They say Life is a simulation, one where our choices are mostly pre-planned by a superior force, we are mere executers. Some of us believe it, and others, like me, believe in rebelling against our sealed fate from time to time.
You know it’s time when, like a jammed lock, we require extra stimulation to do even the most basic tasks such as dragging oneself out of bed for work, needing hours of cajoling to do something as easy as taking a bath. Then one day you just collapse, unresponsive to all kinds of stimuli.
That’s the inflection point where all your doubts about your future dissipate and give way to a new Sun on the horizon. That’s your cue to turn a new leaf.
In other words…..
Yes, I took a career break, after working nonstop for over a decade. I had not taken any break between jobs and the much berated burnout had started to wreak havoc in my life. I was a mess emotionally and physically. I was eternally in pain, having put on over 15 kgs, and living from paycheck to paycheck, I had started writing my first book sometime back in 2021 ( as a tribute to my first cat) and couldn’t write more than a paragraph.
I decided it was enough when I couldn’t get up from bed one morning, my back spasming and my mind shutting down. Initially, I gave myself 6 months, starting April’23. I was halfway through my post graduate program in Public Policy from IIM Calcutta and focused on the assignments and program, the break made me reflect on the learning from the program effectively. I also began writing the book everyday, there would be days I would write a 1000 words, and then some when I would just stare at the laptop screen devoid of any thought, but I still sat with the manuscript every day, something I’d promised myself early on.
Because I had both the abundance of free time and the will to workout, I started working out regularly, running 2-3 days a week and a strength training regimen. I started cooking more frequently and ordering in less. I also needed to save more & spend less without a regular income stream . I took up freelancing, not that regularly, because I needed to focus on my own writing.
The backpain had receded to fortnightly occurrences, mostly around my luteal phase and I was hoping it will be gone for good, but that was not to be and it made a comeback like a vamp in November mid while I was busy prepping the house for Diwali.
I was bedridden for a week and forced to go see a Neurologist who recommended an MRI, the MRI indicated I have inflammation and that set the course for another round of healing. I am almost pain free now, medications and strength and conditioning exercises have been my saviors. Turns out I was working out inadequately, completely ignoring my spine and joints.
That has been rectified now and I am back to working out regularly since the last couple days without any incident. The first draft of my book will be ready by Christmas and then I am going take a week long holiday, deservedly so.
So, all in all, an eventful 2023 so far.
Fingers in symphony 