Episode 53 - What happens when your career break is coming to an end… and instead of feeling refreshed or excited, you feel dread? In this episode, James Hammond and career break & sabbatical coach Katrina McGhee respond to a powerful listener question: What if you’re dreading going back to work at the end of your career break — and don’t know why? Together, they unpack the emotional crash many people experience after time away from work, especially after a long career break or sabbatical. Whether you’re facing the return to the same job, starting a job search, or questioning everything you thought you wanted, this episode offers clarity, reassurance, and practical guidance. Katrina shares her 3-step framework for navigating the fear, frustration, and uncertainty of returning to work — and explains why these feelings are not a failure, but valuable information. You’ll learn how to process the emotions you’re experiencing, reconnect with a motivating “why,” and reframe what work can look like after a break. This conversation is especially relevant if: You feel anxious or resistant about going back to work after time off You’re returning from a career break or sabbatical and feel stuck You don’t want to fall back into the same grind you left You’re unsure whether to return to work, change careers, or redesign your life If you’ve ever wondered “Why do I feel like this?” or “Is it normal to dread going back to work after a career break?” — this episode is for you. Why dreading the end of a career break is more common than you think The emotional impact of returning to work after travel or time off How to process fear, burnout, frustration, and uncertainty without judgment The importance of finding a new motivating goal after your break How to return to work with more purpose, clarity, and intention Why work after a career break doesn’t have to look like work before it If you’re navigating life after a career break and wondering what comes next, this episode will help you move forward with more confidence — even if you don’t have all the answers yet. Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome + today’s listener question01:20 – Why dreading the end of a career break is so common03:10 – Career break vs sabbatical: why returning feels different 05:00 – Step 1: Feeling the emotions instead of fighting them07:40 – Why fear, frustration & dread are useful signals09:50 – Katrina’s experience returning from her own career break 12:00 – Step 2: Finding a new motivating “why” after your break14:40 – Reframing money, security & healthcare as intentional choices17:00 – When “shoulds” push you back to work too soon 18:50 – Step 3: Reimagining work after a career break21:00 – How returning to work doesn’t have to mean returning to burnout22:30 – Final reflections + what to do if you’re still unsure Listen now and reclaim control of your career break journey. 🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into career growth, work-life balance, and mental resilience. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and every podcast app! 📩 Got a story about your own career break journey? DM us or leave a review—we’d love to hear from you! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us today to begin your journey. BreakSpace - www.gobreakspace.com Schedule a call with Katrina - https://kmcgheecoaching.as.me/schedule.php Order Katrina's book - https://www.kmcgheecoaching.com/book Email - takingacareerbreakwithkatrina@gmail.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/takingacareerbreak/?hl=en Produced by Winging It Productions - https://www.wingingitproductions.com
