Today marks two distinct milestones: my 75-day writing streak and my two-month anniversary at my new job. This achievement, measured in days of consistent productivity, feels like the perfect time to reflect on the move that made it possible.

I left my previous role after realizing I was in a slow, creeping state of burnout, masked by a feeling of under-utilization and chronic boredom, 4 years later. I loved my team and the work but every passing iteration, the boredom grew. It felt like standing at the foot of a mountain I needed to climb, but every time I looked at it, the mountain just appeared bigger, impossible to break in and unwelcoming. I kept going back for a “second chance,” but the feeling persisted and the mountain turned impossible. I had to move.

The Rebound Trap vs. The Intentional Pivot

When I finally made up my mind, the first hurdle wasn’t the logistics; it was the sheer mental exhaustion. I dreaded interviews. I felt too mentally tired to sell myself, but I knew putting myself out there was the only way to break the cycle.

This is where the LinkedIn post I came across about the “rebound job” hit hard. The definition is brutal:

You’re miserable where you are, so you take the first opportunity that looks like the opposite… It feels great… until you realize you weren’t running toward something, you were just running away.

I was absolutely running away from burnout and boredom. The move started with a negative catalyst. Did I fall into the rebound trap?

The Baseline Test

The author from the above LinkedIn post, Molly Graham, offered a simple way to test it: “Can you describe the new role without referencing your old one?”

I admit, before signing the offer, I absolutely compared the old job with the new one. Was that a mistake? Was that the rebound talking?

I don’t think so. I had to have a baseline. If I’m looking for a new role, I need a frame of reference. The mistake isn’t comparing; the mistake is letting the comparison be the only reason you take the job.

I wasn’t in a hurry. I gave myself time. I defined what I wanted: scope, opportunity to demonstrate impact, a fresh space to breathe. This was the “running toward” piece. The interviews convinced me I was ready and, more importantly, that the new role offered the exact opportunities I was seeking.

Passing the Spirit of the Test

After accepting, I remember telling former colleagues how genuinely excited I was about the new role. Weeks into the new job, I was happy. I truly was. I did mention differences, when ex-colleagues checked-in, “this is not the same as the old workplace,” I’d say, but only to establish that I had successfully found a good place, a better fit for my defined needs.

Two months in, my self-assessment is clear: I am passing the test.

• The Description: Today, I describe my job by focusing on the projects, the challenges, and the scope and impact I have. I talk about what I am building and what I am learning. I don’t need to describe it as “not boring”.
• The Evidence: The 75-day writing streak is the physical manifestation of my recovered mental energy. I am productive again. I successfully drove away the burnout. I have scope, impact, and more than I could ask for in terms of engagement.

I began by running away from the mountain, but I paused, set my coordinates, and pivoted to running toward a goal I clearly defined. The new job isn’t a life raft that just kept me afloat; it’s a ship that’s sailing exactly where I hoped it would.

Time will tell how all of this will turn out, as it always does. For now, I am enjoying the productivity, the challenge, and the fresh space to breathe. I could not be happier.