Have you played around with a lot of the AI tools? There are a lot of possible issues with the results from AI (such as entirely made up answers!!), so use these tools with a LOT of caution and only as one tool in your wheelhouse. Still, some that could be useful include the following — and I’d love to hear if you know of any other!

AI Tools That Could Be Useful at Work

Zoom Summary

Have you noticed that new little button on your Zoom dashboard, Summary? If you click that button from in-meeting controls at the beginning of your Zoom meeting, the meeting summary will begin to be generated, and participants will see a notification informing that the Meeting Summary is active. When the meeting has ended, the summary will be finalized and sent out.

(You do need a certain level of admin access to Zoom, but participants can request Summary… if an admin is not present on the call, an email will be sent.)

It can keep notes on what is said, consolidate ideas into different categories, and keep track of to-dos and follow up tasks, including who said they would do them.

At the moment it’s available for users as a free trial – here’s more info on the Zoom blog.

ChatPDF

Chat PDF promises to “extract information or answer questions from large PDF files like manuals, essays, books.” You can upload a PDF of ANY size and, apparently, in any language, and then ask the AI chatbot to answer questions based on that source PDF by citing and highlighting specific paragraphs.

For professionals, you could use this to do an initial assessment or help you pinpoint a section to look at of a manual, a book, a contract, a financial report, or more.

AudioPen

AudioPen “converts unstructured voice notes into text that’s easy to read and ready to share.” As they note, “if you like thinking out loud, you’ll love Audio Pen.”

You can draft articles, emails, messages, and more, just by talking. The program will consolidate ideas into categories or even an outline form — not necessarily in how you spoke about them, but how might make sense contextually.

On the free version, you get up to 3 minutes to talk, whereas on paid versions you can get more.

Readers, have you used any AI tools for work-related purposes? (Personal?) How are you using them, and what are your thoughts?

The post Three AI Tools That Could Be Useful at Work appeared first on Corporette.com.

Happy short workweek (to most of our readers, at least)! We thought we’d start off Thanksgiving week with a chat about some movies you’re, well, thankful for. Let’s talk about holiday movies — and feel free to go beyond winter celebrations into any holiday themes!

Looking for non-holiday movies to watch during your time off this week, maybe even during Thanksgiving family get-togethers (to avoid political talk, perhaps?)? We’ve discussed office movies (including 9 to 5 and Working Girl), underrated movies, and fashion movies in the past…

When I think of my holiday faves, what immediately pops into my head is Love Actually, which somehow came out 20 YEARS AGO. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen that thing. (For a while, my husband and I watched it every year at Christmastime, but we fell out of the habit a few years ago.) Yes, a lot of the movie is definitely, er, problematic (even “for that time”), as Lindy West explained in 2013 when she ripped it to shreds in Jezebel.

My feelings about Love Actually are perfectly represented by one of my favorite Onion articles, “Woman Takes Short Half-Hour Break From Being Feminist To Enjoy TV Show.” Because it has Emma Thompson! Alan Rickman! Colin Firth! Laura Linney! Bill Nighy! THAT Mariah Carey Christmas song, which I unabashedly love! (Film trivia: Olivia Rose Olson, the young actress who sung it in the movie, performed so well that Richard Curtis told her to tone it down so that she’d sound more believable as a 10-year-old.) Love Actually will probably always be one of my comfort movies.

As for Kat’s picks, her votes for holiday family movies are Elf and Home Alone, and though she says she typically can’t stand Hallmark movies, she gives Vanessa Hudgens’ Netflix holiday movies a rating of “OK” — Movies to Wrap Presents To, as it were. (I’ve watched a couple of the Princess Switch movies myself when I wanted some brain candy, and I’d say they’re holiday-serviceable.) As The Cut declared a couple of years ago, “Nothing Says Happy Holidays Like Another Vanessa Hudgens Movie on Netflix.”

So, do tell, readers: What are your favorite holiday movies? Does your family always watch It’s a Wonderful Life (speaking of The Onion, here’s their NSFW “review”), Miracle on 34th Street, or another classic? Would you die on the hill that Die Hard is a Christmas movie? Are Hallmark Christmas movies your guilty pleasure? If you don’t celebrate Christmas, or Christmas movies just aren’t your thing, what are your favorite movies about other holidays?

