04 January,2026 08:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Tanisha Banerjee
Shifted to Rakkar, Himachal Pradesh from Mumbai
What did you do?
I quit corporate life and started my own student-led business called The CommÃ
«n. We help students find accommodation and organise events, help them get internships, or prepare for entrance examinations. I have an Instagram page, @nmims_unofficial, which I use for lead generation. From there, I've tied up with some of the best hostels and student accommodations in the city. I get them customers, they give me a commission. I work alongside 20 other interns in my team.
Why did you do it?
I was tired of working for someone else. I realised that no matter how hard I worked, I was earning only a fraction of what I could make on my own. I was already working in a pretty similar field, in the sales team of a hostel company. So I decided to leverage the platform I already had with my Instagram page.
Biggest challenges?
I quit my job in May and decided to start this in June, because that's the season when students come into the city. I had to set up all the paperwork of the business within 10 days, from setting up a bank account to getting us registered, plus hiring people to handle the workload. The biggest challenge was not being taken seriously, both because of my age and because I'm a woman.
As a young woman, Kanak Murarka struggled with people never taking her seriously and exploiting her work
I was 22 when I started, dealing with hostel owners who were much older, mostly men, and running large businesses. Even after doing the work, they would deny numbers, delay payments, or try to settle accounts for much less than what we were owed. There were times when I had to repeatedly prove the work we had done, which I hadn't anticipated.
Point you almost gave up
There were several moments when I felt like giving up, especially after difficult meetings where I felt dismissed or disrespected. I've cried after meetings and walked out more than once. At one point, we stopped working entirely for two days because hostels weren't paying us fairly. But during that time, we received thousands of calls and messages from students and parents who trusted us and wanted us to continue. I was lucky to have my parents and best friend, who supported me in every minute step, that gave me courage to keep going.
Some daily actionable habits that helped you
Even before I started, I made sure I did something for the business every single day, even if it was small. I focused on understanding finances - GST, taxes, investments. You need to understand finances and legalities before you get into anything.
What advice would you give others?
Just do it [make the switch]. Jobs exploit you. I worked 16-17 hours with no overtime for'26,000 a month. A year later, I was earning over '1.5 lakh a month, sponsoring trips for my parents, travelling to Dubai and the US, investing for the first time, and living in a good house in Mumbai. One year and one good business decision can completely change your life - it did for me.
What did you do?
I moved homes from Mumbai to a small mountain village, Rakkar in lower Dharamshala, a town in Himachal Pradesh. Living in a city was really not for me and my nervous system. I am a chef, I teach cooking and Ayurveda. I'd made a menu for a friend who has a bakery cafe there 1740, and she said there is a working opportunity as well. So I thought, why not? We both have plans to work on opening a culinary school at that village.
Why did you do it?
Mumbai has always been about performance. Everything is so fast and it made me realise that this life was not for me. As a neurodivergent creative individual, I wanted to slow down in life. My mental health had taken a complete dip mid-year. I have been doing content creation since before it even was a thing. This year, I couldn't work on social media at all. I felt overwhelmed me and I started having social anxiety. All of these things built up my decision to move to the mountains and start life there with less of a digital influence.
Biggest challenges?
When my depression hit in the May to July period, I realised I was a huge homebody. Finding a house that was big enough to host guests and my private dining sessions was a bit difficult. The main struggle came about when I was setting up the house, as I had to do multiple recces to the village. I did find the kitchen of my dreams with a traditional chulha in it.
One of Amrit Kaur's biggest challenge was uprooting herself from her partner living in Mumbai due to work
Things were more challenging on personal front because it meant moving in a different direction than my partner who has to stay in the city for work. Uprooting self from the home we had just set together a year ago was really painful. This transition at first, tested me emotionally & later, upon reaching, my body had to cope up to living below 10°C something that tested me physically.
Point you almost gave up
The nights here get really cold and dark. It could be daytime in Mumbai, but it's already dark here because of the altitude and because it is a small village. Everything closes by 7 pm, which can be intimidating, if you're not used to it. So, of course, I would have times when I would question if I had made the right choice. But I can already see the change in my mental peace. It really felt like I saw dawn after a really dark time.
Some daily actionable habits that helped you
I journal regularly. I always have some sort of movement every day, whether it be through yoga, meditation, or anything. This year has been more about embodying it rather than only announcing it on social media. I was kinder to my body and definitely did not follow any of the fitness trends like running behind protein powder.
What advice would you give others who want to move to a remote area?
