If I say I’m making plans for retirement, you would have thought I was talking about the traditional retirement that happens when I turn 65 years of age. But there’s a reinvented retirement called microretirement, a trend among Gen Z, where they take mini breaks from work before reaching the actual retirement age.
In this blog post, I’ll enlighten you on what Microretirement is and how it’s helping Gen Z escape the 9-5 grind.
Why Microretirement is the Gen Z Solution to the 9-5 Grind
Work-life balance seems to be a common trend among Gen Z today as they take short career breaks in their work journey. The philosophy behind this emanated from The 4-Hour Workweek, Tim Ferriss’s best-selling book, which emphasized the need to design a lifestyle that incorporates work, leisure, and growth. It seems like the perfect solution for people who desire to live a fuller and more balanced life without neglecting their careers. This trend also grew when Gen Z expressed their minds that they aren’t willing to work 9-5 for the rest of their lives.
Below are some reasons why people go on microretirement.
- To explore the world during their most active years.
- To restore their mental health.
- To reduce burnout.
- To focus on building a business.
- To improve their skills.
- To pick up another side hustle.
An influencer on X tweeted about how she took a 3-4 month break before hopping on another job, describing it as the best time of her life.
i saw a term called microretirement where people quit their jobs for 3-4 months at a time before getting a new one and i can definitely get behind this
— 🔮🧘🏽♀️ (@ballarina_) January 29, 2025A senior marketing professional on LinkedIn also shared how taking a mini break during his career journey was a life-changing decision for him.
The image below shows a lady relaxing while camping with her tablet, depicting her as a digital nomad.
Image Source: Freepik
How to Plan Your Microretirement: A Step-by-Step Guide
You don’t just wake up and decide to go on microretirement; it requires adequate and efficient planning. You need to plan your microretirement destination, save, budget, plan for investments, and more. I’ll share some tools for financial planning, the best destinations for micro retirement, and tips on how to connect with people.
Budgeting for Microretirement
Setting a realistic budget is a crucial step in planning micro retirement; you don’t want to be left stranded. Budgeting enables you to maintain the lifestyle you want without financial stress. Below are things you need to set a budget for.
- Monthly living expenses: Estimate your monthly living expenses, which include accommodation, food, transportation, and other utilities. You also need to research the cost of living in your chosen micro retirement destination to keep you within realistic spending limits.
A traveler on X shared the minimum amount you might need to live a decent life in Europe.
Europe is all about quality of life for a cheap price. You can do it all in a european city for a certain price. Raise a family, go out, have a life, etc.
from my travels here is the least amount of money you need to live a decent life
Paris: at least $4,000 a month but…
— LindyMan (@PaulSkallas) September 5, 2024- Travel costs: Allocate funds for flights and other transportation needs. Do your research and compare different airline prices, such as those from Air Peace, Green Africa Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Delta Airlines. Here’s a pro tip: look out for their promotional deals and off-season travel discounts.
- Insurance: Research and get reliable insurance coverage for health, travel, and other emergencies. You can check out companies like Leadway Assurance, Palpension, and Mutual Benefit for flexible plans suitable for microretirement.
- Savings goal: Calculate the amount you need to save up. Do this by estimating the duration of your microretirement and multiplying it by your monthly expenses. Add extra costs for contingencies.
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Choosing the right destination
Selecting the right microretirement destination is important for a fulfilling microretirement experience. Below are the things you should look out for when choosing a destination.
- Security: Choose countries with low crime rates and friendly communities. If you’re a female solo traveler planning for microretirement, this is crucial. You can check out countries like Japan, Rwanda, Ghana, and Mauritius. They are rated for safety, political stability, and friendliness.
A user on X confirmed Rwanda to be one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies and a safe place to be.
Besides being one of Africa's fastest growing economies, Rwanda is also very safe. A woman can decide to jog in Kigali at midnight with her phone and nothing will happen to her. You might have to come and visit so you can experience everything I'm saying for yourself.
— Tebogo Ditshego (@TebogoDitshego) October 8, 2018
Explore this list for friendly African Nations you can plan to visit.
- Economic opportunities: Consider destinations with growing GDP and good investment potential. Explore countries like Vietnam, UAE, Mexico, Nigeria, and Kenya, depending on your work or business interests.
- Infrastructure: Consider destinations with reliable infrastructure, especially if you’re a remote worker. Check countries with good internet connectivity, efficient co-working spaces, and good public transport. Countries like South Africa and Kenya are good choices for this.
- Cost of living: Opt for countries that offer a high quality of life at an affordable price. Explore countries like Morocco, Tanzania, and Namibia.
- Culture and Community: Visit destinations with rich cultural history and friendly environments. Join active communities and build meaningful connections to avoid loneliness.
- Airlines: Choose airlines that offer affordable and comfortable travel options to your destination. Explore Air Peace, Green Africa Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Delta Airlines, and others. Compare their prices and make bookings in advance.
Top Financial Tools & Platforms
Since financial planning is an integral step in microretirement, you need the right tools to help you actualize your goals. You might want to opt for platforms that would help you budget properly and save rather than a bank where you can also have good returns. You’ll also need platforms that can handle currency conversions properly if you’re going outside of your country or if you want to take up side hustles that would pay you in other currencies during your micro retirement.
Below are some financial tools to help you plan your finances for Microretirement.
- Piggyvest
- Kuda
- Cowrywise
- Expensify
- PocketGuard
- Cleva
- Bamboo
- Revolut
- Goodbudget
Making Friends and Building Community
I wouldn’t advise you to distance yourself from people during microretirement. It is important to stay connected to others. This will help your physical and mental well-being. So, make more friends with people.
Image Source: Freepik
Below are some tips to help you make friends:
- Attend local events.
- Find a hobby and meet people of similar interests.
- Volunteer in a community.
- Join short-term education programs.
- Reconnect with old friends.
- Join online communities through Couchsurfing or Meetup.
Final Thoughts
I feel microretirement is not just about taking lazy breaks; it’s about designing a lifestyle that aligns with one’s passions and values. When it is adequately planned, it can be a life-changing experience that empowers micro-retirees to live fully while remaining career-focused. Hence, you must plan properly to get the best experience, whereas Travelradio.live is here to take the planning stress off you.
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