1
“I’m going to take a break for a few months.”
“What will you do during this break?”
“Nothing.”
“Like…nothing nothing?”
“I want to remember what it feels like to be bored.”
—Overheard three weeks before they started consulting.
2
“I need to learn a trade. Something like carpentry. Or weaving. Something that doesn’t require me to sit in front of a screen for 12 hours a day. I just watched a four part, 12 hour long documentary about how it’s the only way to escape AI.”
—Overheard at a birthday party.
3
“I’m signing up for this permaculture course that’s INR 50,000 for one month of weekend classes. If I learn enough I can quit in the next few years.”
“How?”
“I will be able to live off of the land.”
“But you don’t own land?”
“I think I could if I went somewhere really far away from here.”
—Overheard at a café.
4
“What are the chances that I can earn enough as a consultant if I quit this job at the end of the year?”
“What will you consult about?”
“Maybe burnout.”
—Overheard from someone who had just opened their laptop to send one last email.
5
“I’ve been thinking about doing a fellowship.”
“How come?”
“A second master’s degree seems very expensive. Plus, some fellowships pay you.”
“So, it’s a break from work that doesn’t require you to move back in with your parents.”
“Exactly.”
—Overheard at a goodbye dinner.
6
“I’m going to take a sabbatical and work on myself.”
“What does that mean?”
“Therapy? Travel? Workout? Learning to cook food I actually like? I don’t know, it’s been years since I’ve had the time to develop a hobby or an interest in anything besides scrolling while watching TV.”
—Overheard at 9:30 pm after a 12-hour workday.
7
“I’ve realised I don’t want a career anymore.”
“Good for you.”
“I want a life.”
“That’s beautiful.”
“Yeah. I’m thinking of starting a newsletter about it.”
—Overheard on Substack.
