Why I’m Considering Taking a Micro-Retirement to Travel Around Southeast Asia

Over the past few months, I’ve found myself repeatedly coming back to one question: What if I took a break from the 9-5 grind – not forever, but just long enough to reset, refocus, and realign my life around what truly matters to me? This line of thinking has led me down the rabbit hole of something called “micro-retirement” – a concept that challenges the traditional idea of saving all your freedom and joy for the final chapter of life. And now, I’m seriously considering taking my own micro-retirement to travel around Southeast Asia.

Let me explain why.

What is a Micro-Retirement?

A micro-retirement is essentially a mini version of the traditional retirement model or a gap year. Instead of working flat-out for 40+ years and waiting until your sixties to finally relax and enjoy life, a micro-retirement involves taking extended breaks throughout your working years to pursue passion projects, travel, learn new skills, or simply breathe.

It doesn’t mean giving up on ambition or becoming reckless with finances. It’s a more intentional, flexible approach to work-life balance – one that prioritises living now rather than deferring all life’s joys to the future.

For me, the idea isn’t about escaping life. It’s about stepping back to get a clearer view of it.

Why Southeast Asia?

As a solo traveller, Southeast Asia has always been high on my radar and when I visited Bangkok last year I had a small taste of Thailand’s vibrant street food culture, warm hospitality, and incredibly affordable lifestyle. But I barely scratched the surface. Countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, and the Philippines offer a stunning variety of cultures, landscapes, and experiences – each with its own rhythm and soul.

But the draw of Southeast Asia isn’t just about beautiful beaches and budget-friendly pad Thai. It’s about the pace of life. The freedom. The space it creates for reflection, creativity, and self-discovery. In many ways, it feels like the perfect backdrop for this kind of life pause.

There’s also a thriving digital nomad and backpacker community in many parts of the region, which makes it easier to connect with others who are living unconventional lives. Places like Bali, Chiang Mai, and Da Nang are not only beautiful – they’re hotspots for creatives, remote workers, and people who’ve stepped away from traditional paths in search of something more fulfilling.

Reassessing Priorities in a Post-Pandemic World

Yes, the pandemic was more than 5 years ago now but like many people, the pandemic forced me to slow down and reassess what really matters. It made me realise just how easy it is to fall into autopilot – waking up, commuting, working, scrolling, sleeping – repeating the same routine without questioning whether it’s actually making me happy.

In those quiet lockdown months, I started to ask bigger questions. If I only had a few years left, would I be proud of how I’ve spent my time? What would I regret not doing? What dreams have I been putting on hold until “someday”?

The truth is, none of us are guaranteed that “someday”. And once that idea takes root, it’s hard to ignore.

Travel has always been something that grounds and energises me. It pulls me out of my comfort zone, challenges my assumptions, and gives me perspective that no amount of scrolling through motivational quotes ever could – Yes I still do this and occasionally share them on my Instagram! So it’s no surprise that travel became the centrepiece of what a micro-retirement might look like for me.

Avoiding Burnout and Creating Breathing Room

I’m fortunate to have built a lifestyle and career that allows me some flexibility. But even with that privilege, I’ve started to feel the early signs of burnout. Constantly being “on”, always thinking about the next goal, the next client, the next deadline – it truly wears you down.

Taking a micro-retirement is not about laziness. It’s about sustainability. If I want to continue building a meaningful life and career over the long term, I need to step away periodically to recharge and reconnect with my “why”.

It’s so easy to get caught in the hustle trap, thinking that more productivity equals more success. But sometimes, stepping away is the most productive thing you can do. It gives you distance. It helps you see which parts of your life are thriving and which are just habits you’ve outgrown.

Designing a Life with More Intentionality

One of the biggest shifts in mindset I’ve had lately is moving from a life of default to a life of design. I don’t want to just react to whatever comes my way – I want to be proactive in shaping the kind of life that feels aligned with my values and passions. At my workplace, we’ve started to look at how to become less reactive and more proactive and I’ve taken this approach to my everyday life as well.

A micro-retirement gives me the chance to do that. It gives me time to experiment. Maybe I’ll take a cooking class in Hanoi. Maybe I’ll spend a month learning Muay Thai in Thailand – I’ve seen people doing this online and it genuinely looks amazing! Maybe I’ll finally write that book I’ve been thinking about or grow my small travel blog into a business. Or maybe I’ll do none of those things and just be – sitting in cafés, talking to strangers, watching the world go by (The dream for many, the reality for only a few).

There’s something powerful about giving yourself permission to explore without an agenda. No KPIs. No deadlines. Just curiosity.

Financial Feasibility: Making It Work

Of course, a micro-retirement isn’t something you leap into without planning. I’ve been gradually trying to save over the past year, cutting down on non-essential expenses, cancelling subscriptions, and researching ways to stretch my budget while travelling. Thankfully, Southeast Asia is one of the most budget-friendly regions in the world.

Monthly living costs can be as low as £700–£1,000 depending on the country and lifestyle. That’s significantly less than what I spend living in the UK. I’m also exploring ways to generate semi-passive/passive income while I travel, whether that’s through this blog, sponsorships, video content, etc. I’ve also been working on building a business/app around travel to help you get the best deals on hotels and flights – something that aligns perfectly with my passion and expertise. The big picture is to continue to try and generate income in the background, even while I’m sipping a coconut on a beach in Bali.

What I Hope to Gain

More than anything, I hope this experience gives me clarity. Clarity on what I want to build next, who I want to become, and how I want to live.

I’m not expecting it to be a permanent escape. In fact, I see it as the opposite – a way to come back more focused, more aligned, and more energised to pursue the next chapter of life with purpose.

I also hope to deepen my connection with the world. Travelling slowly, immersing myself in local cultures, and seeing life from different perspectives is one of the best ways I know to build empathy and understanding.

And selfishly, I just want to experience more joy. To wake up in unfamiliar places. To get lost and find my way again. To sit on a train and not know exactly where it’s going but trust that I’m headed somewhere worthwhile.

Final Thoughts

Taking a micro-retirement might sound radical to some. But to me, it feels like the most natural next step. It’s not about running away – it’s about running towards a life that feels more honest, more intentional, and more alive.

Southeast Asia might just be the perfect place to do that. And even if it doesn’t solve all of life’s questions, I’m confident it will give me better ones to ask.

So here I am, seriously considering a flight out of Heathrow – not as an escape plan, but as a leap of faith. Who knows where it will lead? But I’m ready to find out.