Nearly a third of people (29%) in the UK are actively considering taking extended time out from their job – with travel the biggest motivator for almost half (48%).
That’s according to a poll of 2,000 employed people, commissioned by leading adventure travel company Explore Worldwide, with the majority having their heart set on a break lasting one to three months.
Europe tops the list of places people would like to visit on a sabbatical (37%), followed by New Zealand and the Pacific (30%). Around a quarter have their sights set on Australia, Asia (both 26%) and North America (25%), while South America (20%) and Africa (11%) rank lower on the wish list.
The survey coincides with the launch of a smart new tool from Explore Worldwide that matches users to their perfect micro-retirement trip. The tool asks users to input their age, job situation and stress levels – before crunching the numbers to suggest the ideal time to take the leap, and even suggests the perfect continent for your micro-retirement adventure.
Michael Edwards, Managing Director at Explore Worldwide, says: “People are no longer reserving their big travel experiences for early adulthood gap years, or retirement as has always been tradition.
“In our youth, finances often hold us back from travelling how or where we’d like, while later in life it can simply feel too late.
“With the state retirement age on the rise, more and more people are looking to ‘micro-dose’ that traditional big retirement trip, choosing to take chunks of time out from work to tick off bucket list experiences now rather than waiting.
“Midlife is a time of change and increased pressure for many – whether you have children growing more independent or flying the nest, aging parents, work stress or potentially a long-term relationship breakdown.
“We’re living longer and working for longer than ever, so sometimes we just need a complete break to totally reassess or simply recharge.
“Additionally, there’s been a sense of Carpe Diem since 2020 - a recognition that we don’t always know what lies ahead.
“It’s no wonder fewer people are willing to wait until their 70s, when health and activity levels may be declining, to take that dream trip!”
As for the activities people would like to go on, spending time in nature was the most sought-after (24%). Multi-nation trips, cultural or historical tours, and slow travel by train or boat were also popular (16%), while food and drink tours (13%) and volunteering abroad, such as conservation or education projects (12%), appealed to many.
The research also found that 84 per cent of people who have experienced a mid-life sabbatical felt positive about returning to work, while 96 per cent had a renewed sense of purpose, and half came back brimming with fresh ideas.
The biggest barriers to a micro-retirement were finances (49%), uncertainty around employer support (26%) and family or home responsibilities (22%).
Michael continued: “Micro-retirement is about resetting and rediscovering. When you step away from the daily grind and immerse yourself in new places, you gain clarity, energy, and perspective that no office routine can provide.
“Our survey highlights a growing appetite for having these moments along the way in life, and not waiting for our later years.”
To take the quiz for yourself, visit the Explore World website.
