Taking a Detour: Why Slowing Down Can Be the Smartest Career Move You Make

Here’s something we don’t hear enough: it’s okay to pull off the road and take in the view.

In a world obsessed with acceleration—more productivity, faster promotions, bigger titles—it can feel like you’re failing if you let off the gas. But here’s the truth:

Stepping to the side isn’t quitting. It might be the smartest, most strategic career move you ever make.

I’ve coached people through burnout, pivots, and full-blown reinventions. And often, the shift starts not with a leap forward, but with a pause.

Be Career Courageous™: Know when it’s time to take a break.

1. Recharge and Re-evaluate

Keeping your eyes on the road 24/7 is exhausting. Sometimes you need to lift your head and ask: Am I even heading in the right direction?

A short pause gives you space to:

• Reflect on whether your current role still aligns with your goals

• Reconnect with your interests and values

• Identify if you’re thriving or just surviving

Career planning isn’t a one-and-done deal. It evolves as you grow.

Taking a breath allows you to ask: Is this still working for me? If the answer is no, good news, you get to choose again.

2. Skill Up Without the Pressure

Pausing doesn’t mean doing nothing. In fact, some of the most valuable growth happens during the "in-between" seasons.

Use the time to:

• Explore hobbies that build transferable skills

• Take a class or get certified in something you’re curious about

• Volunteer in a field you’re interested in

Even if you’re not actively applying for jobs, you’re adding tools to your toolkit. And when you're ready to step back in? You’ll be stronger than ever.

3. Prioritize Your Well-being

Let’s not sugarcoat it: careers are important, but so is your health. Mental, physical, emotional, all of it.

Sometimes the best career advice you can follow is this: take care of yourself.

Maybe that looks like:

• Taking time off to recover from burnout

• Focusing on your family while your kids are little

• Prioritizing your health with time to move, rest, and nourish your body

A healthier you is a more focused, creative, productive you.

4. Try Something New

Taking a detour is the perfect time to explore different paths.

You don’t have to make a dramatic leap, but you can:

• Shadow someone in a different department

• Interview people in roles or industries that interest you

• Dip your toe into freelance work or side gigs

Sometimes a simple conversation or low-stakes experiment can change everything.

And who knows? You might stumble into something that lights you up in a way your current job never has.

The Detour Isn’t the End of the Road, It’s a Rest Stop

Feeling stuck in your job? Worn out? Uninspired?

That might be your brain and body telling you it’s time for a pause.

You are not lazy. You are not behind. You’re aware.

And awareness is the first step toward something better.

Want Support While You Take a Breather?

I help people just like you press pause, reflect, and reset with intention.

Whether you’re looking to bounce back from career failure, explore your strengths, or just figure out what to do next, I’m here for it.

Join our email list for practical, real-world career advice. We cover everything from how to find your strengths, what to do if you feel stuck in your job, and how to pivot without losing momentum.

Sign up below. Because even detours need a roadmap.

Get on the road to a job you love:

Start Here

One email a week. One step closer to a career that lights you up.