Forget that job! Employees are now taking gap years and sabbaticals

An increasing number of American workers have decided that a linear, uninterrupted career path is no longer necessary and are opting to take longer breaks throughout their careers.

Workers are now embracing longer breaks, including mini-sabbaticals, adult gap years and what some experts call micro-retirements, according to a Fortune representativeort. These career breaks last from several weeks to a year or more and are used for a variety of purposes, such as pursuing personal projects, addressing burnout, traveling, caring for family members, or simply reassessing long-term goals.

The trend is gaining traction, especially among mid-career professionals who are overwhelmed by the constant work demands. To better manage and retain employees, employers have begun offering formal sabbatical programs. The programs are often unpaid or have flexible unpaid leave policies to retain experienced staff. Some companies that offer paid sabbaticals tie them to permanent employment. In those cases, employees become eligible after a number of years of service.

That’s what career coach Lisa Lewis said Fortune that professionals reassess how they view time outside of work.

“People are no longer willing to wait until age 65 to take extended periods of time off,” she says. “They want meaningful breaks now, when they can enjoy them physically and mentally.”

Economists and labor analysts note that an extended break does not necessarily mean the end of a career. In a study referenced by Fortunea majority of respondents who took longer breaks reported that he returned to work with renewed focus. Moreover, they often take on roles that better match their values. The change suggests that career breaks can be healthy for long-term workers following the traditional 30-year retirement path.

Experts say the concept of a “micro-retirement,” a series of shorter retirements spread out over adulthood that challenges traditional retirement planning, is taking hold in America. Rather than putting off all leisure and personal time until the end of their careers, workers are increasingly integrating these breaks throughout their working lives.

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