Why I Quit and Took a 6-Month Career Break After 10 Years in Design (And Why You Might Want to Too)

In 2021, I completed 10 years in the world of digital product design.

It was a milestone — not just of time, but of transformation.
A full decade of navigating design challenges, building products, scaling systems, mentoring others, and constantly evolving with the industry.

But instead of celebrating with a post or rolling into the next big thing, I did something most people shy away from —
I quit.
No backup plan. No safety net. No sabbatical label.

I stepped away and gave myself a 6-month career break, not because I was burnt out — but because I deeply craved clarity.

Why I Needed the Break

Ten years in, I had accumulated not just work experience, but also patterns. Patterns of rushing, reacting, over-delivering, and sometimes, under-reflecting.

As designers, we’re trained to improve flows, fix friction, and make experiences intuitive. But rarely do we pause to reflect on the experience of our own journey.

That pause was overdue.

I didn’t want the next 10 years to be on autopilot.
I wanted to realign with intention — and for that, I needed to disconnect from the noise, deadlines, and daily urgency that had become too familiar.

What I Did During the 6-Month Break

1. Marked the Milestone, on My Own Terms

Instead of jumping to a new role, I sat with the weight of the milestone.
Ten years felt like a lot. I went back to my earliest work, journals, and side projects. I revisited the journey from nervous early-career designer to someone leading teams and shaping vision.

That lookback wasn’t about nostalgia. It was about owning every version of me that had shown up through those years.

2. Gratitude Calls — A Life-Changing Ritual

One of the most grounding things I did was create space for intentional gratitude.

I made a list — mentors, friends, ex-colleagues, managers, even people I had worked with briefly but had left a lasting impression.
And I called them. Just to say thank you.

“Hey, I’m taking time off, and I just wanted you to know you’ve played a meaningful role in my journey.”

The responses? Unexpectedly emotional.
Some said it made their week. Others reminisced old projects. Some were stunned into silence — not many of us are used to being thanked without a reason.
But these calls reconnected bonds that were quietly fading. They reminded me how community, trust, and small acts of kindness are the true scaffolding of a long creative career.

3. Unstructured Time, Without Guilt

This was tough at first. We’re conditioned to measure time in productivity.

But over the 6 months, I learned how to be still.
I sketched for fun. I read non-design books. I painted again. I spent uninterrupted time with my daughter. I traveled without itineraries.
And slowly, I began to feel the fog lift.

I wasn’t chasing clarity — but in that pause, it came to me.
I saw where I had overcommitted, where I had settled, and where I had quietly outgrown some ambitions.

What This Break Taught Me

• You don’t need burnout to justify a break.
• Reflection is not indulgence — it’s strategy.
• Taking a break after a milestone gives you a vantage point to redesign your own career path.
• Gratitude isn’t just about being thankful — it deepens connections, heals old gaps, and reminds others (and you) that the journey matters.
• Most importantly, stepping away can sometimes be the best way to step forward.

Why You Might Need a Break Too

If you’re reading this and you’re approaching a career milestone — 5, 10, or even 15 years — I encourage you to consider a focused break.
It doesn’t have to be long. But it should be intentional.
Step out of the loop.
Listen to your own thoughts, not just Slack pings or strategy docs.

Ask yourself:

• What part of my career truly excites me?
• Which relationships or rituals have I let slip?
• What am I proud of, and what do I want to do differently now?

You don’t need all the answers. But the space to ask those questions will change everything.

Closing Thoughts

Looking back, quitting and taking a break in 2021 was one of the boldest and wisest decisions I’ve made.
Not because it led me to a better job or higher title.
But because it brought me back to myself.

The clarity I found during those 6 months has become the foundation for how I now lead, mentor, create, and live.

So if you’re at a crossroads, consider this:
The next version of your career deserves a clearer, more grounded you.
And sometimes, the only way to meet that version is to step away — and truly listen.

Stay curious, stay kind.