Image via Stencil

The post Open Thread: What Are Your Favorite Holiday Movies? appeared first on Corporette.com.

It can be really, really tricky to find a great dress that is polished and sedate enough to wear to work, but then is interesting or elegant enough to also go to a cocktail party or holiday party after work. So let’s discuss — what are you looking for in day to night work dresses? Do you add additional details like a statement necklace or ring to make it feel more festive?

These are some of the most polished, elegant day to night work dresses that I love…

Stylish Day to Night Work Dresses

Marycrafts

This dress is almost always under $50, and feels fancy because of the twist detail at the waist. It’s available in sizes 0-22, at Amazon, in a bunch of colors.

Karen Kane

This Cascade dress has been a reader favorite for years because it’s so easy to wear — it’s stretchy, it’s flattering, it’s a little bit dramatic, and you can hand wash it. Score! It’s $118 full price at Nordstrom and other retailers, often available in sizes XS-3X as well as petites.

Adrianna Papell

Aw, I’m kind of excited to see this Adrianna Pappell dress back in stock — it was a reader favorite for years, and then it disappeared for a bit. But it’s a great dress for day to night looks.

It’s $129-$159 at Nordstrom and other retailers, available in regular and plus sizes.

M.M.LaFleur

I’ve always thought M.M.LaFleur’s Jillian dress was a gorgeous, elegant dress that would be just as appropriate in a conference room as well as at a cocktail party. It comes in a bunch of different colors, and a new “everyday satin” fabric, for $365 full price. (There are a lot marked down to $220 right now, though!)

Black Halo

In general, Black Halo makes beautiful, stylish, super polished dresses — it’s hard to think of an item of theirs, over the years, that wouldn’t be appropriate for both day to night. The pictured dress, the Jackie, is their classic, and also comes in a jumpsuit form. It’s $375-$435 at Nordstrom and other retailers.

The Fold

Man – we have featured so many drool-worthy dresses and blazers from The Fold over the years, it’s hard to say which is my favorite, but this hot pink dress may just be it. SO. FABULOUS. One of their iconic dresses, the Arlington, is also great for day-to-night looks.

The pictured dress is $595 at TheFold.com.

What are you looking for in a day to night dress, readers?

The post 6 Stylish Day to Night Work Dresses appeared first on Corporette.com.

For today’s Money Snapshot, we’re talking salary, net worth, debt, and more with reader Evie in San Francisco, who works as a tech marketer. She noted, “I grew up with a lot of financial anxiety. … I have dreams about winning the lottery and truly believe that more money will solve 99% of my life’s problems. It’s something I’ve discussed with my therapist, and however I feel about money now, it’s 200% healthier than how I felt 5 or 10 years ago.”

Note: Evie wrote her original Money Snapshot back in 2020 and decided to share this update! (If we published yours and it’s been a few years or more, you’re welcome to submit a follow-up, too!)

We got a few requests from readers to launch our own “money diary” series, so we’ve asked willing readers to fill out a form with lots of details about debt, spending, saving, and more! If you’d like to fill out the form and be considered for a future personal money snapshot, please click here to submit your response! You can see a PDF of the questions if you want to review them ahead of time. See others in the Personal Money Snapshot series here.

Please remember that this is is a real person who has feelings and isn’t gaining anything from this, unlike your usual friendly (soul-deadened, thick-skinned, cold-hearted, money-grubbing) blogger — so please be kind with any comments. Thank you! — Kat

Name: Evie
Location: San Francisco
Age: 38
Occupation: Tech marketer
Income: $280,000 (80% is base, the rest are bonus and RSUs)
Partner: Spouse, age 37
Household income: $485,000 (W2 income; if you add back the 401(k) contributions, I think we’re at $525,000)
Household net worth: $2.1M
Net worth when started working: $9,000 in undergrad loans at age 22
Living situation: Own a home

Debt

What does your debt picture look like?
No debt other than mortgage ($625,000). Spouse and I are both quite debt-averse.

How much money are you spending each month to pay down debt?
We only have mortgage debt.

