The "Power Pause" Is Redefining How Women Approach Career Breaks

The term "stay-at-home" parent never resonated with Neha Ruch. "The first time I had to use that phrase to describe myself, it just didn't fit," she tells PS. After realizing the language felt outdated and limiting, she created a different term that felt more on brand. Enter: the "power pause."

Ruch, the founder and CEO of Mother Untitled, coined the term as a way to reframe the stigma around what a stay-at-home parent looks like. As she describes it, a power pause is an intentional break from the workforce, often to prioritize childcare needs at home. But unlike the traditional view, a power pause comes with the intention of returning back to work in whatever capacity that looks like for you.

With the rise of childcare costs and parents wanting to spend more time with their children, power pauses are becoming more and more popular — especially for women. According to an American Mothers on Pause study fielded by Proof Insights, one in three working moms are "somewhat, very, or extremely likely to leave their jobs for stay-at-home parenthood in the next two years."

Rather than viewing a career break as a step backward, however, many people in a power pause see it as a strategic decision: It's an opportunity to be more present for their children while also allowing space to reassess goals and return to work later with less stress and burnout. But even though the power pause has its benefits, it doesn't come without some risk.

Before deciding if a power pause is the right move for your family, Ruch explains everything to know about this movement and why it's becoming so popular for working mothers.

Neha Ruch is an expert on parenting, women, work, and identity. She is the CEO and founder of Mother Untitled, a platform that helps ambitious women lean into family life, and also the author of "The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break After Kids — and Come Back Stronger Than Ever."

A power pause is a "phase of life in which a parent deliberately shifts their time, focus, and energy away from their career and toward their children and household," Ruch writes in her book, "The Power Pause." During a power pause, the parent can then find clarity on what they want to pursue in the future once their kids have reached a certain age. Whether it's transitioning back to work or exploring a new business venture, the intention of the power pause is to "come out stronger — more yourself — on the other side."

The reasons why people may choose to take a power pause vary. According to the American Mothers on Pause study, 83 percent wanted to spend more time with their children, 77 percent wanted to be more available to see their children's milestones, and 62 percent said that childcare was too expensive.

Though the amount of time spent is entirely up to the individual, Ruch says it's common to see someone take a power pause for two to five years — most often when children are younger and less independent. That said, they can happen at any point. "This is one chapter in the long game of work and life, and there's tremendous amounts of dignity in it," Ruch says.

One of the most obvious benefits of a power pause is that it allows for more time spent with a child or children. Of course, this allows for parents to be more present for milestones — both big and small — but it also helps them strengthen emotional connections with their children.

Another benefit is that there's less stress in the home. "The household may run more smoothly, more efficiently, and more calmly," Ruch says. "When one parent shifts their relationship to be able to do more of the intellectual and emotional labor in the home, the partner working out of the home benefits." And really, whether power pausing allows you to attend to your child's specific needs, manage the family calendar, or keep laundry going more efficiently, the whole house benefits.

With the rise in childcare costs, a power pause may help financially, as well. By staying home, one parent can offset daycare expenses while still having the option to return to work later.

The most common reason people may not want to take a power pause is because they are worried it will hurt their career when they return. Some women have also reported feeling like they lost a part of their identity when they took a break to focus on childcare.

This is why Ruch says it's important to think of it as a pause — not something that has to be forever. "I encourage women when they're shifting away from their traditional work to remember that those skills and those experiences do not evaporate or just go away," she says. In the time of your power pause, you may develop even more skills or traits that can help you in your career when you decide to return.

Another downside may be thinking you're not as important or successful at home, but Ruch says you have to redefine how you view success. After all, the person taking a power pause contributes to the household just as much as the person working outside the home does. Even if they're not bringing in income, they're saving money, managing the general household responsibility, and taking care of children. "A lot of it comes down to knowing that you're still ambitious, still modern, and you can still be successful," Ruch says — even if it looks different than before.

Though you can save money by taking a power pause, finances can also be a risk. Ruch recommends having money conversations with your partner to make sure you can financially make it work. "Discuss how you value money, how you budget for this, and how you are going to value each other's contributions," she adds.

It could be, but this is also not the right choice for every family. For this reason, Ruch says it's important to assess all of your options before choosing to power pause. If you love your career but also want less stress in your home or more time with your kids, she encourages you to see if there's a way to get that in the role you already have. For example, you could ask about part-time or remote opportunities at your current place of employment. You could also decide that you don't want as much management responsibility, which could free up some time in your calendar.

If you're feeling burned out and would benefit from a break, then a power pause could be the right move for you. However, first consider asking for a sabbatical or look into other jobs that could give you a little bit more flexibility and less stress than your current job.

If you ultimately decide not to power-pause, know that you're not doing your children a disservice by working out of the home. "As long as children feel loved and safe by their caregiver," Ruch says, "it doesn't matter if you work out of the home or in the home."

And if you do decide a power pause makes the most sense for your family dynamic, then get intentional about what goals you want to achieve during this time. Why? Because the time you spend away from work can make you "really powerful" when you return, Ruch says.

At the end of the day, Ruch says a power pause isn't just about raising your kids, but about raising yourself too: "When you're not moving through the day-to-day of your traditional work, you can actually be able to study yourself about what lights you up, what piques your interest, and what conversations inspire you."

Taylor Andrews (she/her) is the balance editor at PS, specializing in topics relating to sex, relationships, dating, sexual health, mental health, travel, and more. With seven years of editorial experience, Taylor has a strong background in content creation and storytelling. Prior to joining PS in 2021, she worked at Cosmopolitan.