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To escape the grind, young people turn to ‘mini-retirements’

Isabel Falls, who quit her design research job in New York and spent a year traveling on a backpackerÕs budget and now works and lives in Mexico City, on Feb. 25, 2025. Some young people are spending their savings on an extended break earlier in their careers rather than waiting until retirement. (Marian Carrasquero/The New York Times)

A “mini-retirement” can take on many forms: asking for unpaid leave or building in a long stretch after voluntarily leaving a job.

PHOTO: MARIAN CARRASQUERO/NYT

Isabella Kwai

Ms Marina Kausar was not sure what to call the three-month break she took after quitting her job.

After working in a series of jobs in finance and technology, Ms Kausar, 30, was feeling stressed and overworked. In December 2023, with a bit of savings built up, she quit without another position lined up to focus on things that had fallen to the wayside while she was focused on work.

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