Taking a break after PhD would hurt me career or just help get clarity or regain my passion for research

I recently defended my PhD about a month ago (social sciences). Since then, I’ve been looking at both postdoc and assistant professor positions(mostly postdocs)but honestly, I’ve hit a wall. I feel like I don’t want to apply to anything right now.

I’ve also been looking at non-academic jobs. To be completely honest, if an industry job comes along that offers stability and a good salary, I’d take it. We all know how incredibly brutal the academic job market is and how difficult it is to actually secure a tenure-track position.

I’m hoping to get some insight from people who have been through this: I can’t tell if I’m just completely burnt out and need a temporary break, or if I actually want to leave academia for good.

The PhD was a long, exhausting, and complicated process for me, and my mental health definitely took a hit. Right now, it feels like my brain is screaming for a break. At the same time, because the job market is so tough, I feel this intense pressure to apply to absolutely everything that pops up.

I'm considering a different approach, and I’d love to know what you think:

What if I don't apply to any academic or industry jobs right now and just take a break for the upcoming Fall/Winter semesters? I already have a teaching contract for that period, so I could just focus on my students, recover my energy, and maybe slowly work on a manuscript from my thesis to get an article published. Then, starting in early 2027, I could re-evaluate with a clear head and decide if I want to jump back into academic applications.

For those with experience in the academic loop:

1. Would taking a 12-month break where I am only teaching heavily hurt my CV if I choose to stay in academia?

2. How did you distinguish between I need a few months of rest and I am officially done with academia?