How did you pay for school?
Between us, we have two bachelor’s and two master’s. Undergrad was a mix of grants, loans, and family contribution. My master’s was from my savings, grants, and a $50,000 inheritance from my grandparent. I paid for all $70,000 of partner’s master’s with my earnings. We made it through $220,000 worth of tuition debt-free and I’m very grateful we were able to do so.

Do you own or rent? How much do you pay monthly?
$3,500 a month for mortgage and HOA

If you have children, how much do/did you spend for childcare and/or education?
No children. We do have a fur baby that we pay ~$7,000 a year for in food/toys, vet expenses, and doggie daycare.

If you have any other large expenses each month, please list them here.
No other big monthly expenses. We do allocate over $1,000 a month for property taxes and $400 a month for insurance that includes auto, homeowner, and umbrella, but these expenses are paid twice a year.

Home debt: Share your theories and strategies with us (including any that lead you to rent rather than own). 
We have a 30-year mortgage at 2.75% due to refinancing a couple years ago. I used to pay ahead of schedule when we were at 4%, and in retrospect that was the WRONG decision. Now with inflation 5%+ and our low rate, I don’t pay ahead anymore.

Have you ever done anything noteworthy to avoid or lessen debt?
We’ve rented out a person’s illegally converted garage-to-studio with a painted concrete floor and lived with a roommate in our 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom, sub-1,000 sq. ft. condo.

Savings, Investments & Retirement 

How much do you save each month or year in retirement vehicles like 401Ks, Roth IRAs, and others?
For the past 2–3 years we’ve saved $100,000–$200,000 a year in 401(k), mega backdoor Roth IRA, and brokerage accounts.

How much money do you allocate to other tax-savvy investments/accounts like HSAs, 529s, FSAs, and others?
Not as much as we should, probably, I think we have a total of $5,000 in HSAs and I save around $1,000 a year in a limited dental FSA.

How much do you save outside of retirement accounts?
I do save in a brokerage account and in T-bills (our emergency fund). I have an automatic deposit set up for $1,000 a month, but mostly I look at the money we have coming in and I make $1,000–$5,000 transfers a few times a quarter.

Talk to us about investments. Do you have a financial adviser or planner?
No financial advisor today, although we do have a tax accountant whom we pay $1,000+ a year. I hate doing taxes.

Do you have an end goal for saving or are you just saving for a rainy day?
I want a single-family home in San Francisco or another equally expensive part of California, but I don’t know how realistic it is if we ALSO want to retire early.

When did you start saving seriously? How has your savings strategy changed over the years?
I’ve pretty much been a saver, but it’s in the last 2–3 years when I’ve really kicked retirement savings into high gear. I’ve always thought if I just maxed out my 401(k), we’d be fine, but I realized that wasn’t enough. I’ve also been much more conservative in the past — for example. I had 30% bonds allocation in my 20s/early 30s!! I could kick myself.

What’s the #1 thing you’re doing to save money, limit spending, or live frugally?
We bought a home that’s probably a bit below what we can afford, especially with our current income, so our housing costs are manageable. On the more day-to-day front, I try to cook more at home both for health and cost reasons. Lastly, we do not have kids. That decision is not purely financial, but it does bring with it financial benefits. Although we would need to save more for retirement given that we won’t have a child to help with some of the things that I find myself helping my parents with.

Have you ever made a big money move or investment with savings in mind, such as rolling over an older IRA into a Roth IRA or superfunding a 529?
We convert after-tax 401(k) to Roth IRA… does that count?

Do you have an estate plan in place? A trust? 
We do not… but we should. It’s on the list of things that I know are important but not urgent…

How much do you have in cash that’s available today?
$10,000

How much do you have in cash that’s available in a week? 
$100,000 — can we take out T-bills?

How much is in your “emergency fund,” and did you include it in the previous question?
$80,000 in T-bills; yes, included in previous question

How much do you have in retirement savings?
$1,650,000 across 401(k), IRAs, and brokerage. This is joint.

How much do you have in long-term investments and savings (CDs, index funds, stocks) that are not behind a retirement wall?
$600,000, but this is included in the $1.65M retirement funds and $100,000 cash

If property values (home, car) are included in your net worth, how much are those worth?
$400,000

Spending 

How much do you spend on the following categories on a monthly basis?

