IIT Delhi–IIM Calcutta grad's 1-year career break could not heal burnout, relationship. Until he realised he was healing the wrong thing

Sometimes, taking a break isn’t enough. You can travel, read, meditate, and fill your days with all the “right” things, yet still feel stuck, exhausted, or burnt out. That’s what Mridul Anand, an IIT Delhi and IIM Calcutta grad, discovered after a year-long career break intended to heal his burnout. His story shows that the real transformation doesn’t come from escaping life—it comes from learning to pause within it, shifting your perspective instead of just hitting reset.

Eight years ago, Mridul decided to step away from work, relationships, and daily stress. He called it a “pause” because the word “break” felt odd and was looked upon with suspicion. He travelled, read stacks of books, listened to endless podcasts, meditated, and tried to recharge every part of himself. But six months after returning, the fog, exhaustion, and strain were back. The break had restored him temporarily, but the underlying mental model—the belief that effort always leads to growth—was unchanged.


It took multiple attempts and reflections for him to realise the difference: a break gives distance from experience; a pause gives perspective within it. One rests you, the other reorients you. The real pause happens when you stop running the same mental scripts, step out of old patterns, and sit still long enough for clarity to emerge. It’s in solitude, silence, and honest attention, not in filling every moment with activity.

Through meditation, Mridul found a way to pause—not to control or optimise, but to befriend his mind. This shift allowed him to tackle burnout at its root and rethink other areas of life.