In 2022, after nearly 15 years in tech, Judd Antin left his role as head of design at Airbnb, aiming to embark on a new career path. He anticipated feeling liberated, but the absence of structured metrics and routines proved to be more challenging than expected. The demands of his former roles at companies like Meta and Airbnb had ingrained a work-centric identity in him, making it difficult to adjust to a life without constant expectations. Antin's solution? Finding an 'anchor' through teaching, which has offered him both structure and satisfaction that he previously gained from corporate achievements. Now, as a lecturer at UC Berkeley, he emphasizes that the journey to redefine productivity and usefulness after leaving Big Tech is not only normal but can be a worthwhile endeavor.