What If You Didn't Wait Until Retirement?

Erika Luger on Sabbaticals, Somatic Wisdom, and the Art of Not Rushing Back

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been fortunate enough to connect with other successful people who have not only taken a sabbatical but were open enough to talk to me about it. Some have agreed to let me share their stories here.

Today, I’m sharing the experience of Erika Luger. She is currently on her sabbatical and starting to imagine her re-entry into work. Our conversation was easy and deep even though we had just met. Like other conversations I’m having, there is a special connection between two people who have chosen this experience. It's a connection I wish I had much more of during my own sabbatical. So, today, we’re bringing it to you.

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“Taking a sabbatical was a deeply considered choice, but I still find myself wanting to explain the why—to make the intentionality behind the pause understood.”

This one line from Erika Luger says so much about what it means to take a sabbatical when you’re a professional woman in your 40s or 50s. You’re not quitting. You’re not lost. You’re intentionally stepping out of the current (sometimes chaotic, sometimes toxic) flow of work to pause, reflect, and reroute. And yet, you’re constantly explaining. Justifying. Translating.

The Slow Progression Toward a Break

Erika’s sabbatical didn’t arrive in a neat little package. Like many of us, she had been eyeing it for a while, even planned to take it earlier, but the job market pulled her back in. And then life (both sudden and slow) made the decision for her.

After stepping away for about 4 weeks to deal with a health scare, the experience of that pause stayed with her. So when the company she worked for was sold, it reaffirmed something she already knew: life is short, and it was time to prioritize herself. Two weeks later, she was on the road with a camper van finally ready to take the time for which she’d been planning.

“It wasn’t one big decision. It was a slow progression toward giving myself permission.”

Rest as a Radical Act

It turns out, slowing down is not easy when you’ve spent your career being the reliable one. The driver. The achiever. Erika admitted she had to force herself to rest. Her default wiring wanted to fill every day of her sabbatical with something useful.

But restorative yoga helped. So did long, quiet drives during her road trip. She gave herself a 12-month sabbatical budget; and, perhaps more importantly, the permission to not rush her way back.

“I had to remind myself daily: I don’t have to accomplish anything today. And that’s fine.”

The Fear of Reentry

As Erika started to eye re-entry, she could feel the tug of her old habits. The work she once loved suddenly felt like it might eat her alive if she didn’t build better boundaries. She was afraid she hadn’t yet learned what she needed to learn.

So, she started working with a somatic coach. She began to reframe reentry not as a return, but as a re-imagining. Could she re-enter the workforce in a way that honored the rest, the clarity, and the growth she’d earned during her time away?

“My fear is going back and repeating the patterns that burned me out in the first place.”

What’s Next? The Power of “I Don’t Know Yet”

There was no miraculous career reinvention on day 90. No epiphany from a mountaintop. What Erika found instead was space: to write, to think, to upskill, to care for aging parents and to explore and remember what makes her feel alive.

She’s considering moving abroad. She’s looking at change management roles where her experience and humanity will be valued. She’s still in her sabbatical container. And she's not rushing out of it.

“I was hoping for a big lightbulb moment. What I got instead was space. And that was enough.”

Advice from the Middle

Erika’s not fully “through” her sabbatical yet. But that’s what makes her story powerful—it’s still unfolding. Her advice?

• Set intentions—but stay open to what emerges.

• Witness your own reactions with compassion.

• Don’t wait until retirement to do the things that light you up.

• Remember that rest is not laziness. It’s preparation.

“Move with what emerges. That’s the point of this. You finally have freedom of movement—use it.”

We Need More Stories Like Erika’s

There’s a whole generation of people navigating this strange, liminal space between peak career and retirement. Between ambition and burnout. Between what was and what’s next.

This isn’t some 25-year-old’s trip through Southeast Asia. This is an intentional redefinition of work, success, and self—for the next chapter of life.

So if you’re thinking about taking a break, consider this your sign: It’s not too late. It’s not too weird. You’re not alone.

“I’m entering a chapter where experience meets energy—I’ve got at least a decade of high-impact work ahead, and I’m more intentional than ever about where I make a difference.

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Thanks to Erika for her openness and time. If want to connect with Erika or if your organization is navigating change and needs a strategic partner to drive adoption, alignment, and engagement, connect with Erika on LinkedIn.

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