Why I Quit Microsoft and Moved Back to India for a Career Break | A Journey of Self-Discovery

From Silicon Valley to Self-Discovery — Why I Resigned from Microsoft and Moved Back to India

Success often wears a suit, holds a laptop, and sits in a corner office with a skyline view. Or so we’re led to believe. For years, I was on that very path—working at Microsoft in the heart of the U.S. tech industry, rising through the ranks, living what most would call the “American Dream.” And then, just like that, I stepped away. Not because I failed. Not because I was forced to. But because I was finally honest with myself.

I left it all behind—title, salary, stock options—and came back to India for a six-month break. No job lined up. No plan set in stone. Just a quiet intention: to breathe, heal, and reconnect with life beyond deadlines. This is my story, and maybe, just maybe, it could be yours too.

1. The Breaking Point: Burnout Behind the Badge

The Rise and Grind Mentality

Tech is intoxicating. It feeds your ego, fattens your wallet, and keeps you chasing goals like a mouse in a maze. In the U.S., working in Big Tech is more than a job—it’s a lifestyle. You wake up with Slack notifications, live on coffee and code, and sleep with anxiety about the next deployment or performance review. For years, I played the game.

I was proud to say I worked at Microsoft. It earned me respect, opened doors, and gave me the illusion that I was doing well. But beneath the perks and prestige, I was burning out. My days bled into nights. Lunch was something I ate during Zoom calls. My calendar was a battlefield. I didn’t realize it at first, but slowly, the fatigue stopped being temporary and became part of my identity.

Losing Myself in the Hustle

The worst part of burnout isn’t the tiredness—it’s the numbness. You stop feeling excited. Joy feels distant. You’re achieving more, but enjoying less. My personal life? Non-existent. My creativity? Stifled. My sleep? Disturbed. The version of me that used to laugh, explore, and dream had slowly disappeared.

I knew something had to give. And when I looked around, I realized I wasn’t alone. Everyone was silently suffering, putting on a brave face. But I didn’t want to be another LinkedIn success story with a hollow heart. I needed more. Not more money. More meaning.

2. The Power of Letting Go: Walking Away from Microsoft

Making the Hardest Easy Decision

Walking away from Microsoft was terrifying and freeing at the same time. On one hand, it felt like throwing away everything I’d worked for. On the other, it felt like finally choosing me. It wasn’t a reckless leap; it was a thoughtful surrender. I’d saved up. I had a cushion. What I lacked in a roadmap, I made up for in resolve.

I sat down one morning and wrote my resignation email. It was short, honest, and respectful. “I’ve decided to take a career break to focus on personal well-being and self-discovery.” That was it. No dramatic exit. Just clarity in motion.

Reactions, Reflections, and Relief

Of course, people were surprised. Some thought I was making a mistake. Others quietly admitted they wished they had the courage to do the same. My manager was supportive. A few colleagues reached out privately to share how they, too, were battling burnout.

The moment I hit send on that email, a weight lifted off my chest. For the first time in years, I felt light. There were fears, sure—about my future, my finances, my relevance in the fast-moving tech world. But beneath all that was something more powerful: peace.

3. Coming Home: Reconnecting with Roots in India

A Culture I Had Missed Deeply

India isn’t just my country. It’s my core. My heartbeat. My rhythm. After years in the U.S., the noise, color, and chaos of home felt like music to my ears. I landed to the smell of street food, the warmth of family, and the sound of temple bells. It was overwhelming—in the best way possible.

I started waking up to birds instead of calendar alerts. I sipped chai with my parents instead of rushing through emails. I walked barefoot on the terrace, watched sunsets without a screen in sight, and realized how much I had missed the real world while chasing the digital one.

Rediscovering Simplicity and Sanity

In the U.S., life is efficient. But in India, life is alive. Here, neighbors still drop by unannounced. People talk without looking at their phones. Meals are shared, not ordered. I had spent so long optimizing my life for productivity that I had forgotten how to be present.

The slower pace gave me space to think, to feel, to just exist without pressure. It wasn’t perfect—there were moments of discomfort, cultural readjustment, even boredom. But there was also healing, laughter, and a sense of belonging I hadn’t felt in years.

4. Redefining Success: Embracing the Gap Year

From Resignation to Reinvention

Taking a gap year is rare in tech. It almost feels like career suicide. But I wasn’t afraid of a pause. I was afraid of continuing without purpose. I used this time not to escape work, but to rediscover why I work in the first place.

I took online courses in areas I’d ignored before—like psychology, writing, and even yoga. I journaled daily. I meditated. I volunteered at a local shelter. Slowly, the noise in my head began to fade. I stopped seeing myself as just an “employee” and started seeing myself as a person again.

Learning, Healing, and Growing Without Pressure

Without KPIs, deadlines, or sprints, I started setting softer goals. Read 20 pages a day. Walk in nature. Reconnect with an old friend. Watch the stars. It might sound basic, but it felt revolutionary.

My gap year wasn’t a break from life—it was a return to it.

5. What the U.S. Taught Me — And What India Gave Back

Two Worlds, Two Versions of Me

The U.S. taught me ambition. It sharpened my skills, pushed my limits, and taught me to dream big. But it also taught me that growth without grounding leads to emptiness. India gave me that grounding. It reminded me of my values, my family, my roots.

One isn’t better than the other. They’re two sides of the same coin. And somewhere between Silicon Valley and a small Indian town, I found the version of me that had both ambition and awareness.

Finding Balance Between Drive and Peace

I still love tech. I still want to build, create, and lead. But now, I want to do it on my own terms. With balance. With breaks. With breathing room. This six-month journey wasn’t the end of my career. It was the beginning of something better—something more me.