Heavy Metal Money
Posts
Retire Often: Boost Your Career & Life Through Mini-Retirements

Retire Often: Boost Your Career & Life Through Mini-Retirements

Career Breaks to improve your life with Jillian Johnsrud

Chris (Loogie) Luger
June 27, 2025

In partnership with

Hands Down Some Of The Best 0% Interest Credit Cards

Pay no interest until nearly 2027 with some of the best hand-picked credit cards this year. They are perfect for anyone looking to pay down their debt, and not add to it!

Click here to see what all of the hype is about.

Learn How To Apply Now

Ever feel like the traditional retirement plan is as outdated as an 8-track player? Well, Jillian Johnsrud thinks it's time to smash that old-school approach and crank up a new tune: retiring often.

Yep, you read that right. Jillian—author, speaker, and proud champion of taking multiple mini-retirements—is flipping retirement culture on its head. By age 40, she's rocked over a dozen mini-retirements, toured 27 countries, adopted 4 kiddos (plus her own 2 biological children), and built a killer real estate portfolio. She even took a cross-country trip in a camper (that’s some serious rockstar vibes).

Here's the brutal truth: the old-school "work-till-you-drop" model doesn't resonate anymore. Jillian breaks it down for us. Your career doesn't have to be a straight shot until you're too old to headbang. Instead, it's healthier, smarter, and more profitable to periodically step away, recharge, and reinvent yourself.

Here’s what Jillian shared on an episode of the Extreme Personal Finance Show podcast, and why you should be seriously considering retiring more often:

Why Mini-Retirements Rule

Taking breaks from your job isn't career suicide—it's a tactical reload. Think Metallica taking time off between albums to come back stronger. Every mini-retirement you take is a chance to reset, grow, and come back swinging harder and smarter.

Beating Burnout

Feeling crispy? You're not alone. Burnout is rampant, but Jillian explains how planned career breaks can be your ultimate weapon. Take intentional downtime to tackle burnout before it burns you to the ground.

Career Boost

Surprisingly, mini-retirements aren’t just a break from your career—they’re rocket fuel. Jillian’s secret? Use these breaks as pivot points to switch jobs, command higher salaries, and massively upgrade your life.

Explaining Resume Gaps Like a Rockstar

Worried about gaps in your resume? Jillian offers a killer formula: Be positive, interesting, specific, and frame your time off as a meaningful event. She helps us make this easy.

Can You Afford This a Mini-Retirement? (Spoiler Alert: YES!)

Money worries are real, but Jillian shatters the myth that career breaks are only for high earners. Whether you make $20k or $200k, there are strategic, smart ways to fund your mini-retirements without tanking your financial future