From Hustle to Heal: Why I Quit My High-Paying Job to Take a Break and Reclaim My Life
You know that feeling when you're watching a movie, and everything is going great for the protagonist, but they're just sitting there, staring into space, questioning life? Yeah, that was me. I had it all—working at a global giant, making my parents’ WhatsApp status updates the talk of the town, and yet, something just didn’t click. So, I did what any sane person would do—I quit my high-paying job and took a break. Here’s why.
From Small Town to Big Leagues
Born in a small town, with the privilege of studying in a government school, I was that "Aashiq Banaya Aapne"-era struggler who somehow cracked the code to make it big. Landing a job at Amazon, working on massive-scale projects for Prime Video, and thriving in my role made me the epitome of success. Log toh mujhe God level pe treat kar rahe the. But the truth? While everyone saw the success story, what they didn’t see was the burnout creeping in faster than a meme trending on Twitter.
Why I Took a Break: Mental Health > Hustle
Let’s be real. Indian culture doesn't exactly throw a party when you tell them you’re taking a break from your career. “Beta, sab theek toh hai na? Arey, shadi ke liye ladki dekh lein kya?” No, aunty, I don’t need a life partner—I need to recharge my mental health. The hustle culture in India is so ingrained that taking a break feels like Ram leaving Ayodhya. You might be thriving on paper, but internally, it feels like a never-ending episode of Bigg Boss****—drama, chaos, and no peace.
Mental health and physical well-being were my top reasons for hitting pause. It was time to step away from the all-night coding marathons, missed gym sessions, and the kind of sleep schedule that would make even an owl say, “Bhai, thoda rest le le.”
Breaking the Stigma: Quitting Ain't Quitting
Let’s address the big elephant in the room: quitting your job in India to take a break is still a taboo****—a Baba Sehgal of career decisions. It’s not something our parents or relatives get. “Naukri kyun chhod di?” is usually followed by a tsunami of unsolicited advice about rishtas or government jobs.
But here’s the thing: It’s OK to break the mold. It’s OK to step away from the hamster wheel of life that’s powered by societal expectations. I mean, have you ever seen the "never-ending money cycle"? It’s like that Rasgulla you eat and immediately regret but can’t stop. You earn, you spend, you earn some more, and before you know it, you're saving for a future you’re too tired to enjoy.
When Everything’s Going Right but Motivation is AWOL
Everything was perfect—on paper. Big salary, top-notch projects, a LinkedIn profile that made recruiters drool. But inside? It was like watching a Saas-Bahu serial on loop—tired, monotonous, and no real plot twist. Why? Because even when everything looks great, sometimes, you just lose your drive. “Yeh dil maange more!”****—but not more work or money. It was asking for a break. A chance to reassess, recharge, and figure out what the next chapter should be.
Normalizing the Break: Why It’s Good for You
Now, here’s the plot twist—taking a break doesn’t mean you’re lazy, unambitious, or "giving up" on life. It means you’re smart enough to realize that pausing is part of the journey. We’ve all seen the DDLJ train sequence—sometimes, you need to let go to catch what’s really important. You’ll return to your career with renewed energy, fresh ideas, and a hunger to achieve new heights.
Let’s Normalize It, Shall We?
Here’s the deal: we need to normalize taking breaks. Hustle culture is all fine until you’re buffering in real life—stuck, slow, and praying for a Wi-Fi connection that actually works. So, let’s break the stigma, take that break, and make sure that when we get back, we’re not just working harder—we’re working smarter, healthier, and happier.
Taking a break isn’t the end of the story—it’s just the interval. And when the curtain rises for Act II? Picture abhi baaki hai, mere dost!
"Grab your popcorn and refresh that feed—because the last 6 months have been a wild ride, and trust me, my comeback is going to be more epic than a K-serial plot twist!"
Inspired by the highs and lows of a journey that started in a small town and led to a global stage, this is just one chapter in a larger story of my success.