The Courage to Take Time Off: What a Break from Everyday Work Can Achieve

Embarking on a long journey, spending time with family and friends, or consciously creating space for new experiences: with the myTime benefit, NürnbergMesse offers employees the opportunity to take a professional break of up to six months while keeping their job secure. But what is such a break really like? Which experiences stay with you, and what do you bring back into your professional life? Two employees who used their myTime in very different ways share their experiences.

Written by Johanna Köhler

People on the beach at sunset with mountains in the background.

Sometimes, all it takes is time to fulfill long-held dreams or look at life from a new perspective. With myTime, we support our employees in consciously taking that time for themselves. The program enables them to step away from everyday work for several months and focus on their personal goals.

Heike Roggenbuck, Assistant in the Business Development Business Unit, fulfilled a long-standing dream of taking a six-month break. Without a fixed plan, she traveled across Europe, participated in various projects, and collected countless experiences and encounters along the way.

For Maximilian Hensel, Press Officer at NürnbergMesse, myTime meant three months in South America. Together with his wife, he spent time with her family in Rio de Janeiro and used the opportunity to explore Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia in greater depth.In this joint interview, both talk about memorable moments, personal insights, and their return to NürnbergMesse.

How did you use your myTime and why was that the right moment?

Heike Roggenbuck:

For many years, I had wanted to take a longer break. When the opportunity arose to combine vacation days, overtime, and myTime, I seized it and took six months off. I deliberately chose not to make fixed plans. I wanted to go with the flow and decide spontaneously what I felt like doing. I participated in various Workaway projects, hiked through the Cévennes with a donkey, helped with renovation work in France, looked after puppies on Crete, and explored numerous places across Europe.

Maximilian Hensel:

I took three months of myTime to spend extended time with my wife and her family in Rio de Janeiro, get to know her home country more deeply, and travel through South America. MyTime allowed me to fulfill this dream. There is probably never a perfect time for such a break. That makes me all the more grateful to my team for supporting me and covering for me during my absence.

Which moment or experience from your time off stands out most in your memory?

Heike Roggenbuck:

There are many special memories, but the hike through the Cévennes with my donkey Origan is definitely among the most memorable. Covering around 225 kilometers together and moving at the animal’s pace left a lasting impression on me. The donkey forced me to slow down and showed me how beneficial it can be not to rush through everything.

Maximilian Hensel:

What fascinated me most was experiencing everyday life in Rio de Janeiro. When you stay in a place for an extended time, you experience a country very differently than a tourist. What I remember most are the many spontaneous encounters with friends, family events, and conversations with people in everyday situations. Experiences like these provide a genuine sense of how people live.
I also remember the many encounters with people, remarkable landscapes, and the rare moments when I simply did nothing at all. One particularly special memory still accompanies me every day: during my time on Crete, a dog ended up staying with me. The dog continues to remind me of that extraordinary chapter of my journey.

A person with a loaded donkey on a hiking trail in front of a mountainside. — The trip through the Cévennes, in particular, showed our colleague Heike just how enriching it can be to consciously slow down a bit.

Did myTime change you personally or professionally? If so, how?

Heike Roggenbuck:

The greatest gift of my journey was learning to live more in the present moment. At the beginning, I spent a lot of time thinking about what would come next instead of enjoying the moment I was in. Over time, I learned to listen more consciously to my own needs and to set boundaries. Professionally, the break reinforced the feeling that I am exactly where I belong and that I continue to enjoy working at NürnbergMesse tremendously.

Maximilian Hensel:

Every extended stay abroad changes the way you view your home country to some extent. I was particularly impressed by the warmth, flexibility, and joy for life that Brazilians demonstrate. At the same time, I became aware of how exceptional it is to have an employer that offers a benefit such as myTime and that benefits like this are far from commonplace.

How was your return to NürnbergMesse, and what advice would you give colleagues considering myTime?

Heike Roggenbuck:

I was surprised by how easy the return felt. Because I came back at the beginning of January, I had enough time to settle back into everyday work. I still greatly enjoy my job. My advice to anyone thinking about myTime is: go for it. Whether you have a specific trip planned or simply want to see where life takes you, such a break broadens your horizons and gives you experiences that can never be taken away.

Maximilian Hensel:

Returning felt a little surreal at first. You spend months planning your time away, organizing handovers, and preparing for a temporary farewell. Then suddenly you are back at your desk and everyday work simply continues. I experienced that as something very positive. My team welcomed me warmly, and returning to work was completely uncomplicated. My advice is simple: if you have the opportunity to fulfill a personal dream, take it.

A person stands on a rock overlooking a river valley with mountains in the background. — Maximilian's trip also took him to the Mirador del Río de las Vueltas near El Chaltén in Argentina.

myTime at NürnbergMesse

With the myTime benefit, NürnbergMesse employees can take a professionally supported break of one to six months. Their position remains secure throughout this time.

Requirements at a glance:

At least three years of service at NürnbergMesse
Leave period of one to six months
Approval from the direct manager
Use of vacation days (two-thirds of the annual entitlement) and time account credits
Individual planning in coordination with HR
Approval from the Works Council

Good to know:
myTime gives employees the opportunity to pursue personal goals, gain new experiences, and intentionally make time for things that often receive too little attention in everyday life.

Author

Johanna Köhler

Online Editing // PR Trainee