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Why You Should Stop Waiting for the “Right Time” to Take a Career Break (Taking A Career Break with Katrina Crossover)
This week on Winging It, I'm sharing a special crossover episode from my other podcast, Taking A Career Break with Katrina McGhee. I really feel our two audiences do crossover, so I am sharing one of our most popular episodes with you. Please check out the rest of the catalogue for everything relating to a career break.
Episode 67 - Why You Should Stop Waiting for the “Right Time” to Take a Career Break Shownotes
If you've ever dreamed of taking a career break, travelling the world, changing direction, or simply pressing pause on the life you've built, you've probably told yourself the same thing many of us do:
"I'll do it when the timing is right."
The truth is, there may never be a perfect time.
In this episode, Katrina and I dive into one of the biggest reasons people never take a career break: waiting for the mythical "right time." We explore why life will always present obstacles, why fear often disguises itself as practicality, and how delaying your dreams can lead to years of wondering "what if?"
Is there ever a right time to take a career break—or are you just waiting forever?
From economic uncertainty and job market fears to internal pressure and workplace guilt, they unpack why it always feels like the wrong time—and why that thinking is keeping you stuck.
Katrina introduces the concept of PHOBO (Fear of Becoming Obsolete) and explains how this fear shows up both before and during a career break—often preventing people from fully committing to the change they need.
You’ll learn why the “perfect moment” doesn’t exist, how your brain is wired to keep you in survival mode, and what it actually takes to create a good enough time to step away and reset your life.
If you’ve been telling yourself “maybe next year” or “once things settle down,” this episode will challenge that narrative—and help you take your first real step toward a career break.
Taking A Career Break with Katrina McGhee
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/taking-a-career-break-with-katrina-mcghee/id1772602758
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1lRPigXIghYUw82Eqak0mF?si=b956d5b826df4cf1
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TakingaCareerBreakwithKatrina
Ready to stop "running on empty" and start running toward a life you actually love?
📞Schedule a call with Katrina - https://kmcgheecoaching.as.me/freeconsult
🫶🏼Join the BreakSpace community - www.gobreakspace.com
🎁Order Katrina's book (w/ special bonus!) - https://www.kmcgheecoaching.com/book
Support Winging It Travel Podcast
If you enjoyed this episode:
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Introduction – Why this career break episode matters for travellers
02:08 Winging It Travel Podcast intro
03:47 Welcome to Taking A Career Break with Katrina McGhee
04:39 Why do we keep waiting for the "right time"?
06:34 The fear of becoming obsolete and falling behind
08:13 Is there ever a good economic time to take a break?
10:59 Why hard times don't mean you can't make a career break happen
13:00 James shares his own fears about timing and entrepreneurship
15:27 The "worst time fallacy" explained
17:13 Why guilt keeps people stuck in jobs
18:52 Break Space: Support for your own career break journey
19:28 The target keeps moving – there will always be another excuse
22:58 When has life ever truly felt certain?
24:39 Planning versus endlessly postponing your dreams
26:23 Why the perfect moment doesn't exist
27:15 How fear of falling behind keeps you in survival mode
29:32 Building the bridge before taking the leap
31:05 Stop waiting and start making your career break happen
32:17 Final thoughts and outro
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Produced by Winging It Productions - https://www.wingingitproductions.com
Voyascape: Travel Podcast Network - https://voyascape.com/
Winging It Travel Podcast - Website
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Winging It Travel Podcast Credits
Host/Producer/Creator/Composer/Editor - James Hammond
Contact me - jameshammondtravel@gmail.com or james@wingingitproductions.com
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Cheers James.
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