Podcast Summary: This Is Woman's Work with Nicole Kalil

Episode 336: How To Take A Sabbatical with Katrina McGhee
Release Date: August 18, 2025
Host: Nicole Kalil
Guest: Katrina McGhee, Career Break & Sabbatical Expert, Author, Master Coach

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the concept of taking sabbaticals and career breaks—not just as the domain of academics, but as a transformative option for anyone, especially women entrenched in hustle culture. Host Nicole Kalil speaks with expert Katrina McGhee about what a sabbatical truly is, why it might be not just possible but necessary, and how to practically design one. Together, they challenge the stigma around opting out to rest, recalibrate, and ultimately bloom in new directions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What is a Sabbatical? (03:00–05:04)

• Katrina breaks down the difference:
  • Vacation: Short, often “hustle-y,” and rarely fully disconnected; work still lingers (03:15).
  • Sabbatical: Typically a longer, planned leave with the intention to return to your job (03:25).
  • Career Break (Gap Year/Midlife Break): Quitting your job for a full reset, with no set plan to return (03:36).
  • Why vacations aren’t enough: “Even when you’re relaxing…by the time you’ve really started to embrace vacation mode, it’s time to go back to work.” – Katrina McGhee (04:15)

2. Core Motivations for Taking a Break: The Three B’s (05:46–08:36)

• Burnout: Overwhelm, health issues, apathy towards work.
• Betrayal: Misalignment between values and daily life, or between you and your work (06:15).
• Blossom: Desire to invest in other aspects of life—hobbies, relationships, personal growth (07:30).

“In my 20-month break around the world… I actually had a mix, you know, of all three of these.” – Katrina McGhee (08:27)

3. Overcoming Head Trash: Fear, Guilt, & the "Loser" Narrative (08:36–12:30)

• Nicole voices common concerns: fear of being seen as weak, fears of falling behind, or being unemployable (08:40).
• Katrina offers reframing:
  • “It is irresponsible to live a life that does not feel like the life that you want because you are afraid…” (09:44)
  • Challenge your brain’s focus on the potential loss—ask, “What do I stand to gain if I take a break? What am I losing by not taking it?” (10:22)
  • “If you need a break, you either take the break or the break eventually takes you.” (11:35)

4. The Logistics: How to Plan a Successful Break (13:31–16:42)

Katrina’s “Seven Elements of a Successful Break” (shares two in detail):

• Purpose Statement: Clear intent for why you’re taking a break (13:50).

  “Taking time to write a purpose statement is like making sure that you’re going to hit that mark.” (14:39)

• Re-entry Period: Plan and set aside resources for your return (job search, processing lessons, recalibrating) (15:10).

  “You want to come into the job search feeling grounded and good and not having that please pick me energy…” (15:39)

5. Sabbaticals for Employees vs. Entrepreneurs (18:12–20:35)

• For employees: Simpler to plan, main challenge is things like health insurance.
• For entrepreneurs: More complex—need to arrange coverage, possibly scale teams, and consider phased or partial breaks.

  “The business keeps going and so it’s harder to take a longer break…One client scaled her team over a year to take a structured break in phases.” (18:43)

6. Hybrid Sabbaticals: Partial Disconnecting (20:35–22:55)

• Nicole proposes a “hybrid” (e.g., checking in half a day weekly) and asks for Katrina’s take.
• Katrina’s warning:
  • “When you are energetically connected, it’s like the thread doesn’t get cut...” (21:31)
  • Suggests a period of complete disconnection first (2–3 weeks) for true restoration.

7. Do You Have to Travel? Location & Structure (22:55–25:57)

• About two-thirds of Katrina’s clients travel for part of their break; one third stay home (23:46).
• Travel disrupts routine, jump-starts new habits, but isn’t essential—meaningful breaks can happen at home, but require boundaries to avoid just trading work for “to-do” busyness.

8. What Do I Do With My Time? (26:55–28:35)

• For people “whose only hobbies are reading and cheese,” Katrina recommends:
  • Use themes/anchor words to guide break activities (“connection,” “adventure,” “learning”).
  • Purpose-driven activities, not just leisure for leisure’s sake.
  • Stay open to inspiration from books, podcasts, and your own curiosities.

9. Can a Break Really Help My Career? Real-World Outcomes (28:35–31:55)

• Katrina shares powerful client stories:
  • VP takes a break, writes a novel, lands a double-salary contract on return, now works 6 months per year.
  • Former nonprofit leader finds transformation in animal healing and sanctuary work.
  • Katrina herself returned from her break to five job offers in five weeks.

  “Our brains are wired for scarcity…there are so many possibilities we can’t see.” (31:37)

• Nicole notes her own experiences: every time she slows down, her income increases; travel brings new offers (31:55).

10. Katrina’s Free Blueprint and The Seven Elements (32:55–33:51)

• Katrina offers her “Career Break Blueprint” free at kmcgeecoaching.com.
• The blueprint combines “just enough structure” with flexibility—helps define what a successful break means to you.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the true nature of breaks:
  “A vacation is a hit. A sabbatical is restoration, dream fulfillment, goals—all the things...nourishing ourselves, our spirits, our brains, our bodies.” – Katrina (04:04)

• On responsibility and fear:
  “It is irresponsible to live a life that does not feel like the life that you want because you are afraid.” – Katrina (09:44)

• On the necessity of breaks:
  “If you need a break, you either take the break or the break eventually takes you.” – Katrina (11:35)

• On planning: “You want a clear, articulate statement and clarity around the purpose for your break.” – Katrina (13:50)

• On sabbaticals for entrepreneurs:
  “Entrepreneurial sabbaticals are often shorter, unless you have a really big team that can sub in for you.” – Katrina (19:55)

• On rising professional value:
  “When you take a break and you are restored...it’s incredible what that attracts and what possibilities exist beyond your current imagination.” – Katrina (29:21)

• Nicole’s close:
  “Maybe taking a break isn’t about quitting or giving up. Maybe...it’s the most responsible, badass, strategic, wildly smart thing that you can do for yourself and for your career.” – Nicole (34:34)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:00 — Defining sabbatical vs. vacation vs. career break
• 05:46 — Three B’s: Burnout, Betrayal, Blossom
• 08:36 — Head trash, stigma, framing the “why”
• 13:31 — Planning: Purpose & Re-entry
• 18:12 — Employees vs. entrepreneurs
• 20:35 — Hybrid/partial breaks
• 22:55 — Do you have to travel?
• 26:55 — What will I even do?
• 28:35 — Value of career breaks: outcomes
• 32:55 — Free blueprint, how to get started
• 34:34 — Nicole’s wrap-up & parting wisdom

Tone & Takeaways

Warm, authentic, sometimes irreverent (“giving our finger to the supposed tos”), and packed with practical coaching. The message: Sabbaticals aren’t a luxury or cop-out—they’re a strategic, energizing, and deeply “woman’s work” move for those ready to reclaim their lives and careers.

Find Katrina’s blueprint: kmcgeecoaching.com
More on the podcast: nicolekalil.com

For listeners:
If you’re feeling the itch (or necessity) for a break but are wrestling with logistics, guilt, or “head trash,” this episode provides not just permission but a roadmap—and reminds you that flourishing outside of hustle culture is possible and powerful.