Moving to Goa looked like a dream until reality hit: Ex-Cognizant HR opens up about quitting her corporate job to move to a city where others go on holiday

Leaving a stable corporate job to start afresh in a new city can look exciting from the outside. But what happens when the initial excitement gives way to financial worries, self-doubt and the pressure to make the decision work? Former HR professional Arpita Sahu is opening up about that side of starting over after leaving her job in Delhi and moving to Goa. Through videos on Instagram, Sahu has shared the reality of life after stepping away from a familiar career. After spending four and a half years working, completing her MBA and building her professional life, she decided to leave the corporate world behind and look for something more meaningful. Her posts have since resonated with people who have considered making a similar change.

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Ex-Cognizant HR professional leaves Delhi after four and a half years

Sahu documented her move to Goa in a video showing her belongings packed into suitcases as she prepared to begin a new chapter.

“I packed all my life in these suitcases… I left Delhi and I reached Goa I left my corporate job. I worked hard for four and a half years, finished my MBA and then now I’m moving to Goa,” she said.


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According to her LinkedIn profile, Sahu has worked in human resources at companies including Cognizant and Info Edge India Ltd.

Her decision was about more than moving to a popular holiday destination. She wanted to explore what life could look like outside the routine of a corporate job and find a place where she could build meaningful relationships and feel at home.

‘Will I find my people?’: Woman shares why she moved to Goa

Moving to a new city means leaving behind familiar surroundings and figuring out where one fits in. For Sahu, finding a sense of belonging has been one of the biggest questions accompanying her move.

Describing her arrival in Goa, she spoke about the difference between visiting a place for a holiday and choosing to live there.

She said that whenever she moved to a new city, she found herself asking whether she would find her people and discover her purpose. She hopes Goa will eventually become a place she can call home, but said she would continue searching until she found what she was looking for.

Sahu also encouraged people who are searching for meaningful connections and a sense of direction not to give up. Sometimes, she suggested, the process of finding the right place or people involves experiencing setbacks along the way.

‘I’m just so scared’: Life after quitting a corporate job

The uncertainty became more apparent in another video, in which Sahu spoke about her first Monday without having to report to an office.

“Today is the first Monday that I don’t have to go to the office, and I’m just so scared,” she said.

She explained that although leaving a corporate job and moving to Goa might seem like a dream to some, the reality also comes with difficult days. She admitted to questioning her choices and wondering whether she had made the right decision.

Her experience highlights a side of career changes that can be easy to overlook. Leaving a job may offer more freedom, but it also means stepping away from the routine, financial security and familiar expectations that come with regular employment.

Money worries and social media add to the pressure

For Sahu, one of the biggest challenges is working out how long she can sustain herself without a regular salary.

She spoke about feeling overwhelmed by the money she has available and the pressure to make her new life work.

“There’s an unsaid pressure that I have to do well, and there’s a certain amount of money in my bank account which I know will not last for long,” she said.

She also admitted that her attention span had suffered, describing how she would struggle to watch something without reaching for her phone to scroll through Instagram and check her follower count.

Her comments reveal the tension between wanting to build a life on one's own terms and feeling the need to prove that a major decision was worthwhile. Starting over may be a personal choice, but the pressure to succeed can follow someone even after they leave their old workplace behind.

Internet reacts as woman shares her search for purpose

Sahu's videos prompted responses from social media users, with some offering encouragement and others sharing their own experiences of leaving jobs or moving to Goa.

One user wished her well, writing, “Nice. Hope you may find your purpose and similar souls. I have similar plans for future.”

Another person said they had also quit their job and moved to Goa in search of purpose.

Others urged Sahu to give herself time to settle into her new surroundings. One commenter wrote, “Take it easy. Things will call in place. More power to you.”

A further response came from someone who credited Goa with helping them find a sense of belonging. “Goa gave me my purpose and made me feel at home. Hope it does the same to you,” the user wrote.

For now, Sahu is continuing her search for a place where she feels settled and a future that feels right for her. Her posts suggest that finding purpose may not happen overnight, and that even a decision made in pursuit of a happier life can come with its share of fear and doubt.


Disclaimer: This article is based on social media posts. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted.