Embracing the Detour: Why I Took a Month Off After Being Laid Off

When I was laid off in January, my initial reaction was to immediately start hunting for a new job. I was stuck on my first reaction of being afraid of a future that was suddenly an unfamiliar and uncertain landscape.

I was devasted and frantic to figure out what I should do. I wanted to start sending out resumes and applying for roles. I knew that January was early in the layoff season and that taking time off from a job search meant I would face more competition for roles and potentially miss out on something that might be a good fit for me.

Then, I realized I needed to do make a different choice.

After this layoff, I needed to recharge my mental and emotional batteries and decide what direction to take my career. I also needed to keep a promise to myself that I made during the many hours I spent planning my trip.

Traveling through Japan and South Korea offered me more than just beautiful sights and delicious food. I let myself focus on living in those amazing moments and gave myself permission to “think about it tomorrow,” and I had some amazing experiences along the way. These experiences helped me to see things from new perspectives and reignited my passion for creativity and learning.

Here’s what I gained from this journey:

• Clarity and Focus: Taking a step back from my daily grind allowed me to reflect on my career path and realign my goals. I gained a clearer vision of the kind of roles I wanted to pursue and the environments in which I thrive.

• Renewed Energy: Exploring new places and taking a break from the norm gave me the mental reset I needed. I returned more energized and ready to tackle new challenges.

• Invaluable Experiences: The lessons I learned and the people I met during my travels enriched my love of the Japanese and Korean cultures I had previously admired from afar. There were many of challenges and misunderstandings along the way, and I gained to problem-solving skills that will influence my approach to work and life.

• Personal Growth: I grew emotionally and mentally from this trip, improving my resilience and self-confidence in how I face the ups and downs in my personal and professional worlds.

Sometimes, the best way to move forward is to pause and take stock. Sometimes, you need to take a detour that seems like it’s going in an unexpected direction. By giving myself time and space to reset, I could dive back into my career and job search with a fresh perspective and a renewed sense of purpose. I could also take the time to heal from the loss of what I thought my future career would be and the relationships with colleagues that would never be quite the same.

I’m excited to bring this newfound energy and insight to my next opportunity. I can’t wait to explore the new professional landscape that my next role will bring and the relationships that will develop from it!