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    IIM Alumnus Quits Rs 60 LPA Job Without Another Offer: Freedom, Burnout and Search for Purpose

    IIM Alumnus Quits Rs 60 LPA Job Without Another Offer: Freedom, Burnout and Search for Purpose

    Gursimran KaurUpdated on 16 Jul 2026, 01:09 AM IST

    A 30+ IIM alumnus, married with a 1.5-year-old child, with a decade of experience, left his 60 LPA job without any offer in hand and zero backup plan. He packed his bags for a solo trip to Manali, did some reading, got some sleep, and celebrated escaping the corporate "meaninglessness." Quitting the job for mental peace and freedom sounds good, right? But what happens after?

    This Story also Contains

    1. The Reality of Escaping the Corporate Rat Race: Complete Story
    2. What Netizens are Saying
    3. The Two Aspects of the Rat Race
    IIM Alumnus Quits Rs 60 LPA Job Without Another Offer: Freedom, Burnout and Search for Purpose
    IIM Alumnus Quits Rs 60 LPA Job Without Another Offer: Freedom, Burnout and Search for Purpose

    The Reality of Escaping the Corporate Rat Race: Complete Story

    Burned out by the constant cycle of targets, promotions, and office politics, he sought relief from the corporate rat race only to realise that the job was more than just a paycheck. “Somewhere along the way, I became increasingly frustrated with the meaninglessness of it all,” said the former IIM graduate on his Reddit post.

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    He put his papers in March with no offer, no backup, no future plan. While the initial months bought him time, freedom, better sleep, and a sense of liberation from the stress. The freedom he craved has slowly started turning into emptiness. Living with his working wife and their 1.5-year-old son, he faces a new reality: weight gain, no routine, and the terrifying realization that the job he hated wasn't just a source of stress—it was his entire identity.

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    The redditor says, “he has more time than ever, but having that time sometimes makes him feel trapped inside his own thoughts”. Despite the challenges, he mentions that he doesn't regret his decision to leave the job for the much-needed break and distance.

    What Netizens are Saying

    The post has gained some insight, with several commenters praising the decision to take a break, arguing that burnout is real.

    • Many users related to his post, saying they had gone through similar phases where freedom initially felt exciting but later turned into uncertainty.

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    • While several encouraged him to explore more hobbies, learning, or focus more on family life to build a new sense of purpose outside work, to avoid burnout in the future as well.

    • Some advised patience, that four months is a short period after spending more than a decade in a demanding career. They suggested giving himself time before making major decisions.

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    The story raises important questions about modern work culture and the mental stress that comes along with it. Is the rat race inherently harmful, or does it also fulfill psychological needs such as purpose, achievement, and belongingness?

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    The Two Aspects of the Rat Race

    It is said that no two people are alike, and taking similar decisions may have different results. Here, we need to understand the negative and positive aspects of the corporate Rat Race.

    The Positive Side

    Structure & Identity - A job creates a structure and a daily habit. The absence of a structured 9-5 life may feel unproductive; many people fall out due to a lack of it.
    What you do becomes a major part of your identity; it becomes a purpose.

    Financial - Being in the rat race somewhat means having a regular job, which provides financial stability, wealth, and career growth. It gives the person the ability to invest in their long-term goals.

    Psychological - The sense of purpose and progress that comes with completing projects, receiving praise, earning promotions, or hitting targets, or just being a part of something, triggers dopamine in some people.

    The Negative face

    Structure & Identity - When your work becomes your only identity, your actual personality feels lost somewhere. With no rigid structure and time constraint, people can think about what they actually want in their future.

    Financial - Leaving your job with no source of income can be fatal in some cases, as many people become dependent on high salaries to sustain their lifestyle, making it difficult to take career breaks, switch careers, or pursue personal passions.

    Psychological - As goals are achieved, expectations often rise, creating a never-ending cycle where success will only provide temporary happiness before the next target appears. This births the feeling of never having enough, leading to burnout.

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