🧬Why I decided to take a break
To give you a little background, I started my career in data science in 2019 with my internship in one of the research labs in one of the biggest IT consultancies in India. I did that for a year with my master’s and was placed in the same company after my studies. Not my dream job or anything, but considering the level of competition in India, I was relieved. In October 2020, I joined my first job.
I got interested in data science when I took a machine learning course during my master’s. Honestly, I wouldn’t consider myself a tech genius or anything, I was always more drawn to creative jobs like writing or designing. Coming from a Tier 3 college with no coding culture, I always had this resistance to start coding. But data science seemed so much fun, probably due to its investigative nature. At my first company, I had to struggle a lot to get a project in AI. Finally, I got into a research lab.
During the first year, I learned a lot, did a lot of projects, worked on challenging and complicated problems, and gained some soft skills. Most importantly, I learned a lot about myself, from the ups and downs in my energy levels, my values, the kind of lifestyle I want, and my interactions with colleagues and family.
But after almost three years, life became monotonous, and I was getting paid nothing near the industry standards. I could not take a break to reset or work on my hobbies and interests. So I decided to quit. The three-month notice period in India is a whole other story. Let’s not get into that right now.
The decision to quit was not an impulsive one. There was an event that pushed me to make the decision. I got Covid. When I was sick, I had a lot of time to think about the life I wanted to build for myself. A few weeks after I recovered, I mailed my resignation.
📖Understanding my interests
Initially, I planned to explore my options on weekends and weekday evenings. I would read a lot of books and listen to podcasts during my free time. I started taking courses on subjects I’m interested in. The more I researched, the realization hit me, I have to get out of my comfort zone and try to build the life I genuinely want. I tried things like,
- Taking multiple personality tests
- Taking courses on diverse subjects
- Read a lot of books and articles, etc.
Personality tests are not that accurate, but they help you to evaluate yourself. When it comes to self-help books, consider them as the author’s opinion. Even though there is no standard way, I got a lot of clarity from the entire process. I realized my values and priorities. For example, mental and physical health is one of my top priorities. Having unique experiences and meeting amazing people is another priority for me. I also realized I have an investigative and artistic brain that hates repetition. It’s always been like that. So personality tests and self-help books are not very accurate, but the whole process gives you a lot of clarity about yourself.
📑Try everything
After a period of introspection, I realized that I have to do hands-on projects. It is essential to try and do something about your interests because imagining something is different from trying it as a project. So I started a YouTube channel, a blog, and an Etsy shop to sell my mediocre designs😁. I realized that taking the first step is the hardest part. I’m a chronic planner, but I learned to take the first step without procrastinating, and it has helped me a lot.
📃Creating and implementing the master plan
Once I set up a pipeline for my hobby projects, I started looking for a job. I created a plan with detailed steps and skills to fill my knowledge gaps. Once I got somewhat confident, I started applying for jobs and got a job in almost two months.
🤯How it affected my career and mental health
Taking some time off helped me realize my priorities and what kind of life I want to build. I learned the importance of focus, consistency, rest and recovery, and introspection. Taking that first step is the most challenging but essential part of starting any project.
I have an unfair advantage of having experience in a skill in data science that is very much in demand. So I was confident I could find a job whenever I wanted. Later I realized I had many gaps I had to improve. If you want to know how I did that, I have already published a video on my YouTube channel. People around me looked at me like I did something illogical, not my parents or husband but primarily other family members. My parents understand my capability and character because they have seen me for 27 years. It gave me confidence in my skills and my ability to learn. Change your environment, or don’t tell everyone that you are on a break. Just tell your close ones.
💬The takeaway
Taking an intentional gap helped me rest, build new habits, and design a lifestyle I genuinely enjoy. But make sure you have enough money to survive before quitting your job. A bunch of resources that helped me during this process are,
Plan your gap. For example, if you plan to look for jobs, schedule 1 to 3 months for your job hunt. I knew that October was the hiring season around here, so I planned my break till October. Consider the climate if you have plans to travel. Plan your projects because time will fly when you do things that interest you.
If you are interested in international life design, check out my blog post about creating a balanced work routine. Taking a gap and utilizing that time helped me understand where my interests lie and what steps to take next in my career.
You don’t have to quit your job necessarily to do the things you love. Figure out what works for you. Schedule your days and see where you spend your time on unimportant things. Look for jobs that fit your lifestyle and companies that align with your values. Unless you take that step, you won’t know what is on the other side.