10/03/2026
1. Your reasons for wanting to leave are valid. If you constantly feel like you’re walking on eggshells, second-guessing yourself, and losing confidence in a job you’re actually good at, something is off.
2. Have savings. Ideally at least six months. In my case, it took a year to be mentally ready and then find the right company fit.
3. Use the break to reflect on what you actually want next. Do you just want to rest, switch industries, or redefine your career path?
4. Don’t make the decision impulsively, but don’t regret it once you do. When you are used to being busy and suddenly your days are quieter, with fewer meetings, fewer conversations, and less structure, it can feel strange at first.
5. Create structure for your days. Without it, time slips away quickly and the days can start to feel very unproductive and then that leads to anxiety.
6. Fill your time with things that excite you. I took up freelancing so I could experiment with other brands and do work where my voice and skills actually mattered (one of the main reasons I quit tbh)
7. The first week felt like freedom. No meetings, no stand-ups, just rest and recovery from intense burnout. I absolutely loved it
8. Use the time to rediscover yourself outside a job. My job used to give me so much joy. Anyone who has heard me talk about content marketing knows how passionate I am about it. But during the break, I had to sit with myself and ask deeper questions. Do I still want this? What exactly do I want my career to look like when I return to full-time work?
9. And sometimes the best advice is simple. My mum always says, “You’ll probably work till you’re 60, why the rush?” Although personally… doing this till 60? God abeg 😭