Groceries: $500
Restaurants, bars, takeout, and delivery: $600
Clothing and accessories: $100
Transportation: $100
Rent/living expenses: $3,500
Entertainment: $100
Health care – premiums and other costs: We both have high-deductible health plans. I don’t track my health spending too closely, but I recently paid $200 for prescription tretinoin. I’ve also spent around $600 on dental expenses so far in 2023, which will come out of my limited FSA.
Other major expenses:

The biggest expense we have outside of the mortgage is travel. I target $20,000–$25,000 a year in travel spending, which includes flights/trains and lodging. In 2022 we went on three big overseas trips to Southeast Asia, Europe, and Mexico, and 8–10 weekend getaways in California.

In terms of day-to-day life, I am upping my spend in fitness and exercise — increasing from ~$100 to $400 a month for Pilates, weight training, and dance. I also spend a bit on skincare. My favorite brand is SkinCeuticals: I use their eye cream, vitamin C serum, and Triple Lipid Restore moisturizer, which is $150 for 1.7 oz., and recently turned my spouse on it too. He almost had a heart attack once he found out how much it cost, but he loves the way it feels.

What’s your spending range for these things? What’s your average?

Vacations – Range: $2,000 weekend to $10,000 for a 2-week international vacation
Vacations – Average: $5,000

Charity – Range of donations: None. I don’t donate right now. I’ll probably get heat for this but… I just don’t right now.
Charity – Average donation or giving amount: $0

Individual items of clothing – Range: $40–$200
Individual items of clothing – Average: T-shirt, $30; cashmere sweater, max of $100; shoes, $150. I try to stick with brands I know and trust. I typically buy clothes from Banana Republic Factory, Quince, Boden, and Anthropologie.

Apartment or house – Range: $700–$4,000
Apartment or house – Current main residence: $1.1 million

Car or other vehicle – Range: $20,000
Car or other vehicle – Current main vehicle: $20,000

Any other large personal expenses?
The dog is a big personal expense (see above).

Fill in the blank on this question: I could save _____ if I stopped ______, but I don’t because _______.
I could save $25,000 a year if I cut back on vacations, but I don’t because the deal I made with myself is that as long as we work our corporate America jobs, we can travel wherever we want. Aside from truly big-ticket items like an Antarctica cruise, and as long as we stick to our current style of travel, we’re more limited by vacation days than money.

If you’re married: When was your wedding, how much did it cost (total), and how much did YOU pay?
Total cost: $7,000 in 2013. My parents gave me $10,000 no strings attached as a wedding gift. We put it in with general savings, but one could argue they paid for it, since money is fungible.

At any point in your life to date, has inheritance played a role in your money situation?
My grandma left me $50,000 which I used for grad school.

How has your family provided financial support in your adult life, if any? (Or, do you provide support to them?)
My parents have given me a lot of financial support. They paid for a big part of my undergrad degree, gave $10,000 for my wedding gift, and gave $100,000 so we could put down a bigger down payment. For a few years after I graduated college, they would give me $500–$1,000 for my birthday. When we go on family vacations, they often pay for lodging and flights.

Does your family provide any non-financial support? 
Sometimes my mom will watch her dog grandchild.

Money Strategy 

Do you have a general money strategy?
It’s the same as it was in 2019: Try to work hard enough so I make enough money, but not so hard that I burn out and have to take extended time off. Try to stay as healthy as I can within my control. Invest in index funds. Enter retirement mortgage-free. Do things in the relationship that decreases risk of divorce. Try to be happy today while saving for tomorrow.

Time vs. money — do you spend money to save time (e.g., cleaning service)? Do you donate your time instead of money? What else does this phrase mean to you?
I prioritize flights that are nonstop and I never choose a basic economy fare. We STILL don’t have a cleaning service because I’m afraid once I start I’ll never be able to go back. I do really enjoy personal training and small group classes when it comes to fitness, so I suppose I see it as a better use of my time than larger settings or virtual classes even when those are cheaper.

