begin.... when you get the clock and return the car keys.