Chapter 1: A Leap of Faith

In September 2019, I made a significant change in my life. I left a stable job I had held for five years in San Francisco and relocated to Austin, eager for a new adventure. Having grown up in Michigan, I felt a mix of excitement and uncertainty about starting a new role in a city where I had no connections. Reflecting on my confidence back then, it’s amusing to see how naive I was about the challenges ahead.

Unfortunately, my timing could not have been worse. I accepted a more demanding, albeit lower-paying, sales position in Austin. By March 2020, the world began to shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Surprisingly, my company thrived during this period as remote work surged, leading to increased demand for secure cloud software—our primary offering.

However, my team faced numerous difficulties. Despite my efforts, my position became untenable, and we mutually decided to part ways. At the time, I couldn’t see it, but this was ultimately a blessing in disguise.

At this juncture, my parents urged me to consider moving back in with them. For years, I had aimed to avoid living with my parents again after a brief stint at home post-college. I had often joked about my older sister, who had moved back in with our parents the previous year. Little did I know that many millennials would soon follow suit as a result of the pandemic.

The pandemic altered my perspective profoundly. I witnessed many friends relocating to their parents’ homes, and the stigma I had previously associated with this choice faded away. After living alone in a city where I barely knew anyone for a year, I was ready to embrace this change.

Moreover, the loss of friends to COVID-19 underscored the fleeting nature of life. I realized that my time with my parents was limited. A thought-provoking article from “Wait but Why” suggested that by age 18, many people have spent about 93% of their in-person time with their parents, a staggering figure that resonated with me.

As my lease ended in tandem with my job, I viewed this as a chance to save money and delay my job search. By the end of 2020, it was evident that tech companies were booming, and my sales role—though “inessential”—was in high demand. I decided to take a year off, believing it would be unwise to rush into another job immediately after moving back home.

I wanted to give myself permission to step away from the relentless job search and interviewing process. I resolved that any recruiters reaching out during this time would receive a polite “not at this time” in response.

Maintaining a job during a pandemic is incredibly stressful. My final months at my last position were the most challenging of my career; I found myself plagued by nightmares about work. Seeking help from a therapist brought some relief, but I felt isolated, with only one friend in town who wasn’t a coworker. Navigating social interactions was daunting, especially amid health concerns. Consequently, when my parents suggested I return home, I was easily persuaded.

What I discovered during this period was my capacity for hard work. I realized that if I could dedicate myself to my job, I could channel that same energy into my personal endeavors. Instead of striving for external validation, I decided to invest in my own growth. I was fortunate that my sales career had been financially rewarding, allowing me to save for this break.

In January 2021, I took the plunge. I resigned, moved back in with my parents and sister, and spent a year in a two-bedroom apartment outside San Francisco. While it was a delightful yet chaotic experience, I don’t regret it. It took about three months for my anxiety to subside, and I initially felt guilty for not constantly working on a side project. However, I soon realized I was trying to replicate a toxic work culture for no valid reason and instead chose to focus on creative pursuits.

In February 2021, my sister and I launched a podcast, which became a valuable learning experience in personal finance, relationships, and spirituality. I read more books that year than I had in ages. Although I was unemployed, I found happiness in deep conversations with my parents, gaining insights into their journeys from India to the U.S.

In 2019, I viewed living at home as a sign of failure, believing that anyone capable of supporting themselves shouldn’t rely on their parents. Yet, my parents were overjoyed to have me back. When I eventually moved out in 2022, they were understandably sad, but I knew it was the right choice for me. I will always cherish the time I had living with my family during that year.

The first video titled "Moving back home with my parents at 25" discusses the experiences and emotions of young adults returning to their family homes during challenging times.

The second video, "I moved back in with my parents at 31...now what's the plan?" explores the journey of individuals navigating life after returning to their parental homes and the plans they develop moving forward.