The Start of the Second Half of 2025: Resignation

It’s been a while since I last wrote.

Life has brought some big changes in the meantime. I got married, went on a dreamy honeymoon to the Maldives, and, after four and a half years, I left my job at an edu-tech company with a bittersweet heart.

I’ve often wondered what it would feel like to quit, but my answer was always, “I won’t know until I experience it.”

After pouring my all into the first half of 2025, I officially became unemployed on July 1st, the first day of the second half. Knowing my personality, lying around at home would probably make me anxious and lethargic, so I considered going somewhere on my first day of freedom. But, as expected, resting felt like the right choice for day one. Let me reflect on what I did today.

What I Did Today

1. Prayed with my husband in the morning
2. Lounged on the sofa scrolling on my phone
3. Received a promising job offer over the phone from a company I’d nearly given up on
4. Made and ate potato pancakes
5. Talked with my parents on the phone
6. Chatted with my cousin on KakaoTalk
7. Planned a trip with my parents
8. Took a nap (not on purpose)
9. Booked flights and accommodations
10. Folded laundry
11. Shopped for groceries online
12. Cooked and ate 순두부찌개(=soft tofu stew) using a meal kit
13. Did the dishes (thank you, dishwasher!)
14. Sorted recycling
15. Wrote this essay

I thought I hadn’t done much, but looking at the list, I accomplished quite a bit.

I feel a little proud. I also started thinking about what I want to do during this break.

 

Things I Want to Do During My Break

1. Pray every day
2. Write every day
3. Talk to “Bruno” every day (+ Read the report Bruno generated)
4. Watch a movie alone at the Yongsan IMAX
5. Study SQL on an online platform
6. Look into English conversation classes
7. Prepare for the OPIc test
8. Get chuna therapy
9. Take profile and ID photos
10. Get a manicure
11. Renew my driver’s license
12. Knit something - maybe a scrunchie
13. Finish editing my backlog of travel videos (1️⃣Chiang Mai, 2️⃣honeymoon, 3️⃣Jeju)
14. Follow up with people who gave me their business cards (not too late!)
15. Visit lots of showrooms (e.g. furniture, clothes, craft, ornament, decor)
16. Travel with my parents
17. Travel with my husband
18. Bake scones for my husand and his team members
19. Read books at a bookstore

I probably have about a month or so left to rest.

I need to figure out which tasks are harder to start if I don’t do them during this break and prioritize them wisely. During my last tea time with my team leader, she told me that setting priorities and tackling tasks one by one is crucial not just for work but for life. I want to make the most of this break by setting clear priorities and enjoying each day to the fullest.

 

my husband prepared for me :)