Episode 44 - I Might Get Bored… or Love It Too Much: Two Unexpected Career Break Fears

Are you secretly worried you’ll be bored on a career break — or even worse, that you’ll love it too much to ever go back?

In this week’s episode of Taking A Career Break with Katrina McGhee, Katrina and James unpack two surprising fears that stop people from taking the break they’ve been dreaming about. These aren’t your typical money or career worries — they’re emotional, subtle, and surprisingly common.

Katrina shares real stories from her coaching clients, her own experience taking a 20-month break, and what happens when you finally give yourself permission to slow down. Together, she and James explore why boredom can actually fuel creativity, how overstimulation makes rest feel uncomfortable, and what it really means if you’re scared to “like your break too much.”

Then, the conversation turns to that second, almost funny but very real fear — what if you love your break so much you never want to go back? Katrina shares her own experience of not wanting her 20-month break to end, while James reflects on his cycles of working, travelling, and finding meaning beyond the 9–5 grind. Together, they explore what this fear really reveals about our relationship to freedom, fulfilment, and work.

You’ll hear honest reflections on what happens when the fear of freedom meets the reality of modern work, plus practical advice for navigating your return — or redefining what work looks like next.

Expect laughter, honesty, and plenty of aha moments — including why “tasting the good life” can raise your standards and inspire lasting change.

⏱ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
01:20 – Common vs. surprising fears
02:00 – Fear #1: Being bored on a break
04:00 – Client insights on stillness
06:00 – Boredom, creativity, and overstimulation
09:50 – James on boredom and creativity
10:50 – Wrapping up fear #1
11:00 – Fear #2: Loving the break too much
13:30 – What this fear really means
15:00 – James on work, travel, and purpose
16:30 – Katrina on returning to work and debt freedom
17:40 – The “pool” analogy
20:00 – Raising your standards after a break
21:10 – Dating analogy for raising the bar
22:18 – Taking action and final reflections

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