Here's why you should quit your job and see the world

Taking a year or a few months off to travel, even at the risk of quitting your job, was quite unusual among Malayali youth. Not anymore. Youngsters are increasingly taking a break to globe-trot. From discovering the world to exploring self, these daredevils have their own reasons to get, set and go. We talk to a few to find out what urged them to take the plunge.

For a radical change
Techie Anoop Mathew was tired of his cushy job though it paid him well and felt he deserves a break. "I felt miserable doing the same mechanic tasks without much creative or intellectual delight. I could feel the dire need for something new, which would rejuvenate me. When I felt that I have saved enough and can't stand it anymore, I quit and booked my ticket to Sri Lanka, and it was the best decision ever." His wife Linda took some time to come to terms with it, but soon she too resigned her job and joined him. "Many modern day jobs keep pushing your performance levels to the extremes and you don't often get much time for yourself, even for short vacations or breaks. You will end up working while vacationing too. Taking a break to travel was indeed a refreshing experience," she adds.

Life's short
Today's youngsters have started prioritizing happiness and fun over pure career advancement. Allen Kurien, who worked in a technical firm in Kochi, took a two-month break for an adventure trip recently. He says, "What I wanted was a month's break as I was totally drained out, giving all my time for a project for almost a year. When my superiors didn't sanction it, I felt like I should not die working. Life's to be enjoyed too, not something to be wasted away sitting on a chair glued to computers."

For the experience
While the need to take a break is the most common reason quoted, some take the plunge to experience the world around them. It was a dream for Arun Murali from Trivandrum to travel extensively, experiencing new cultures. "It's been five months since I quit. Initially, I had planned to travel within India. Now I am thinking of travelling outside the country too," he says.

Many like Arun end up extending their breaks if there is no new joining date looming over them. Lawyer Manaf Muhammad from Kottayam, who is just back from his three-month-long tour, says, "I planned a one-month trip to Rajasthan, first. While on the road, I kept interacting with other tourists and many suggested more lovely spots and must-checkout locales and I ended up adding a few other states to my itinerary."