After 16 years in the spotlight, Adele is ready to take a break from music.
At the final show of her Munich residency on Saturday, the “Rolling in the Deep” singer spoke about her plans to take a long break after the conclusion of her Las Vegas residency in November.
“I still have exactly five weeks of shows… and 10 shows to do,” she told her audience in a video posted by a fan on X. “But after that, I will not see you for an incredibly long time, and I will hold you dear in my heart for that whole length of my break.”
“I just need a rest,” the 36-year-old singer continued, appearing to be holding back tears. “I have spent the last seven years building a new life for myself, and I want to live it now.”
In July, Adele told German broadcaster ZDF she had no plans for new music.
“I want a big break after all this, and I think I want to do other creative things just for a little while,” she said.
Although she did not elaborate on her plans, Adele had filed for a trademark in the UK for a company called “The Shelbourne Collective Limited,” per a Gov.UK page on company information, suggesting that she could be launching a business. Adele has not confirmed this.
The singer is known to take extended breaks between releasing her albums. Her latest album, “30,” was released in 2021 — six years after “25.”
In November 2022, Adele started “Weekends with Adele,” her first concert residency in Las Vegas. At the end of her residency, she will have performed almost 100 live shows, excluding her 10 shows of “Adele in Munich,” per USA Today. Most tickets now sell for over $1,000 on ticket resale platform StubHub.
“I will miss you terribly,” she told the Munich crowd on Saturday. “I will remember these shows for eternity. They have been spectacular.”
Navigating a career break
Beyond the world of music, more people are taking career breaks. According to a 2022 LinkedIn survey of nearly 23,000 workers and more than 7,000 hiring managers, almost two-thirds of employees had taken a break at some point in their careers. Additionally, 35% of respondents, mostly women, said they would like to take a career break at some point.
Marlo Lyons, a career and executive coach based in Arizona with more than 20 years of experience, told Business Insider that common reasons people consider career breaks include feeling burned out, losing their passion, or wanting to change careers.
“The right time for a career break is personal and can only be decided by you,” she added.
When announcing your career break, you should be upfront about it, Lyons said.
She suggested using “I” statements instead of “you” when announcing the decision to your boss. Don’t blame the company for needing a break, she said.
“Own it with, ‘I need a break to work on my mental, emotional, and physical health.’ Then express your gratitude for the opportunity to work at the company if you believe you may want to return someday,” she said.
She suggested giving as much notice as possible to allow the company to prepare for your absence.
Yeo Chuen Chuen, an executive coach from Singapore with more than 10 years of experience, told BI it’s important to clearly state how long your career break will last and whether you plan to return to work or move on.
Yeo said that if you’re ready to return to the same job after taking a break, it’s important to set boundaries and maintain them.
If you plan to embark on a new career, the key is to frame your career break to highlight the insights gained during your time away, and emphasize how they can add value to your next role, said Goh Shu Yi, a career coach from Singapore with 14 years of experience working in tech and banking.
“No time is ever wasted,” she said. “Reconnect with your network, letting them know you’re ready to return and what you’re looking for. This way, others can help you spot new opportunities.”
A representative for Adele did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI sent outside regular business hours.
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