All of us are distracted in today's AI world and have short attention spans. It's no one's fault, it's just how we are evolving. I would tell people to get more real connections. Have an analogue life where WiFi and Internet are not always required. In this fast-paced world, slow down. Be kinder to yourselves. Just breathe!
What did you do?
I had a baby in April. During my pregnancy, I gained 15 kg. In the three months post delivery, at first I lost some weight, but then I gained 10 kg due to hormonal changes. After that I had a change of goals: I wanted to get back on my feet. The goal wasn't to get fit or lose weight but to get strong again. I picked myself up and started doing yoga, physiotherapy, and just building my endurance.
Why did you do it?
I now know how much energy a growing baby boy takes. Since I wanted a baby and chose to bring him into this world, I want to give him everything he needs from his mother. I want to show up for him and take care of him. I couldn't do that if I was just laying on the bed. Plus, it was not great for my mental health. I don't like asking people to do things for me so that's why I made up my mind to pull out of it slowly.
Biggest challenges?
Honestly, my timeline. I have the baby to take care of and my business as well. It was physically challenging, because even if I had to go downstairs and get something for myself, I couldn't do that. I had to learn how to walk again, how to use my body physically again. The second challenge was to actually show up. To go for walks. It was difficult for me. But my husband took the responsibility of taking care of the baby when I was at physiotherapy, and would question me if I didn't go. So that helped a lot.
Marzia Ali, after putting on weight postpartum, decided to regain her endurance with physiotherapy, cardio, and focusing on what her body wants
Point you almost gave up
I have my physiotherapy session at 5.30 am. Sometimes the baby would wake up crying during the class and I would have to take care of him. I was feeling stressed and wondered if I should continue doing it. But my husband stepped up and helped a lot.
Some daily actionable habits that helped you
I have always been a very organised person, always had a structure to my day. During pregnancy and postpartum, I couldn't have that. After the delivery, you enter a mental space where things just get difficult and hard. However, organising my day helped me a lot. Setting particular times to do certain activities, and showing up for myself improved my workouts and my days in general. It gets exhausting but now I am used to this cycle and working with a positive outlook.
What advice would you give others?
It is a new beginning. You don't have to have those 10,000 steps every day. Just go for a walk. If you wake up at 10 am normally, start by waking up at 9 am, then 8 am gradually, with time and patience. Don't set unrealistic, extreme goals that you see on social media. See what you can do.
What did you do?
I Wrote three screenplays this year after almost three years of not being able to crack the story. And I wrote it in a few days after waiting and mulling over it for so long too!
Why did you do it?
Screenplays are blueprints of a feature film that blends art forms of music, poetry, dialogue, cinematography, action, choreography, and editing into a single creation. I am inherently a storyteller. I love telling stories. So every storyteller worth their ink would always be fascinated by screenplays and I am no exception. So, for three years I had been struggling to finish the screenplays that I wanted to complete, which thankfully happened in 2025.
For the longest time, Prakash Gowda was stuck with the antagonist's arc in his stories, which overshadowed the plot
Biggest challenges?
My characters' development is where I got stuck at for the longest time. My antagonists began to overshadow the protagonists. I started justifying evil which is something a writer should never do. It took me a long time to keep it balanced.
Point you almost gave up
One of the stories I had clarity on, got pulled apart into different versions when I pitched it. There were about 8-10 drafts. I felt like it didn't remain my story at all. So I completely abandoned it for the rest of the year. Then a random thought hit me and I was able to go back to the story and add a different angle to it. Now, I'm looking to pitch it again.
Some daily actionable habits that helped you
What I do is whenever I struggle is that I pick up a newspaper or a book and I write an entire chapter or article by memory. I just write whatever I had just read without thinking or looking it up. And voila! You get into a zone of writing and the block goes away.
What advice would you give other screenwriters?
I'd suggest fellow writers to read screenplays, especially Hindi screenplays to understand the structure of the two-hour film and intervals and everything. And, of course, write. Even an hour of writing practice daily makes it worth it. Bus likhte jao (Keep writing).
What did you do?
I quit my job and took an intentional sabbatical, which I call being "unemployed on purpose". I moved back to India after spending six months working in San Francisco and decided to step away from full-time work to recalibrate, explore ideas, and give myself space to think.
Why did you do it?
I realised I was running on autopilot - chasing the Silicon Valley experience and financial stability without questioning whether it actually made sense for me anymore. I've been an entrepreneur before and sold a company in 2020. Once you've built something of your own, it's hard to go back to working purely for someone else. I also strongly believe that India offers far more opportunity today, both professionally and personally. This year also came with personal changes which made me reassess what I wanted from my life and career.
