Are you satisfied being at home after quitting your job, asks Priyanka Srivastava.
Thinking about quitting your job and staying home? Well, it’s tough to switch gears and suddenly adjust to a new routine of watching TV, taking a siesta or joining long gossip sessions. We found some women who lost it when they quit, while others thoroughly enjoyed the free time. Check out both sides of the coin.
Thirty-two-year-old Rasika Singh, a very dedicated senior sales manager of a multinational company felt she couldn’t give 100 per cent to either her job, or her home. She chose home over her career. For Shubhra Mukerjee, 29, a chartered accountant, the choice was clear. She had to be with her prematurely born baby.
When senior journalist Vandana Dubey’s husband was transferred out, she had to up and go too. Even though it meant moving to a city that had no employment opportunity for her. The excuses are many, but the core reason is always: Looking after family and kids. And the issue remains: Are you happy, once you’ve quit?
HAPPY AT HOME “I had worked for 18 years and had experienced life outside the four walls,” says Vandana Krishnan, a former senior bank employee.
“Due to the kids’ schooling and my job, I did not accompany my husband during his earlier transfers. When the kids left home to pursue professional courses, I decided it was the right time to take a break and join him in Bangalore. The job had become a way of life and a habit to an extent,” says Vandana. “After quitting, I have more ‘me-time’, so I am trying to rediscover myself,” she adds.
Rasika thought of forgoing the power and status she enjoyed in her job. Her five-year-old daughter’s deteriorating health and report card forced her to take the decision.
“Tours were part of my job, it was the same with my husband who also worked in a multinational company,” says Rasika. “It was clear that our daughter needed more attention. But when I resigned, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to ‘adjust’,” she says. Now Rasika has no regrets — she enjoys concentrating on her role as a home manager.
After spending time with her daughter, in the remaining hours, Rasika chose to paint landscapes. It was something she hadn’t had time for when she was working.
“You just have to find a way to pass your time in a constructive manner,” says Namrata, who left a career in teaching to move with her husband. Reading and cooking elaborate meals were the most enjoyable solutions she found.
Fighting Frustration