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Whether you are looking to change careers, need a rejuvenating break from your current job or want to reexamine your life goals, a cultural career break can help you find the answers you are looking for.

Usually common amongst people from the UK, Australia and Canada, we aim to make the concept of cultural career breaks acceptable to a demographic that could gain a great deal from taking one: the American with an established career. Whether you call it a sabbatical, a gap year, or a mid-life change, it’s all the same to us; you need a break from your job.

Planning such a career break can be quite overwhelming to Americans not used to the concept. From contemplation and preparation to life on the road and returning, we are here to inspire and guide you through the career break process - using our own personal experiences and gathering experiences from other American “career breakers”.

Join us in adding “career break” to America’s vocabulary!

Featured Career Break Posts

Married with Luggage: Saving Money to Change Their Lives Married with Luggage: Saving Money to Change Their Lives

It’s easy to think that to travel the world you need to spend a lot of money. And... 

Benefits of Using a Career or Sabbatical Coach Benefits of Using a Career or Sabbatical Coach

Deciding to change your career or take time off from your current job can... 

Family on Bikes: Homeschooling on the Road Family on Bikes: Homeschooling on the Road

John Vogel and Nancy Sathre-Vogel were both long-time teachers with over... 

Health Insurance for American Travelers Health Insurance for American Travelers

There are many fun steps in preparing for your career break travels, and... 

Sabbaticals and the Pursuit of Happiness Sabbaticals and the Pursuit of Happiness

Career breaks and sabbaticals are a great opportunity to quiet your mind... 

Next Steps: Turning a Passion into a Business Next Steps: Turning a Passion into a Business

We have shared many inspiring stories of Americans who have taken a career break... 

Featured Career Breakers

Barbara & Elizabeth Pagano’s Sailing Sabbatical Barbara & Elizabeth Pagano’s Sailing Sabbatical

Barbara Pagano & Elizabeth Pagano are the mother-daughter team behind... 

What Goes Around Comes Around What Goes Around Comes Around

Lisa Lubin is a three-time Emmy-award-winning Television writer/producer/editor.... 

David Lee – Realizing a Dream David Lee – Realizing a Dream

David Lee’s path to a life of travel started with a job layoff. And after... 

Amanda Pressner – Losing Myself on the Road Amanda Pressner – Losing Myself on the Road

Amanda Pressner is one of The Lost Girls, three twenty-something New Yorkers... 

Manali & Terry – Adjusting to Life on the Road Manali & Terry – Adjusting to Life on the Road

For many experiencing long-term travel for the first time, the first few... 

Brian Peters: Transitioning from Briefcase to Backpack Brian Peters: Transitioning from Briefcase to Backpack

How does one go from working a white collar 9-to-5 job to traveling around... 

Favorite Career Break Books, Blogs, Gear and Websites

Travel Tips: Budget Your Trip Travel Tips: Budget Your Trip

Betsy & Warren Talbot shared with us the secrets of how they saved money for their career break travels. But how do you stay on track with the trip budget you planned for? During their 10 months of travel, Laurie and Bryan Tighe traveled through West Africa, the Middle East, India and Nepal. Along the way they were meticulous in keeping... [Read more of this review]

Travel Tips: Road Experience Travel Tips: Road Experience

There comes a point in long-term travel where you have gained your backpacker-legs and have the confidence to help others you encounter on the road, or those preparing. Our three career break couples are at that point in their journeys and share some tips they’ve gained after six-months on the road, as well as what’s next for them. Two... [Read more of this review]

Travel Blog Success Review Travel Blog Success Review

Think blogs are just for keeping your friends & family updated on your travels? Think again. The rise of travel bloggers has grown so much that World Hum called 2009 the “Year of the Travel Blogger”. “Sure, travel bloggers—like travel blogs—have been around for years. But this year, travel bloggers began organizing in new and increasingly... [Read more of this review]

Favorite Blog: Go Backpacking Favorite Blog: Go Backpacking

We recently highlighted David Lee’s career break, which he documented in his blog Go Backpacking. But Go Backpacking is more than just a journal of his adventures – it is a site that encourages and inspires people to independently travel abroad. And with three years of blogging and over 1,000 posts, David has a lot of great content and... [Read more of this review]

Favorite Website: TED Talks – Ideas Worth Spreading Favorite Website: TED Talks – Ideas Worth Spreading

In his recent guest post, Sabbaticals and the Pursuit of Happiness, Clive Prout makes reference to a video presentation on TED Talks given by Dr. Martin Seligman. If you don’t know what TED Talks is, you should! TED is a small nonprofit devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading”. It started out as a conference bringing people together from the... [Read more of this review]

Favorite Gear: Stocking Stuffers Favorite Gear: Stocking Stuffers

When traveling for long periods of time, it’s essential to pack as light as possible. Here is some of our favorite travel gear that we feel is essential to add to your packing list. And as a bonus, they take up little space and make great stocking stuffers for the holidays! And by purchasing these items for you or your favorite traveler, you will... [Read more of this review]