Girl quits government bank job to prioritise mental peace
A 29-year-old banker, Vani, has captured the internet’s attention after she quit her secure government job at Punjab National Bank (PNB) to prioritise her mental well-being. Her story has sparked a wave of conversations about workplace stress, mental health, and the pressures of traditional ‘stable’ careers in India.
Vani, who joined PNB as a probationary officer after clearing the IBPS exam in 2022, was posted in Meerut. While the job provided financial independence and respect, she said it gradually began to take a toll on her personality.
“I used to be a very cheerful, happy-go-lucky person. But in the last three years, I became irritable, quick to anger, and started hating the person I was becoming,” Vani confessed in her viral video. She described the role as ‘mentally draining and thankless’, admitting that despite the perks, the cost to her mental health was too high.
In her video, which has garnered millions of views on Instagram, she captioned: “Not all heroes wear capes… some just quit toxic jobs.”
Vani explained that she reached a point where she had to make a choice between financial stability and inner peace.
“It was time to choose mental peace over money. The happiness and relief you feel after leaving a place where you don’t belong is far superior to any regret,” she said.
Vani clarified that her intention was not to discourage aspirants from government jobs. Many, she said, may thrive in such roles. But for her, the environment proved toxic.
“I am not here to demotivate anyone. Everyone’s journey is different. For me, mental peace mattered more than a so-called secure job,” she added.
Her candid post struck a chord online, sparking widespread empathy. Many applauded her courage, while others shared their own stories of struggling with stressful jobs. Social media users called her move ‘brave’ and a wake-up call about prioritising mental health in India’s high-pressure work culture.