What if instead of waiting until your 60s to retire, you could take meaningful breaks throughout your life? Imagine pausing your career for a month or two to travel, pivot careers, learn something new, or simply rest and reset.
In this episode, Tracy Coenen sits down with Jillian Johnsrud, host of the Retire Often podcast and author of the new book Retire Often. Jillian has taken more than a dozen “mini-retirements” and is on a mission to help others escape burnout, reclaim their time, and build wealth and meaning along the way. From traveling the world to raising six children to buying real estate during a month off, Jillian has redefined what retirement looks like and why it shouldn’t be something we save for the end of life.
If you’re navigating a big transition like divorce or career change, this episode will challenge how you think about work, money, and your timeline for success.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
💡 What a mini-retirement really is and how it works
💡 How even a modest income can support intentional time off
💡 Why you don’t need to be wealthy or self-employed to take a break
💡 Ways to budget, save, and plan for your own mini-retirement
💡 How these breaks can actually increase your lifetime income
Whether you’re burned out, at a crossroads, or simply craving more purpose, Jillian offers practical, inspiring advice for pressing pause now, not someday. You don’t have to wait until 65 to live the life you’ve imagined.
How to Make a Mini-Retirement Work for You:
✅ Plan a month off every few years instead of dreaming about “someday”
✅ Negotiate time away with your employer or schedule between jobs
✅ Think creatively about where and how you can afford to take time off
✅ Use your break to invest in yourself, your health, or your next chapter
✅ Focus on building a career and a life you don’t need to escape from
🎧 Tune in now to learn how mini-retirements can help you avoid burnout, discover new possibilities, and live a more intentional life.
📘 Get Jillian’s new book Retire Often (out September 9): https://amzn.to/4jFtBdN
🎙️ Listen to her podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/retire-often/id1701353628
📱 Follow Jillian on Instagram: @jillianjohnsrud
