Stepping Back to Move Forward

A reflective guide to career breaks, identity and sustainable ambition in healthcare

What if stepping back could help you move forward?

In healthcare, we spend so much time caring for others, meeting competing demands and progressing in our careers that it can be difficult to give ourselves permission to pause.

But taking a career break doesn't have to mean giving up on your ambitions. It can be an opportunity to reflect, reconnect with what matters and consider what you want your next chapter to look like.

Stepping Back to Move Forward is a practical, reflective guide for healthcare professionals considering a career break or navigating a period of change in their working lives.

Written by David Simms MSc AKC RD, a healthcare leader, dietitian and consultant, and former NHS Associate Director of AHPs, this guide combines lived experience with practical considerations to help you explore your options with greater clarity and confidence.

What's inside?

• Start with your why: Reflect on your motivations and what you hope a career break will make possible.
• Consider the finances: Explore budgeting, savings, housing costs and practical considerations for homeowners.
• Understand your options: Learn what to consider when reviewing your employer's policies and planning your departure.
• Make space for rest: Challenge the pressure to remain productive and explore what a more sustainable approach to work might look like.
• Stay connected and keep developing: Consider relationships, interests and professional development during your time away.
• Prepare for your return: Think ahead about re-entry, reconnecting with colleagues and navigating a different career direction.
• Use the practical checklist: Turn reflection into manageable next steps.
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Who is this guide for?

This guide is for healthcare professionals and beyond who are:

• Considering taking a career break but unsure where to start.
• Feeling stretched by the demands of work and looking for space to reflect.
• Exploring alternatives to a traditional career path.
• Preparing to return to work after time away.
• Rethinking their relationship with ambition, wellbeing and professional identity.

Why this guide?

My own 12-month NHS career break gave me time to travel, reconnect with people, explore interests and reflect on my priorities. Returning to work wasn't as straightforward as I had expected, and I ultimately left my Associate Director role to begin developing a portfolio career.

I'm sharing these reflections because career breaks are not always simple, and the next chapter doesn't always look the way we originally imagined.

This guide isn't about having everything figured out. It's about asking better questions, planning thoughtfully and giving yourself permission to consider different possibilities.

Your next chapter starts with a pause.

Whether you're at the beginning of considering a break or already thinking about what comes next, I hope this guide helps you approach the process with greater intention, self-awareness and confidence.

Download your guide and start exploring what moving forward could look like for you.

Created by Health Toolbox Ltd.



Please note: This guide reflects personal experience and provides general information. It is not financial, tax, mortgage, legal or employment advice. Policies and individual circumstances vary; seek appropriately qualified advice where needed.