Zakir Khan’s decision, due to health issues, to postpone the performance of his show until 2030 left his fans around the world unhappy. Arijit Singh, who had spoken about stepping aside a few months earlier, also cited the need to prioritize well-being as a reason for stepping back. These sabbaticals could be indefinite. What remains clear is that mental health is a growing topic of conversation, and that it is important to reclaim your identity beyond performance. This shift is not limited to celebrities. Indianexpress.com spoke with high-achieving professionals from the armed services to corporate boardrooms who revealed that they left their professions not because they could not make a mark but because they felt “something was missing”.So, what does this transition tell us? Is it true that success has little to do with the length of time you spend in a particular profession? Or that external validation can’t define inner fulfillment? The sailors who chose uncertaintyFormer Naval Officer Captain Gaurav Gautam, and his wife Vaidehi Chitnavis, quit their careers when they were at a high level. He had risen through the ranks. She had a successful career in journalism. With Kaeya, their daughter who was in school, life was stable and smooth. But something was wrong. Gautam remembers that “we were three individuals growing, but in three different directions.” Not together. Between desk jobs, school schedules and deadlines, family time was reduced to rushed weekends and calendar coordinated dinners. “There was no trauma,” says he. “Life was good.” “Life was good. But something was lacking.” Gautam says. During the pandemic when boat prices dropped and the world slowed, the idea returned, but this time with urgency. Vaidehi said, “If you have been daydreaming for long enough, then let’s do this.” In 2022, the couple quit their well-paying careers and chose to live permanently on the oceans. The couple say that it took them a few months before they sold everything and got their ducks in order to move onboard their sailboat. Story continues below this advertisement.Today, the family lives full-time aboard a sailboat. They are arguably the only Indian families to make sailing a permanent lifestyle. Their daughter attends a boarding-school in India and joins the family during breaks.Vaidehi & Gaurav on their boat “Reeva” (Photo: Vaidehi Chitnavis).How is life treating these two now? The first year was a real adventure. The second year was stressful due to mechanical failures and visa complications. Family illness, 16-hour days, and financial constraints were also factors. Gautam says, “When it rains in the land, you close the door and go to sleep.” “Here, you can’t. The boat will move if the wind increases. The pressure was overwhelming at one point. He admits that he would smile for the cameras, but “inside I wasn’t OK.” He sought out advice from other sailors and began breathing exercises and structured routines. The inner work was what helped the most. Their lives are harder today than they were before. Gautam says it is more meaningful. Story continues below this advertisementCombating grind cultureAnisha, a former reporter, is currently on a break (Photo: Anisha Rahore)For Anisha, a journalist, the realization came not from adventure but from exhaustion. “I feel that grind culture has completely overtaken India’s corporate sector,” she says. “And not only corporate. Even government offices are adopting a hyper-corporate mentality.” Late nights. Weekend calls. Constant availability. If you don’t answer immediately, you are irresponsible. It’s like asking for their lives if you ask for leave.” “You’re expected sacrifice your personal space, your rest and your mental space. When it comes to compensation or appreciation, this urgency disappears,” she says. The loss of her calling was what she found most disturbing, not the work load. Story continues below this advertisement. The work culture became so toxic, it began to affect my mental health. I was always anxious. Three years ago, she decided to step back. “Not because I was lacking ambition. But I needed peace of mind. It’s not weakness to step back. Indrani and her son (Photo by Indrani Chkraborty). In 2018, Indrani quit her high-paying job in marketing. Her husband Soumya Mukherji had already left his corporate role in 2016. They were well-paid and making steady progress. Story continues below this advertisement”We were always travelling. Indrani says, “Even when we were at home, we talked about work.” “Calls were never-ending.” It was taking its toll on our relationship. “The tipping point occurred after a seven-month project which demanded her full attention. When recognition did not follow, the emotional collapse followed. The next night, her husband said “Let’s get back home.” Today, they run Svanir Ecostay near Bhubaneswar in Odisha. It is a nature-based homestay that is rooted in community tourism. Just before the launch, Cyclone Fani damaged parts of the property. Covid then halted its operations. Savings vanished. “There were breakdowns. Tears. She recalls. Story continues below this adYet, she insists that she would never return to corporate life. “Even if I were given crores of rupees, I would not trade my life… Peace and a good night’s rest are priceless.” They now travel around Odisha, researching crafts, supporting marginal artisans, and raising their son among trees instead of traffic. “When you slow down,” she says, “you start seeing things you otherwise miss.”ALSO READ | Bikini model, weightlifter, and a gym ownerWhy high performers are choosing to pauseDr Rimpa Sarkar, a PhD in clinical psychology and founder of Sentier Wellness, Mumbai, sees this shift as part of a larger psychological recalibration.”High-performing individuals often have strong self-awareness and long-term vision,” she explains. Many are realizing that continuous output without recovery leads to burnout and cognitive fatigue, as well as emotional disengagement. Continue reading below this ad. According to Sarkar, sabbaticals have become more preventive than reactive. “Instead waiting for collapse, people choose to pause sooner to recalibrate energy and priorities.” Sarkar distinguishes between burnout and healthy disengagement. Sarkar says that burnout is emotional exhaustion coupled with cynicism, and reduced effectiveness as a result of prolonged stress without recovery. “The key difference lies within the intention,” Sarkar notes. “Does a pause bring clarity and renewal?” Or a further withdrawal?” She emphasizes that this shift doesn’t mean quitting your ambition.