For years, Bengaluru techie Apeksha Jain, lived the dream corporate life: a high-paying job, steady promotions, and a salary of Rs 2.5 lakh a month. But somewhere between office deadlines, dashboards, cubicles and long workdays, she says she stopped recognising herself. Today, her life looks completely different. She earns far less, works odd jobs while travelling through the mountains, and spends her days serving chai, managing hostels, and creating art. Yet according to her, this version of life finally feels meaningful and deeply fulfilling.
Apeksha Jain, a former product manager with over 11 years of corporate experience, recently shared her unconventional journey through social media videos and interviews. In a reel that resonated widely online, Jain reflected on walking away from a stable corporate career to build something more personal and emotionally fulfilling. She explained that although leaving a secure job felt uncertain and frightening, choosing herself and her creative path finally felt right.
Quitting the job for art
She also spoke about moments that reassured her after taking the leap. According to her, when strangers stopped at her art stall, listened to her story, and appreciated both her work and journey, it reminded her why she had chosen this path despite the risks.
In a conversation with Hindustan Times, Jain revealed that her last drawn salary was around Rs 2.5 lakh per month. Over the years, she had worked with major companies including JPMorgan Chase, Accenture, and Wipro in Bengaluru.
According to her social media posts, she once worked on building loan dashboards during her time at JPMorgan. But eventually, the fast-paced corporate structure stopped feeling meaningful to her. She later described how, somewhere between “deadlines and deliverables” in Bengaluru, she slowly lost touch with herself emotionally. Instead of chasing what she called a “perfect life,” she decided to search for a more real one.
Now, her mornings often involve serving tea to travellers, interacting with strangers, volunteering at stays, and spending time in quieter mountain towns. She admitted that the lifestyle is not glamorous every single day, but she finally feels ownership over her life and choices.
However, Jain has also repeatedly clarified that quitting a corporate job should never be romanticised as an impulsive decision. In another reel, she warned people against walking away from stable jobs without planning finances carefully. According to her, leaving a 9-to-5 role without preparation does not automatically create freedom and can instead create severe anxiety.
Questions to ask before quitting your 9-5 job
She advised people to first ask themselves practical questions before quitting, including whether they can survive several months without income, whether they have calculated fixed monthly expenses, and whether they are financially prepared for emergencies, loans, EMIs, or credit card bills.
Jain also stressed the importance of building sustainable freedom rather than temporary escape. Her advice included saving at least four to six months’ worth of expenses, exploring freelance or part-time work before quitting, and creating a small income stream in advance. According to her, the goal should not simply be escaping a job, but being able to live peacefully afterwards.
Her mother's death
A major turning point in her life came during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she lost her mother, reported the Hindustan Times. The personal loss deeply affected her emotionally and forced her to rethink her definition of success, happiness, and fulfilment. After years of burnout and emotional exhaustion, she finally resigned from her corporate role in 2023 and began travelling full-time.
Before taking that step, Jain planned her finances carefully. She calculated expected costs for hostel stays, food, travel, leisure activities, health emergencies, and even added a 20 per cent financial buffer for unexpected situations. Once she felt confident that her savings could comfortably support 8-9 months of budget travel, she decided to move ahead with the transition.
Her extensive travel and 'fulfilling' life
Following her resignation, she travelled extensively through places such as Spiti Valley, Manali, and Nainital.
During this journey, she volunteered at hostels and cafés before eventually working as a property manager and team manager at various travel stays. The work paid significantly less than her earlier corporate salary, often around Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 per month, but it gradually became her primary source of income.
Despite the dramatic reduction in earnings, Jain says she has no regrets about the lifestyle downgrade. Success now means something entirely different from promotions and high salaries. She explained that while her earlier corporate life looked successful from the outside, it did not feel emotionally fulfilling internally. Now, even with a much smaller income and a far simpler lifestyle, she believes her life carries more meaning, peace, and personal satisfaction than before.
Apeksha Jain, a former product manager with over 11 years of corporate experience, recently shared her unconventional journey through social media videos and interviews. In a reel that resonated widely online, Jain reflected on walking away from a stable corporate career to build something more personal and emotionally fulfilling. She explained that although leaving a secure job felt uncertain and frightening, choosing herself and her creative path finally felt right.
Quitting the job for art
She also spoke about moments that reassured her after taking the leap. According to her, when strangers stopped at her art stall, listened to her story, and appreciated both her work and journey, it reminded her why she had chosen this path despite the risks.In a conversation with Hindustan Times, Jain revealed that her last drawn salary was around Rs 2.5 lakh per month. Over the years, she had worked with major companies including JPMorgan Chase, Accenture, and Wipro in Bengaluru.
According to her social media posts, she once worked on building loan dashboards during her time at JPMorgan. But eventually, the fast-paced corporate structure stopped feeling meaningful to her. She later described how, somewhere between “deadlines and deliverables” in Bengaluru, she slowly lost touch with herself emotionally. Instead of chasing what she called a “perfect life,” she decided to search for a more real one.
Now, her mornings often involve serving tea to travellers, interacting with strangers, volunteering at stays, and spending time in quieter mountain towns. She admitted that the lifestyle is not glamorous every single day, but she finally feels ownership over her life and choices.
However, Jain has also repeatedly clarified that quitting a corporate job should never be romanticised as an impulsive decision. In another reel, she warned people against walking away from stable jobs without planning finances carefully. According to her, leaving a 9-to-5 role without preparation does not automatically create freedom and can instead create severe anxiety.
Questions to ask before quitting your 9-5 job
She advised people to first ask themselves practical questions before quitting, including whether they can survive several months without income, whether they have calculated fixed monthly expenses, and whether they are financially prepared for emergencies, loans, EMIs, or credit card bills.Jain also stressed the importance of building sustainable freedom rather than temporary escape. Her advice included saving at least four to six months’ worth of expenses, exploring freelance or part-time work before quitting, and creating a small income stream in advance. According to her, the goal should not simply be escaping a job, but being able to live peacefully afterwards.
Her mother's death
A major turning point in her life came during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she lost her mother, reported the Hindustan Times. The personal loss deeply affected her emotionally and forced her to rethink her definition of success, happiness, and fulfilment. After years of burnout and emotional exhaustion, she finally resigned from her corporate role in 2023 and began travelling full-time.Before taking that step, Jain planned her finances carefully. She calculated expected costs for hostel stays, food, travel, leisure activities, health emergencies, and even added a 20 per cent financial buffer for unexpected situations. Once she felt confident that her savings could comfortably support 8-9 months of budget travel, she decided to move ahead with the transition.
Her extensive travel and 'fulfilling' life
Following her resignation, she travelled extensively through places such as Spiti Valley, Manali, and Nainital. During this journey, she volunteered at hostels and cafés before eventually working as a property manager and team manager at various travel stays. The work paid significantly less than her earlier corporate salary, often around Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 per month, but it gradually became her primary source of income.
Despite the dramatic reduction in earnings, Jain says she has no regrets about the lifestyle downgrade. Success now means something entirely different from promotions and high salaries. She explained that while her earlier corporate life looked successful from the outside, it did not feel emotionally fulfilling internally. Now, even with a much smaller income and a far simpler lifestyle, she believes her life carries more meaning, peace, and personal satisfaction than before.