Pawan Rochwani moved from the US to Pune. PIC/M FAHIM; LOCATION COURTESY: Hippie@Heart, Pune
Biggest challenges?
The biggest challenge has been explaining my decision to others. People are visibly confused when I say I've chosen to be unemployed on purpose. Many don't understand intentional breaks or why someone would step away from a stable job. There's also the internal challenge of resisting the urge to constantly "be productive" or tie self-worth to a designation, salary, or company name.
Point you almost gave up
There wasn't one dramatic breaking point, but there were moments when the uncertainty felt uncomfortable, especially coming back to India and realising how quickly your professional network pauses when you leave the ecosystem, even for a few months. At times, it felt tempting to jump back into something familiar just for a sense of structure.
Some daily habits that helped you
I gave myself guardrails instead of a rigid plan. I spent time reading, writing, talking to people, and understanding what problems exist in India today. I'm running small experiments rather than chasing one big outcome, from hosting founder dinners in Pune to exploring ideas in healthcare and insurance. I've also intentionally picked up beginner activities, like learning the keyboard, to stay grounded and comfortable with not being good at something immediately.
What advice would you give others who want to take an intentional sabbatical?
Plan your finances first and give your break a clear end date. Financial stress can derail the entire experience. Be mindful of how you spend your time and who you
spend it with. If you have discipline and curiosity, an intentional break can help you step out of the rat race, reconnect with yourself, and rethink what you actually want your life to look like.
What did you do?
I worked for 10 years in the hospitality industry and eventually rose to the level where I managed a small team. But this was only with small establishments; I never got a chance to work with well-known brands because I had only studied till Class 12. I was stuck.
Punit Purohit had trouble finding jobs under good brand names because of his lack of education and CV
In 2025, I enrolled for a Diploma in Hotel management from the Institute of Hotel Management in Jodhpur. Not only did I clear the exam but I stood in the top three. This year cemented my dream to get another chance to rise in the hotel business. I did an internship at Marriott Jodhpur. My previous experience didn't count; I had to start from zero again. From being a luggage boy to waiting tables, I worked 12 hours straight each day and became the top trainee of the hotel. Right now, I am a travel desk concierge manager. After two months, I will become the official front office associate. I promise you, in the next five years, I will be a duty manager.
Why did you do it?
I love the hospitality industry; I want to help tourists with their travel plan, take care of them, help them with food. Rajasthan is perfect for tourism, but I could never make it to the big hotels there because I didn't have any proof to show all the experience - the establishments were too small for formal contracts, all my work was based on verbal deals.
For me, it was very important for my CV to show the work I was doing. That's why my wife encouraged me to do a diploma. She supported me and spent a lot of time and money on me.
Biggest challenges?
After a decade of work experience, it was difficult to sit in classes for six to seven hours every day among others who were just starting out with no experience. I had never liked studying to begin with, which is why I had stopped after Class 12. When I got the internship, things got even harder. It was disheartening to go back to serving drinks and being the luggage boy. I didn't know we had to start from the very bottom after the course.
Point you almost gave up
Once, I had made a mistake in my internship and I was moved to housekeeping for 15 days as a punishment. I had to clean the washrooms and make the beds. I called my wife that day saying that I couldn't do it anymore. I told her I was going back home. She told me, "If you want to see yourself somewhere respectable in the next five years, you will have to beat this." I went back to work the next day. But for every day of that fortnight, I would always go home crying about it.
Some daily actionable habits that helped you
I relied on my wife for the motivation to keep going. I kept my eyes on my goal which was turning my life around in the next five years and worked towards that.
What advice would you give others
You need to research and be aware of everything before you make decisions. I didn't know I had to start from the bottom in my training. But things will not fall into your hands. You will have to break your back and earn it.
What did you do?
I quit smoking in September 2025 after 10 years of smoking a pack a day. I had thought about quitting for the last two to three years, but the addiction won each time.
Why did you do it?
I'd think of how much money or time I'd save if I could ditch the habit, but as soon as my body felt the craving, my brain would logic its way out - if I need to save money, I can go out less; if I want to save time, I can wake up an hour earlier.
Ronnie D'Costa used to smoke at Juhu beach earlier, but now goes there to enjoy a run or snack instead. PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI
In 2024, I recognised a pattern: Smoking had become a mini reward for me. After every call or meeting or even after a movie, I needed to reward myself with a cigarette. This realisation was a very strong trigger for me; I cannot be hanging my entire time and all my actions on a cigarette. I didn't want to be so dependent on it anymore. I decided to quit not for time or money, but for myself.
Biggest challenges
At first, I bargained. I told myself that the next day, I would smoke only six cigarettes instead of a pack [of 10]. But when the day came, that six would turn into 10. I realised I had to quit cold turkey.
