Respite & Reflection: When Holidays Prompt Midlife Decisions

Picture this: You’re lying back in a plastic donut, getting gently maneuvered down the coast line of Kos by the tidal flow, mildly sunburnt despite the SPF 30, and you think, “Why am I dreading going back to work?” If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and you may be standing at a very midlife crossroads.

Lost in thought, or lost in direction?

Whether it’s a half-term break, a bank holiday lie-in, or an August camping trip featuring suspiciously persistent drizzle, holidays often shine a big ol’ light on the gaps between the life we’ve got and the one we’d quite like to live.

☀️ Mini Breaks, Massive Realisations

There’s something about stepping out of the 9–5 grind—especially for midlife women managing careers, menopause, and multi-tasking—that gives us space to breathe... and think.

It’s during these seemingly insignificant breaks that huge questions sneak in, uninvited:

• Do I actually like my job anymore?

• Is this pace sustainable until retirement (which feels both miles away and weirdly close)?

• What would life be like if I swapped PowerPoints for pottery?

  
  

According to the Employment Law Review, Bank holidays aren’t just calendar freebies—they’re little lifeboats of sanity. When respected properly, they boost wellbeing, cut down burnout, and gently remind us we’re more than our job titles. Employers can play a big part by setting the tone: clear holiday policies, zero guilt-tripping, and a culture that truly values time off as much as time on. And yes, employees can do their bit too—wrapping up loose ends before the break and easing back in after, so the time away actually feels like a proper pause, not a boomerang of stress. Are we truly resting, or just shifting our to-do list into home mode?

🧠 The Science of Stepping Away

The boffins back it up too. Research shows time off helps reset our brains, reduce burnout and—here’s the kicker—often leaves us questioning whether we’re using our time meaningfully. So while you’re picking Cheerios out of the car upholstery post-holiday, your brain is quietly going:

“What if I made that career change? What if I asked for compressed hours? What if I started that candle-making business…?”

A recent article in The Guardian dubs this the “golden gap year”: a rising trend of midlifers taking sabbaticals, switching paths, or just pressing pause to figure things out. Turns out, taking time off really makes you question what you're rushing back to.

🎢 Midlife Is No Crisis – It’s a Pivot Point

Forget the outdated trope of the midlife crisis with a Harley and a new tattoo. The modern midlife shift is less meltdown, more “aha!” moment.

The Guardian recently highlighted, in the same article above, that more people in their 40s and 50s are using midlife breaks—from family holidays to full-blown sabbaticals—to reassess what they truly want from their next chapter. Whether it’s switching careers, starting a side hustle, or finally stepping back from the corporate hamster wheel, a few days away from the daily grind can be just the clarity kickstart they need. 

🧩 How Holidays Help You Join the Dots

Here’s what holidays often trigger in midlife minds:

📝 Clarity – You finally notice how tired you are. That Sunday night dread isn’t “just a phase”.

🎯 Values Check – With space to breathe, you realise you value freedom more than job title. Or impact more than income.

🎈 New Ideas – Whether it’s a side project or a full-on career switch, creativity blooms when you’re not glued to Teams calls.

🌱 Desire for Change – Your partner’s sabbatical sounds dreamy. That woman in the holiday cottage next door runs a business from her iPad. Could that be you?

💼 Work-Life Balance: More Than a Buzzword

According to a 2025 report by StandOut-CV, the UK’s work–life balance continues to sit on shaky ground. A striking 43% of workers regularly put in unpaid overtime, often staying late, logging on after hours, or catching up during their supposed downtime. Even more concerning, 64% of employees feel a constant pressure to remain contactable—even outside of contracted hours—responding to emails, checking notifications, or keeping an eye on their inbox over the weekend “just in case.”

It doesn’t stop there. Over a (shocking) third (38%) admit to having made or taken work-related calls while on holiday—moments that should be reserved for rest, family, or flopping in a hammock with a book. This creeping connectivity, where the lines between ‘work’ and ‘life’ are increasingly blurred, reflects a culture that quietly rewards over-availability and treats rest as optional.

These figures clearly highlight the erosion of healthy boundaries and shine a spotlight on the urgent need for meaningful breaks. True time off—uninterrupted, un-guilt-tripped, and fully disconnected—isn’t just a luxury. It’s a necessity. For midlife professionals especially, these moments of proper pause can make all the difference in avoiding burnout, rediscovering purpose, and regaining clarity on what a balanced, fulfilling career really looks like.

If your holiday made you grumble, “I can’t keep going like this,” that’s not weakness—it’s wisdom knocking.

🛠️ What To Do With That Holiday Epiphany

So you’ve had your “I think I need to change” moment. Now what?

1. ✍️ Journal It While It’s Fresh

While sipping your flat white or folding beach towels, jot down:

• What felt great about being away from work?

• What do you want more or less of in your everyday life?

• Any career ideas bubbling up?

2. 📅 Don’t Rush Back to Routine

Try not to hit the ground sprinting. Book a buffer day. Protect the calm. Let the insight settle. Be intentional about what you bring back with you—and what you leave behind.

3. 👩‍💼 Chat to a Coach

(Hint hint: this is where I come in.) A post-holiday coaching session can turn foggy thoughts into an actual action plan. I’ll help you explore options, build confidence, and create change without burning bridges.

🎉 Holiday Reflection Bingo

Just for fun, tick off the ones you experienced on your last break:

✅ Had an existential crisis in the hotel spa

✅ Googled “remote jobs UK” by the pool

✅ Daydreamed about running a café in Cornwall

✅ Said, “I’m too old for this crap” while checking emails at 9pm

✅ Told your partner, “I think I want to go part-time…”

If you scored 3 or more—welcome, friend. You’re in the Holiday Epiphany Club.

🔄 Small Shifts, Big Wins

Not every insight requires a full-blown career change. Sometimes a few tweaks make all the difference:

• Compressed hours or flexible start times

• Four-day week (they’re becoming more popular!)

• Training or career development funding

• Job crafting – reshaping your current role to suit your strengths

Ask your workplace what’s possible before assuming “it’s not allowed”.

💡 Holiday = Mirror

Here’s the truth: holidays aren’t just downtime. They’re a mirror. They reflect what’s working—and what’s not. They show us who we are without the noise, and give us permission to imagine who we could be.

🚀 Your Midlife Isn’t a Decline—It’s a Launchpad

So, if the last school holiday left you questioning the point of it all while wearing Crocs and holding a half-melted Fab lolly… that’s not a breakdown. That's a breakthrough.

Whether it leads to a sabbatical, a side hustle, or a whole new path, don’t dismiss your post-holiday ponderings. Lean in. Explore them. And remember—you don’t have to do it alone.

🧭 Need Help Navigating the Next Step?

Pause and Empower offers one-to-one career coaching for midlife women making bold, balanced changes—especially after “a moment” with a beach towel or biscuit tin. We turn your reflections into a roadmap.

#PauseAndEmpower #MidlifeCareerChange #WorkLifeBalanceUK #CareerReflection #SabbaticalThinking #WomenInMidlife #CoachingForChange #TimeToReassess