Micro-Retirement at 39: Financial Independence Meant I Could Quit

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Upasna Gautam, a 39-year-old tech leader who quit a job at CNN to embark on a “micro-retirement” after achieving financial independence. Business Insider has verified Gautam’s employment and finances. The following had been edited for length and clarity.

In mid-April, a few weeks before my last day, I started telling my peers I was stepping away from work not for a career break or a sabbatical but for what I call a “micro-retirement.” I expected to be met with concern.

It wasn’t an easy decision, especially in the current environment with rampant layoffs and even experienced people struggling to get job interviews. I had nothing lined up and no clear plan.

I expected people to say, “Oh my god. What happened?” Instead, the first thing everyone said was, “Congratulations.” The response was overwhelmingly positive.

I define a micro-retirement as taking an intentional pause in your career to reflect on your next step. It’s also a chance to truly take a break without having to wait until you’re 65.

I’d been working really hard, non-stop, for seventeen years and reached a point where I thought: I’ve done a lot — my team and I had just built the new core infrastructure and publishing platform at CNN — now what?

Part of that shift was realizing that my work was no longer aligned with my core values, especially leadership. For me, leadership isn’t a title; it’s showing up with integrity, whether that’s with a waiter, a friend, or a colleague.

I wasn’t leaning into aspects of leadership I love because my focus was always being pulled by the demands of working for a large, legacy organization.

I considered applying for a new job. There was so much I could do and explore, but I was unsure which direction to take.

Within 48 hours of seeking guidance, both my mentor and my husband told me the same thing: I could step away.

They reminded me this was why I worked so hard to achieve financial independence in the first place.

Micro-retiring is linked to financial independence

To me, micro-retirement is directly tied to financial independence because it gives you the freedom to step away, be introspective, and think about what’s next.

Financial independence means having enough assets invested that you no longer require a 9-to-5 income to live your life. I achieved it in my mid-thirties, when my portfolio’s annual returns started to outperform my salary.

Many people think that to reach financial independence, you need to build a unicorn startup and exit for billions. That’s not true; I’ve mostly worked a corporate job my entire career.

I used the straightforward strategies, like maxing out tax-advantaged accounts and buying mostly index funds.

I also generated a very lucrative revenue stream about 15 years ago through public speaking at tech conferences and consulting gigs. Every single dollar I made from that side income, I invested, on top of what I was already setting aside from my regular job. As my salary grew, I invested more and more.

It sounds almost too simple to be true, but it works. The earlier you start, the more time your money has to compound.

My advice for people early in their careers is to invest every dollar you can. Increase your earning potential, prove your skillset to decision-makers, and start building your financial independence.

Even though I hit my financial independence number about five years ago, I didn’t choose to act on it until now. I could walk away on my terms.

As a South Asian daughter of immigrants, this freedom takes on a new layer of meaning. Our culture has so many stories of women trapped in marriages or other toxic situations because they have nothing to their name. Financial independence gives you the power to step away from anything that no longer aligns with your values, be it a job, a marriage, or something else.

Stress is melting off my body

On my last day of work, at the start of May, I stepped away from a steady job at CNN and felt a deep sense of peace, instead of the nervousness I expected. My managers responded with support and gratitude. It was emotional to say goodbye to my colleagues who had become thought partners and, in some cases, like family, but underneath it all, I felt empowered that I’d created this opportunity for myself.

I’m early into microretirement and am slowly getting used to having blocks of free time.

I go to the gym later in the morning, and I’m performing better than I have in months. Time with my daughter hasn’t technically increased — she’s in school — but it feels more special. Now, when we spend time together in the evening or on weekends, I feel deeply present because work isn’t hanging over me.

After years in a breaking news environment where everything feels urgent, I feel less rushed. It’s as if the stress is melting off my body.

I’m trying not to structure my time too much. I’ve promised myself three months of not adding anything to my plate. Saying no is sometimes hard, but starting anything right now would be like jumping into a rebound relationship: I wouldn’t have honored the promise of free time to myself.

I see this period as a time when I give myself the freedom to relieve the pressure valve in my brain so that I can go wild with my curiosity. I’m giving myself permission to be bored because I believe boredom activates creativity.

It’s already clear I’m making the right decision. This decision has felt like a rocketship forward, because I now understand I’m strong enough to stand on my own.

Financial independence and micro retirement have come to represent the autonomy I’ve created for myself, which is a powerful feeling.