Overworked, overstressed & a toxic work culture. I can say that these are the reasons why I decided to quit my six-figure job, but it was more than just that. I needed more from my life. I wanted to be happy. I wanted to take care of my health. I wanted to do something for myself – not for the pockets of company stakeholders anymore.

Yes, I know! It does sound like an existential crisis. I was a high performing employee, leading local & international teams at my company for 7 years. I did not just wake up one fine day and decide to quit. It was slow & deliberate with a solid financial plan.

I came to America to get my MBA, 9,000 miles away from family & friends. Because you know, I love to seek adventures out! Soon after graduating, I started working with reputed companies as a risk management professional. I wanted to do good & contribute & make a positive difference to the company. Amidst all of this, news flash – my culture shock was a real phenomenon. It was extremely difficult adjusting to the new work culture, new way of doing business & navigating cultural nuances. All that with little to no support from my environment – because I came to America alone, no family or friends. Not good, not bad – just different. As an Indian expat on a US work visa, I overcame a lot of hurdles and I really had to push outside my comfort zone to succeed. And succeed I did, I took a double promotion in the span of two consecutive years thanks to my hard work, networking & my public speaking skills etc.

One day I asked myself, “alright how long do I want to keep doing the same job for & how much can I grow here? What is my ultimate goal?” These questions lingered for a year or two. I had the opportunity to work with incredibly smart people, learn new skills every day & lead & coach people. This really made me happy! However, I found myself in a toxic work environment where I was not valued for my hard work & knowledge. And this was when I knew, it was time to go! And find my purpose.

Quitting my job was not an impulsive decision. It was a long, well-thought out & balanced decision keeping in mind the financial impact.

So I did it! I told my boss I was quitting my job. Jaws dropped, minds were blown but my mind was made up. I had no plan, I had no job or a back up. But I am financially savvy & I got the right attitude to succeed anywhere. I trust myself! I went on a year long break / adult gap year / career break and it was the BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE!! I am going to write down the reasons why I quit my job to take an annual break / sabbatical / career break. They are as follows:

1. Stress

I saw myself getting stressed at work. Too many projects to handle, too many responsibilities. Too much internal politics & drama that resulted in unwanted stress. It was not fun! More importantly, I found myself working long hours from Monday to Friday. Many days on a back to back, meeting heavy schedule. While I enjoyed the fast pace work environment, I was definitely stressed and I did not realize that until much later on.

2. Health

I found myself sitting in front of my computer for multiple consecutive hours. Because I had to be in front of my computer for ongoing meetings. This sadly gave me lower back issues. And lower back issues are hard to fix. I still suffer from it to this day. On a positive note, I have been able to manage pain through regular exercises & by putting my health first. Friendly Reminder – Put your health first, people!

3. Purpose

I found myself molding to a work culture that I did not identify with. I could not be my authentic self. I needed purpose in life. I needed to do something for myself.

In the next post, I will talk about how I planned for my annual career break, including preparing financially.

Live your life, Seek your adventure – Alisha out! Here are some pictures from my break.

On a family trip in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India 2024

On a mindfulness retreat, Rishikesh, India 2024

On a beach in Goa, India 2024