What are your favorite resources for personal finance?
I said in 2019 I don’t read any personal finance blogs or books because they stress me out. That’s still overall true. FIRE still stresses me out. I hate the term “side hustle.”

What advice would you give your younger self about personal finance?
Do 90%+ stock allocation for your retirement savings.

Icons via Stencil.

Want more posts like this? These are some of the latest Money Snapshots…

• Money Snapshot: A Tech Marketer Shares Her Thoughts on Health, Retirement, and Travel
• Money Snapshot: A Lawyer on a Career Break Shares Her Thoughts on Debt, Savings, and Living Frugally
• Money Snapshot: An In-House Counsel Shares Thoughts on 529s, Avoiding Debt, and Past Money Stress
• Money Snapshot: An In-House Counsel Shares Her Thoughts on Expenses, Retirement, and Outsourcing Chores
• Personal Money Snapshot: Corporette Edition

The post Money Snapshot: A Tech Marketer Shares Her Thoughts on Health, Retirement, and Travel appeared first on Corporette.com.

We haven’t had a discussion on our favorite stores for online shopping since 2015… so let’s get into it!

I do a lot of online shopping. I got in the habit when I was working such long hours at the law firm that — aside from local lunch-hour trips — it was just easier to buy everything online because I wasn’t available when most stores were open.

I’ve kept the habit now that I have kids, particularly for baby items — we once ran around to six baby stores looking for a nursing thing we needed when I had my first child, and later found it was available on Amazon (with the one-day shipping option, too).

SO: I shop a lot, online. But it’s interesting to me that almost all of my shopping is done at only a few retailers…

(Note that we’ve talked about the 7 retailers with the best return policies — as well as best practices for returning items bought online. This is a super old post, but I still stand by these tips on how to know if an online deal is worth it.)

(The doormat pictured above is under $40 at Amazon!)

Reader-Favorite Stores for Online Shopping for Work Clothes

Based on affiliate data, at least, readers love shopping at Nordstrom, Amazon, Ann Taylor, J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, M.M.LaFleur, and Zappos.

Readers had a threadjack recently when someone asked, “If you could only shop at 5 retailers for clothes, what would they be?” A lot of the answers included my favorite stores for online shopping (Nordstrom, Amazon, Old Navy), but there were a few others that appeared over and over. Those included Madewell, Reformation, Anthropologie, Abercrombie, Sezane, J.Crew Factory, and Target, as well as exercise stores like Vuori and Beyond Yoga.

{related: what to buy for work at Ann Taylor}

My Favorite Stores for Online Shopping (And Why)

I heavily prefer to shop from these stores, in large part because I know what to expect if there are any returns — I know the return window as well as how I can package the returns or if I can drop them off in person. I’ve also never had a bad shopping experience with them…

Amazon

We pay for Prime Membership — and my preferred credit card is my Amazon Visa, which nets me triple points at Amazon — so it’s hard to beat. Free two-day shipping, a 30-day return policy (with easy returns that are often free), a wide selection, and Subscribe & Save discounts for many household things (that sometimes beat even Costco prices).

Nordstrom

TBH, when I started this blog I barely shopped at Nordstrom. I hate the way the physical stores are laid out, I disliked the products that seemed to be in my price range, and so on.

When I noticed that Corporette readers went nuts for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and the Half-Yearly Sale, with lots of eager talk of points, customer service, and more, I started looking into it.

Nowadays it feels like Nordstrom is the department store to beat, online. Their website is easy to use and has a great “recommendation” engine, as well as filters that actually work; and they offer fast, free shipping, free returns that get credited back pretty quickly, a wide selection of products, a price-matching policy, and a very generous return policy.

I like that if you spend enough using your Nordstrom Card, you get gift certificates (Nordstrom Notes) that are basically like cash back.

Zappos

Fast, free shipping; a great return policy (365 days), and a price-matching policy. Sign me up.

Gap / Old Navy / BR

I often buy stuff for my children at Old Navy and Gap, and with the combined shopping cart and free shipping with $50+, it’s easy to add a few things for my husband and myself as well. The frequency of the sales never hurts, either.

Ann Taylor

I usually stock up during their “60% off the sale” sales (which I also try to post about here if there’s good stuff).

