Pressing Pause: Part Four

Time Off, Lessons On (Things I wish I knew before taking a break)

Inspiration for writing this post came from the blog post of Shivya Nath, Things I wish I knew before I quit my job to travel. The only difference is I have taken a break for a short while (which extended to almost a year). I wanted to share my learnings here, so that it helps others who are thinking of taking a break from work. 

1. It is never too early or too late to take a break:

The timelines of your life cannot be dictated by others. Listen to your mind and body and take that necessary time off from work. Still I would suggest to opt for sabbatical or month-long leave instead of directly calling it a quit. Because starting afresh on job search (after months) takes time and can be tiring and stressful as well. In short, have a comeback ready before your exit.

2. Experiment first, quit later:

There is always a hustle of creating a second source of income through property, money, hobbies, etc. I tried and burnt my hands with monetizing of blog and vlog, it is too far fetched dream. Had I opted for it during my job, I would have got an idea of the $100 threshold (I am nowhere close to even $1). It would not be a good idea to quit with a loan on head. Either be loan free, or earn enough by renting the property that the EMI is taken care of. If you are opting for learning courses, check for its positive impact on your career. Do thorough investigation by visiting the institute/college and be very sure you want to do it.  

3. Have a plan but do not expect it to work:

Sometimes however meticulously we plan the whole roadmap, there are external factors to break-shake our dreams. So have a backup of at least 4 extra plans to go for in case the OG plan fails. Most important thing is do not get disappointed. If things happen according to your wishes, it is good. If they do not, it is even better. My course plan failed so did my travel plan. If you are an travel enthusiast then let me share you my experience: Do not exhaust the travel budget on random impulsive travels. Plan for the places you really want to see. Back to back travels can take a toll on your health since you are eating outside food, tiring your body. For international travels, I would recommend to opt for a US visa (whether or not you want to visit the country). Reason being that many countries allow direct entry or a visa on arrival entry for a valid US visa holder. Else it is difficult to procure visa during the jobless period. 

4. Money matters (investments & expenses):

No matter how much you save, it won't be enough. Aggressively cut down on your expenses, do not let the YOLO person in you pop out everytime. Make investments every year, you never know when would your only source of income stops abruptly. Generate a fallback fund for at least a year. Sometimes the break can get extended.

5. Be mentally prepared for these:

There will be times when your brain and heart will conflict on the decision of break, after seeing someone else's success of the corporate ladder or family creation & expansion or upgraded lifestyle. Be prepared for the loneliness the pause phase brings, people will not be available to talk and share. Be prepared to filter out naysayers, manipulators, etc even from your family circle. They will make you feel guilty for the pause phase and frighten you for the future. Be prepared for things not working as planned, change plans if needed, etc. If possible, plan to stay away from home so that you can focus on things to do than burning under the overprotective parents. 

6. Create your own personal and professional brand value: 

It is a brutal truth that you are known and your value is based on the company you are employed in. The moment that goes away, you become a fresher again (an experienced fresher). You will have to build your identity (career worth) so strong that it should not matter which company you are/were in. It is necessary to test your market value every 3 years to be relevant. Well I had got these burns since I did not look back of job portals since 13 years. On the personal front, it goes with hobbies, fitness, sharing learnings in communities, etc. 

7. Yearly documentation of professional life:

Make it a habit of storing the yearly Payslips, ITRs, Form 16, Investment Declarations, PF contributions, LTAs, etc on your personal laptop. Also the yearly Performance Reviews, Learning Certifications, ELC Letters, etc. Make written notes of technologies you have learnt, written notes because you cannot take the online documents as per company's policy. These notes will be helpful for future reference, interview preps, etc. 

Accept this pause phase with gratitude. Not everyone gets to make this difficult decision. Not everyone is courageous to take this leap of faith. Everyone is playing safe out there. And yes, people are envious of your pressing pause and living life phase. 

You have no idea how awesome your life is going to be. - Shivya Nath