A lot of journalists spend years in a competitive industry and then one day hit a wall: whether it's a development plateau, an urge to try something new, or exhaustion.

It can be helpful to press pause and take stock of our fundamental values, long-term ambitions, mental health and career opportunities.

That is easier said than done. Taking a career break comes with the obvious requirement of a safety net, which many do not have. But if you can afford to take a few months out from the relentless grind, how should you prepare? What should you spend your time doing? And when to go back on the hamster wheel?

JournalismUK asked four journalists and media professionals with firsthand experience.

Dhruti Shah: A response to feeling jaded

After nearly 14 years as a BBC journalist, Dhruti Shah has become a master of reinvention, taking career breaks both by choice and necessity, and usually in response to becoming worn........

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