On September 6, 2025, the last day of the annual novena at Our Lady of Health of Velankanni Church in Irla, I felt an inner conviction that this was the day I should quit smoking.
The first few days were very challenging, I would wake up in the morning with a nicotine craving, which would continue through the day. It made me very irritated and groggy and I was constantly in a bad mood. I'd snap at those who were close to me. My memory and even my vision felt blurry, but I am not sure whether that was in my head.
After three months, I had a breakthrough. I started to see the benefits - I had stopped snoring, when I went for runs, I noticed I was breathing more freely. I save a minimum of Rs 5000 a month and an hour each day from no longer smoking.
Point you almost gave up
Just a month after I went cold turkey, I was also applying for my dream job. When I didn't get it, I spiralled for a couple of days. I kept thinking, "Just one cigarette". But I knew that one would turn into a pack a day again if I gave in. I told myself that I may have lost that job, but that doesn't mean I lose this one good thing I have done for myself. I turned to my friends and to food for comfort instead.
Some daily actionable habits that helped you
I used an app, Smoke Free, to track my journey. It felt good to see the number of smoke-free days turn into weeks and then months. The biggest achievement for me was hitting 100 days.
Every time a craving hit, I would replace nicotine with food - chips, chocolate, candy. But for those who can't do this, find a replacement habit - a game app on your phone, or chewing gum, or a call to a friend. That craving lasts about 7-10 minutes, you just have to hold strong.
I told everyone around me about my attempt to quit: family, friends, colleagues. I told them to bear with me if I was cranky, but also so that I would have more accountability. Everyone cheered me on, and even celebrated the milestones with me.
What advice would you give others
Find something to distract yourself from the cravings, and inform all your loved ones so you have a support system and there's more accountability. It's harder to let all those people down than if it was just yourself in the journey.
Finally, a lot of people think a lot about when they should quit. Don't wait for the first of the new year or the next month or your birthday. The best time to stop smoking is the minute you have that thought.
The best time is now.
What did you do?
I quit alcohol. It wasn't a dramatic declaration, more a conscious choice I made for my health. I didn't announce it, brand it, or turn it into a personality trait. I simply chose not to drink, every day.
Why did you do it?
The primary reason was perimenopause. I realised that post 35, especially as it intensifies with age, your body starts reacting very differently to things you once took for granted. Brain fog, mood swings, low energy. I didn't want to add alcohol to that mix. I initially told myself I'd quit for three months, just to see how it felt. Those three months felt good. So I kept going. This year was filled with travel, stress, medical emergencies in my family, and intense work. I realised I could either use alcohol as a crutch or actually show up for my life. I chose the latter.
Smriti Kiran found that socialising became very hard after giving up alcohol. PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI
Biggest challenges?
Socialising was the hardest part. Alcohol is deeply woven into modern social life, parties, work events, film festivals, even casual catch-ups. Suddenly, I had to reimagine my social engagement. Even simple things like figuring out what to drink at a party or how to sit through an evening without that familiar crutch were challenging. I didn't give up alcohol because I was struggling with alcohol use, so it was the smaller things that took more of an effort to adjust to. Drinking gives you something to do with your hands, something to anchor an evening around. The other issue, which is quite insane, is how much you have to explain yourself when you quit. Not that you are answerable, but just as small talk, no one ever asks you "Why do you drink?" But there is a lot of hush-nudge-whisper around why you might have quit. After a while I just stopped bothering.
Point you almost gave up
There were moments - once or twice - when I really wanted a glass of wine or champagne, especially during difficult social situations or moments of emotional exhaustion. But instead of being rigid with myself, I kept the agency open. I told myself, "If you really want it, you can have it." Every time I asked myself that honestly, the answer was no. Giving myself that choice without guilt or shame is what helped me stay on track.
Some daily actionable habits that helped you
I decided not to think of quitting alcohol as a forever decision. Every day, I simply told myself: "Not today." I also didn't make my journey public or preachy. I quietly focused on my health - consistent workouts, blood work, eating enough protein, and moving my body for at least 30 minutes a day. I separated fitness from weight loss entirely.
What advice would you give others who are also quitting alcohol?
Don't be hard on yourself. If you slip up, don't spiral. Just go back to your decision the next day. Take it one day at a time. Don't make quitting alcohol your identity or feel the need to explain yourself to everyone. A simple "I don't drink" is enough. Remember, the power lies with you, not alcohol. This isn't about becoming a new person overnight; it's about quietly choosing a better, more mindful life for yourself.
