Leaving no work leaves unturned

If asking for leave from work feels like a daunting task, try its new nom de guerre: micro-leave. The idea is simple: why wait until you're 70 to enjoy life when you can pepper your career with mini-retirements? Work three years. Quit for one. Rinse and repeat. It's like intermittent fasting, but for your livelihood.

The inspiration comes from Timothy Ferriss' The 4-Hour Work Week, a book that told everyone to quit their jobs and live like digital nomads before it became a cool option. One big proponent is Adama Lorna, who, inspired by Ferriss' book, took a 6-mth micro-retirement. 'Instead of waiting until you're 60 or 70 to travel the world and indulge in hobbies, you do them while you have your youth, your energy, and health,' she says. Makes sense. Now, if this sounds too much like the ole 'sabbatical' to boomers, it's because people now want to make a lifestyle out of micro-retirements. Some micro-retirees are planning to spend the rest of their lives travelling for a year after every three years spent working. Don't tell that L&T chap. Does micro-retirement have to involve travel? Not at all. Some take up hobbies, or get involved with the local community. Others just watch lots of bad TV. Either way, it, well, works. So, take that micro-leave. Just don't be surprised when your bank account takes a macro-hit. Or you get fired.