I quit my job & lived off my savings for 4 months, until I was broke

Here are 4 major takeaways for you from my experience.

“Honestly, I think you’re a fat a**hole.”

Don’t worry, it’s NOT you.

It was my inner voice ranting at me.

Four months ago, I decided to move on from my job.

I was desperate for a break from ‘everything’.

I was tired of ‘being confused’

For over a decade, I had been rubbing my butt off working 10–14-hour days, and I was as indecisive and risk-averse as one could get.

I was tired of hustling senselessly, of a load of responsibilities given to me, and the ones I loaded up myself with.

I was a car on fire, at full speed, with brakes failed.

I was going through the ‘mid-life crisis’.

I only realised it yesterday.

Thanks to my mentor, Vijay Kumar, the car stopped before the destined crash.

He is largely responsible for the biggest perspective shifts I have had as an adult.

The incident that sparked this change dates to September 2021.

One fine evening, he called me up for a chat.

I was extremely tired, so I politely declined.

But I knew he is a little crazy, always sarcastic; but very observant and a genius at being precisely critical.

There is never a dull moment speaking to him.

Realizing that I may not be lucky with such an invitation next time, I wasted no time and rushed up to his door.

Little did I know that this one conversation would have a cascading effect on almost all areas of my life.

Interestingly, all he did was patiently listen to me and ask “Why?” at precise moments.

More on this in a future post 🙂

It was a pivotal moment in my adult life.

It forced me to reassess everything.

Suddenly, things that mattered earlier were now laughable.

Things previously trivial were now significant.

After 5 hours of deepest-possible conversation that evening, I took a few deep breaths when I stepped out of the room.

I stood there for a few minutes, wondering what I have been up to so far.

I didn’t know where I was going to go from there, but I knew I would be happier than I have been so far.

I felt a weird sense of confidence.

It was surreal.

Two months later, I met my boss and discussed my exit in March.

In the following few months, I went on a ‘life break’.

No work, no responsibilities.

I read, ate, watched, talked, gossiped, stalked, researched, essentially anything my mind told me to.

Here are 4 biggest takeaways from my life break:

#1. Prioritize your sanity over everything else. 

You may have many priorities, but none of it is as important as yourself.

Defend it ruthlessly.

For 4 months, I have not engaged in anything out of pressure.

My priority has always been staying in tune with my mind.

Why?

Because most life problems happen when you take decisions opposite of what you really need.

Listen to your ‘inner’ self, and pay attention to your subconscious behaviour and preferences.

There is much you will learn from it to reshape your life.

#2. You do not have as much time with your parents as you think.

You may think you have 20/30/40 years with your parents, but in effect, you will only spend 1-2 total years of total time with your parents in all of those years.

And no, being in the same house with your parents doesn’t count.

I have lived with my parents for nearly all of my life, but I clearly remember having breakfast, lunch and dinner at my desk or in my room 95% of the time.

I was always in a rush or engrossed in my ‘urgencies’.

But in these few months surprisingly, I have begun spending more time with my parents.

That I would sit down for 3 meals a day with my parents was unthinkable earlier.

I do not have a taste for tea, and neither does my mom.

Yet, we relish our evening tea together.

Even if I am out, I would make it a point to get back home when it’s time for tea.

I knew my mom would be looking forward to it.

To this day, I drink tea for her, and she does for me. 🙂

I will cherish this forever.

You may want to, too.

#3. Cliches are cliché because they have worked for many. Ignore them at your own risk. 

They are deceptively effective.

You know that life is like music.

A journey, not a destination.

But I bet you don’t know until you really ‘know’.

Until you pay attention.

Until you really ‘feel it’.

I do not recall being at peace with whoever I was, wherever I was, earlier.

I do not worry about the future now.

I know I’ll do fine; I just know.

That I prioritize paying attention to my psychology every moment now, I am able to cherish ‘this moment’ mindfully, and willingly.

#4. Nothing is permanent, you can almost always change things.

In the past 2 years, I had become extremely obese.

My belly had expanded to a level, I had never imagined before.

My inner voice was screaming at me (the first line of this email).

I was fat, weak, cash-strapped, jobless, introverted, with no ‘friends’.

But it didn’t affect me too much.

I paused and calmly said to myself:

“I have all the knowledge, and experience to reverse this.

I have helped many.

I was not fired; I chose to end my cash flow.

I am not a noob; I have earned well since 2014.

I know how to deal with people.

I have a mentor, and all the resources, perspectives, and insights I need to make it through to the brighter days.

I’ve got this!”

For the next two months, I ensured I was as physically active as possible.

I started small, and gradually built up over time.

I did not rush the process of change.

And lo, here I am today:

Stronger, fitter, mindful, and more resilient.

It’s no longer a sprint for me now.

It is going to be a marathon of sprints.

I did, and so can you.

So should you.

Nothing is permanent.

You can almost always change things.

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Have you ever been through something similar?

Let me know in the comments below.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Divya Kothari