Following Tracy Grimshaw’s surprise announcement that she would be stepping down from her role as host of A Current Affair, many are no doubt left wondering what is next for the veteran journalist.

After an impressive 17 years covering major news stories, Grimshaw revealed to 2GB host Ray Hadley that her focus after her last show will be to “clear” her mind and “learn to sleep again”.

“I’m going to take a year off, because I feel like I need that I need a one year sabbatical where I just can clear my head and learn to sleep again, rest my stupid brain,” she said.

“I’m not just going to sit on the verandah, I’m going to see my friends. I have prioritised the work for a lot of years. I’ve put the work before really, certainly, before me.

I’d like time to not let my friends down. I’d like to be able to go away for a weekend and not find out say on the Friday that I’m doing an interview next week so I feel I have to spend the weekend at home prepping for the interview.

“I want to be able to be spontaneous and flexible about those things. I’m looking forward to that.”

Although Grimshaw is looking forward to her downtime, she seemingly hinted that audiences may see her on their screens again in the near future.

“And then after that, I think probably I’ll be bored enough to want to come back, I reckon,” she revealed.

Grimshaw, 62, announced that she would be stepping down from A Current Affair on Monday, September 6, explaining to viewers that she wasn’t “being shoved out the door by the boys club” because she was “too old”.

“Normally right about now we’d be telling you what to expect tomorrow night but lately I’ve personally been thinking longer term, and I have some news that I wanted you to hear from me before you hear it from anyone else,” she told viewers.

“I’ve decided to finish up with A Current Affair this year.

“It’s been a big decision and before the gossip websites start telling you rubbish, I want you to know it’s been my decision alone and I’m not being shoved out the door by the boys club because I’m too old.

“I’m not too old, I’m just a bit tired. And for the record both the boys and the girls have asked me to stay.

“But I’ve basically been a shift worker for 26 years, driving to work before dawn for 9 years on the Today Show, and the past 17 years driving home after dark here on A Current Affair and it’s time for less of that daily obligation.

“It’s been my privilege to host this show.

“Thank you for your loyalty. I hope I’ve repaid it. I’m around until November then I’m going to take a long holiday, but it’s business as usual until then. See you tomorrow night.”

While no date has been set for her last show, Grimshaw has provided hints as to when her final sign-off could take place.

“We haven’t decided the date but I think that will be late November and there probably aren’t that many options in late November,” Grimshaw revealed.

“It will be a Thursday because since the start of this year, I do a four-day week, so it’ll be a Thursday in late November.”