Sephora

Every so often I’ll buy from Sephora if I’m on the hunt for something (love that return policy!), or the crazy Dillard’s New Year’s sale, or even (gasp) very occasionally at an actual brand store, like a recent purchase I made at Clinique.com. 

But: My Favorite Stores for Gift Cards & Gifts

I thought I’d mention this because gift and gift card season is upon us: I tend to shop at very different stores when I’m buying a gift for someone. For example, my kids’ teachers almost all get Target gift cards because I figure everyone needs something at Target, whether it’s fun or practical. If we’re getting a gift for a kid party, I also try to get something from Target so that it’s easy for the parents to return and exchange for something else.

We get a lot of cash gift cards from my husband’s clients, and I try to use all of those at a grocery store wherever possible because I never make returns there! (Also, in general, it’s pretty difficult to use cash gift cards online.)

Retailers I Avoid

On the flip side, some retailers I avoid like the plague: One department store that annoyingly keeps emptying my cart when I get to checkout, another department store that used to have decent deals in person in the store but lately seems to only have cheap yuck at high prices online (plus a high minimum to get free shipping)… With some of the big-box stores like Target and Kohl’s, I just hate the online experience.

Reasons I’ll Shop at a New-to-Me Online Store

A much better deal that can’t/won’t be price-matched. The price of shipping and the speed of shipping are things that I factor in to the purchasing decision, though, as well as the return policy.

Buying several items from one brand. For example, I knew I wanted a bunch of Clinique products recently, and I didn’t care about a return policy because I’d used all of the products before. I went on the hunt for a “gift with purchase” deal from a major department store, and eventually found that Clinique offered one of the best deals: free shipping with $50 (which I planned to spend anyway), and the deal at the time was five minis/samples of other products, which I liked.

A product that can’t be found elsewhere. Sometimes it seems like almost everything can be found at my preferred retailers — but sometimes it can’t. I recently bought a great All Saints summer dress from (gasp) All Saints; I recently bought a bunch of stuff online at Anthropologie (and returned a lot of it) because they had a good sale and a selection of stuff I couldn’t easily find elsewhere.

A local store to which I plan to return items. I usually find it’s easier to box up what I don’t want and send it back via the post office — and all of my preferred retailers offer free return shipping, so that’s usually not an issue. But very occasionally it’s just easier to run into a local store, run to the closest counter, and return things.

An item that seems like a lot of fuss to ship. For example, dumbbells and other exercise equipment. Ceramic pots. A tension rod for hanging curtains.

A previous online shopping experience. If I already have an account set up, and had an OK shopping experience the first time, then I’m more inclined to pull the trigger on a purchase (assuming the other things are met). Neiman Marcus, J.Crew, The Outnet — none are in my regular wheelhouse but if I see a good deal I’m pretty quick to purchase because it’s jut a few clicks.

A store that takes Apple Pay. If I see an “Apple Pay” option at a store where I don’t have an account and don’t really plan to create one, it’s a very, very easy purchase for me. I like that I don’t have to pull out my credit card, that I don’t have to give them my phone number, and that you can choose to have your iPhone provide an anonymized email address. On the flip side, if the only option is PayPal or credit card I may get annoyed, depending on circumstances.

I’m curious — which are your favorite stores for internet shopping? How much of your life is purchased online? What factors make you deviate from your preferred retailers? Are there some stores where you absolutely prefer the in-store shopping experience (for reasons other than the obvious: being able to try a bunch of stuff on before purchasing it)? 

The post What Are Your Favorite Stores for Online Shopping? appeared first on Corporette.com.

We just had a Money Snapshot from a lawyer on a career break, and we’ve discussed how to indicate a sabbatical on your resume — but I don’t think we’ve ever had a fun open thread on whether or not you would take a mid-career sabbatical! So let’s discuss: Would you take a planned break? How long would you ideally take, and what would you do?

