Originally published here.
2023 was the year I truly understood the meaning of burnout. When someone asked me if I felt stressed, my answer was always no, cause truly I am a relaxed person, and I have a good way of segregating my personal life from my work life. But 2023 was just a whole different thing.
While I kept saying I wasn’t stressed, my body was saying otherwise. Waking up constantly during the night, trying to keep up with work, having had little to no sleep while taking care of our firstborn son, just puts a toll on you that your body can’t deny.
After I’d had my secondborn and my maternity leave was over, the plan was to get back to it. I was so happy that 2023 was over, that all went well with the birth of my daughter and that I had time to rest and reverse the effects of burnout. I felt ready. You can imagine how eager I was to regain that level of efficiency and pace. However, life had other plans.
As the saying goes, when life gives you lemons, you learn how to make lemonade. After much reflection, I’ve made the conscious decision to prioritize my family during this season of life instead of job hunting.
But can I be completely honest? This transition hasn’t been easy. As someone who has always thrived in top-level positions, with a packed calendar and constant challenges, learning to slow down and savour the moment has been surprisingly difficult. It’s almost ironic — the very drive that made me successful in my career now makes it challenging to embrace a different pace of life. Yet this passion for achievement and growth is also what keeps me pushing forward, just in a different direction.
I know I’m not alone in this; I’m sure many parents have found themselves in a similar position. Maybe you’re considering pausing your career for a bit but are worried you’ll be bored to death (and I know you love your kids).
So, how am I keeping myself mentally active and still connected to the industry? Here’s how I’m navigating this new chapter:
- Pursuing a Part-Time Masters in AI — I’ve started a flexible AI Master’s program with recorded lectures and self-study components. This allows me to continue learning and keep up with technology while still being available for my family. With kids, especially young ones, unpredictable days are the norm — whether it’s school holidays or an unexpected sick day. Having this flexibility is a game-changer.
- Teaching Part-Time — I will also be teaching a few hours at a higher education level. This not only keeps me connected to the next workforce in the industry but also allows me to share my knowledge and experience in a meaningful way.
- Ideation — This is my time to work on some ideas I’ve always had. I’ll try to use any free time I have to formalize my ideas so that when an opportunity presents itself for execution, everything will be ready. Taking this break allows me to nurture creativity, refine concepts, and lay the groundwork for future projects.
Lastly, to all the working parents out there juggling it all — I see you. I know it’s hard. Balancing personal aspirations with family responsibilities is no easy feat.
So here’s to all of us, learning, growing, and making our own version of lemonade, whatever that may look like. 🍋✨