Opting out of the rat-race

It isn't easy to opt out of the rat race. The daily grind, the commute to and back from office, the perks and pay cheque, and lastly, the comfort of monotony, all of these are too hard to give up for most people.

But some of us do give up, and opt for a different way of life. A life, where we choose how much and what work we do. Where we can balance our homes and family life with the need to prove ourselves professionally. We opt to freelance or work-from-home or work part-time.  

It is not easy, trust me, to say no to lucrative jobs that demand you to be in office from 9 to 6 or more. Where you are expected to regularly travel for work and report to office on weekends. You know you have to take a call. Do you want the fat pay cheque, the regular increments and promotions, the steady rise to the top on the corporate ladder? Or do you want to spend time savouring moments of togetherness with your loved ones? Do you wish to spend the best part of your your life attending business meetings and conferences? Or attending your child's craft exhibition or sports day in school? Do you have time to watch birds play outside your window sill? Can you accompany your parents for their weekly medical check-ups, or simply spend some time with them giving them joy?

However much we may claim to balance work and life while doing a regular job, we all know what we have to sacrifice. And that applies to both men and women. Corporate life is all consuming, it leaves us with little energy or time for anything else.

For those of us who do give up corporate life, initially adjusting to the sense of purposelessness and the feeling of vacuum is overwhelming. You are plagued with doubts on whether you have taken the right decision. Your mobile which used to beep non-stop is suddenly quiet. People don't recognize you any more. Ex-colleagues look through you. You spend days waiting for assignments. In a way of life, where material success equals personal worth, you feel suddenly left out.

But it is still worth it. When you can sleep peacefully at night, knowing you have not neglected your child or parents. When you have time to spend with yourself, doing what you really enjoy. When you find the time and energy to look after your home. And you discover your talents in cooking or gardening or blogging. The rewards are not too great but they are far more substantial.