Hat tip to the readers, who had a great threadjack along these lines several months ago… Here was the original question that kickstarted the discussion:

Anyone ever consider (or actually take) a mid-career sabbatical? I am so burned out from work I’ve been fantasizing about it more than usual lately. In my ideal world I’d take a year off, sell my house and travel in the camper van I’m converting. I am thoroughly into the idea that you shouldn’t wait until retirement to do the things you want to do, and really like the concept of taking a mini-retirement during my working years. Anyone else care to fantasize with me? What would you do if you took time off from work?

Different Types of Sabbaticals

Some jobs allow sabbaticals and even encourage them — certainly in academia, but a number of readers noted that their law firms also allow this. Note that even if it’s allowed or encouraged at your workplace, sabbaticals are unpaid, so obviously you need to have enough in savings to cushion you during those months.

Another way people take a career break is as a long pause between jobs. One reader noted that she was planning one so she could travel to see friends and family:

I am tentatively planning on doing this next year but for 2-3 months. I have elementary-age kids and a partner with a flexible schedule. Our plan is to travel to see lots of friends and family we haven’t seen in years/have never visited and be able to spend real time with them and explore the areas we will visit. I am calling it a sabbatical but really it is a gift to myself after a natural ending point for one job and a respite before I look for/start another. I hope I can actually follow through with the plan!

Can You Take a Career Break or Sabbatical if You’re In a Big Job?

We heard from a number of readers with “big jobs” — Big 4, MBB, and even a small law firm — who noted that they were either planning or had taken a career break or sabbatical.

Another reader noted that she had quit her stressful job and was taking her time to find a new job (and, I’m sure, de-stress and reflect). She was filling her time with fun things:

I quit my job at a Big 4 back in March and I’m slowly taking my time to find a new job. I’ve been spending time on big house projects, visiting family, taking daytime fitness classes that normally do not fit in my schedule, and volunteering. I recently turned 50 and diligently saved for the past 25 years so I could afford to take this time.

Another woman at a stressful job was planning a sabbatical:

Oh my gosh yes. Do it. I’m a young partner at a law firm (small firm) and am tentatively planning a 4- week sabbatical next year. I have flexibility and no issue meeting billable par, but I know my firm will freak, at the same time, I want to do it before my retiring partner actually retires and while my main associate is between maternity leaves.

My dream for a year would be living on a pretty small budget and planning it could take another 6 months to re-enter. I’d probably do a monthly lunch with key contacts for at least 3-6 months at the end to try to make re-entry less painful. I’d absolutely try to take a leave of absence from my job if it was allowed. I’m single no kids so health insurance isn’t crazy expensive but I’d still want to make sure I understood coverage in all the places I’d travel. I can barely imagine a year but I think I would:
– stay home for a month straight. (I get you’re selling but I just crave time at home)
– see my relatives. One surviving grandparent, my retired aunt, etc.
– read so so many books.
– take walks. Get into a doable, consistent workout routine. Take classes at weird times that are smaller sized.
– take up a hobby with my hands for my long term mental health.
– volunteer for something that is way more time consuming than I can usually handle.
– learn to cook. Host inexpensive casual gatherings with a couple close friends every month or so.
– re evaluate whether I want to try to start a part time online business or consulting gig 4-5 months in.
– travel – safe, cheap, but I’d want to plan it after my first month because I just wouldn’t have time to savor anticipation on my way out to start the sabbatical. My pay depends on my work product so I couldn’t phone it in on the way out.

Still another reader from a “big job” chimed in about her experience when she left MBB in her early thirties:

I took about a year off, spent 2 months at a meditation retreat, learned how to kiteboard and did several other bucket list outdoor adventures, including a through hike. It was all pre husband and kids, but a decade later, we’re trying to do something similar with the whole fam.

Would a Mid-Career Sabbatical Stress You Out Too Much?

Still other readers noted that a mid-career sabbatical would stress them out too much, especially if they were just taking a career break after quitting their job. One reader noted that a sabbatical “feels like a pipe dream. I get the midlife and midcareer burnout, believe me.”

Another reader shared her tips on what to do instead of a career break:

…I can’t imagine wanting the stress that comes with getting a job, house, etc., again. The key is figuring out how to create balance in your own life. For me, that’s really understanding that my job isn’t my value in this world, it’s what I do to live the life I want and my employer’s stresses are not mine to take home.

Stock photo via Stencil.

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