You know how every year, as government agencies approach the end of the financial cycle, we rush to close off reports, tidy loose ends, and get the numbers lined up before the cut-off?
I was thinking recently… we rarely apply that same discipline to ourselves as we head into a holiday period.
We prepare briefing notes, ministerial updates, budget forecasts, end-of-year performance papers – but we don’t prepare ourselves to transition into downtime.
It’s almost like we assume rest will somehow squeeze itself into the calendar between end-of-year events, office lunches, staff farewells, and – let’s be honest – last minute emergencies.
But rest doesn’t automatically appear.
And for many public sector leaders, the holiday period is actually the busiest time of emotional labour – family, social expectations, and carrying the responsibility of keeping things steady “just in case something happens”.
So here’s my question today:
What would it look like to apply the same intentional planning you give to your work… to the break your mind and body actually need?
In this episode, I share 3 questions to help you take stock.
Be honest with yourself. And courageous. Your future self will thank you for it!
The Pattern Of Survival Breaks In The Public Sector
So today I want to talk honestly about something most public sector leaders don’t plan for – but desperately need: a REAL break.
Because here’s the pattern I see:
Every December, leaders race to get initiatives across the line, clear inboxes, finish Cabinet papers, and wrap up the year. And by the time the holidays arrive, you’re already depleted.
And when you’re exhausted, it’s almost impossible to think clearly about your career and life. About what’s next, about your purpose, or your ideal direction.
You’re not making career decisions. You’re just recovering enough to get through the next cycle.
But here’s the thing: A genuine break rarely happens by accident.
It requires intention. It requires boundaries. And it requires you to carve out space rather than hoping space shows up.
Why A Real Break Matters For Your Career Shift
When you don’t pause, your brain keeps running the same script:
“I’ll deal with it later.”
“Next year will be different.”
“I’ll think about my career when things calm down.”
But things NEVER calm down – not in the public sector. Yes, there might be some quiet patches here and there. But they don’t tend to last for long.
So months go by. Then years. Nothing changes except your energy levels, which slowly decline each round of the cycle.
Whether you’re in the southern hemisphere heading into summer or heading into winter holidays, here’s the question to ask yourself right now:
What do you need to put in place so you actually get the RECOVERY you need?
Not a SURVIVAL break. A RESTORATIVE one.
Because the leaders I talk to regularly tell me: “I didn’t realise how burnt out I was until February.”
3 Questions To Check Your Career Satisfaction
When you get a moment, ask yourself:
- What no longer works for me at work?
- What do I actually want more of?
- Can my current role realistically give me that?
If the answer is no, then your break becomes important career time.
A chance to reflect. To reset. To imagine possibilities. To consider alternatives.
Even if your brain goes: “I’m too tired to think about this now.”
That’s ok.
If this isn’t the moment, book time now FOR LATER. Schedule the space. Block it in your calendar like any other priority.
Your future self will thank you for it!
Why Rest Is Part Of Your Career Journey
Rest is not separate from career transition. Rest is part of transition.
When your nervous system calms, your imagination turns back on. Your intuition wakes up. New options start appearing again.
And that’s when change becomes possible.
So my wish for you this holiday season is simple:
Give yourself permission to pause. To make space. To ask the REAL questions. And to answer them with honesty and courage.
If you’d like someone to help you think through those questions, check out my 90-minute Jumpstart Session.
Find the details at spacetoshiftyourcareer.com/jumpstart.
Happy holidays!
And until next time: make space, rediscover YOU, and then take action.