Jillian Johnsrud has taught, coached, and wrote about mini-retirements for almost a decade. She hosts the Retire Often podcast and is a popular speaker and consultant for mini-retirements. She lives in Montana, where she spends time in the garden drinking tea.

Jillian never expected to be able to retire early, so she hatched a plan to retire often. Inspired by the idea of sabbatical years, she set out to sprinkle our retirements throughout her and her husband's working lives. At 40, they have taken over a dozen mini-retirements. These allowed them to pursue dreams like living abroad, traveling to 27 countries, adopting four kids (plus two biological kids), investing in real estate, and traveling the US in a camper. In her book Retire Often (2025) she shares exactly how you can do the same.

"Retire Often provides a roadmap for ambitious professionals to accelerate their careers--without working nonstop! Sabbatical programs aren't talked about enough, and Jillian Johnsrud is starting an important conversation."
--Jason Feifer, Editor in Chief, Entrepreneur Magazine

"Sometimes it feels like we have to choose between financial freedom and a life of adventure. Jillian shows us it's possible to have both. Retire Often offers keen insights and fresh perspectives that will help anyone navigate their life's path with confidence."
--Ryan Nicodemus, Co-founder of The Minimalists

"Most of us face a false choice: work until we're ready to retire forever, as though retirement is a one-way door. But there's a smarter path. Mini-retirements let you strategically hit pause, realign your priorities, and enjoy epic adventures punctuated throughout your life. Retire Often delivers the practical blueprint for how to do this--without blowing up your finances or career momentum. The key takeaway? Retirement isn't an all-or-nothing proposition. You can experience multiple meaningful breaks throughout your journey while also building long-term wealth."
--Paula Pant, Host of the Afford Anything podcast

"Retire Often will give you a vision for how you can design your working career and finances in an entirely different way; one that reflects your values and gives space for your biggest goals."
--Joshua Becker, Founder of Becoming Minimalist and Author, Things That Matter