1) Find a tolerable way to generate cash flow before you need it. Taking a few months off is probably a good idea, but taking 11 months off if you have a year's worth of savings will cause you stress down the road. I'd look at platforms like Toptal and Catalant, where you can find quality clients who pay well. And, many/most of the projects on those platforms are of the 15-20 hrs/week variety (ie that's the max they would want you to work), so you'd have time to figure out next moves.
2) Regardless of your level of physical fitness, get more physically fit. I'm not saying don't go to Costa Rica or Mykonos for a couple weeks and live a little...definitely do that (family obligations permitting). But generally speaking, anecdotal observation of MANY friends who have been through similar situations suggests that people tend to neglect physical fitness in these kinds of situations (especially if you were working out in a company facility). One advantage of having time off isn't just the volume of time itself, but the predictability of your free time. Now is your opportunity to get into (or further into) BJJ or Crossfit or yoga or whatever -- you will build a lot more camaraderie with the crew wherever you end up training if you go there consistently at the same time.
3) Somewhat related to exercise - find fun things to be disciplined about. Make a reading list and hold yourself to it. Devote an hour a day to learning a new language (computer or human). Not only will you learn more stuff but it's really helpful for your overall motivation levels to reset your orientation around "I have to do this thing at this time" to fun activities rather than drudgery.
4) Invest time in your relationship with your significant other/kids/dating life (as applicable). Most people -- whether it's your wife of 10 years or the guy you met at Starbucks yesterday -- appreciate a dinner cooked from $20 of groceries to a $200 dinner at a Michelin starred restaurant. If you have a significant other, they've probably dealt with numerous cases of "hey sorry I'm really stressed I just want to come home, smoke some pot, eat some takeout, watch Game of Thrones and pass out". If this was the norm for you with your previous job, time to break out of that pattern.
1) Find a tolerable way to generate cash flow before you need it. Taking a few months off is probably a good idea, but taking 11 months off if you have a year's worth of savings will cause you stress down the road. I'd look at platforms like Toptal and Catalant, where you can find quality clients who pay well. And, many/most of the projects on those platforms are of the 15-20 hrs/week variety (ie that's the max they would want you to work), so you'd have time to figure out next moves.
2) Regardless of your level of physical fitness, get more physically fit. I'm not saying don't go to Costa Rica or Mykonos for a couple weeks and live a little...definitely do that (family obligations permitting). But generally speaking, anecdotal observation of MANY friends who have been through similar situations suggests that people tend to neglect physical fitness in these kinds of situations (especially if you were working out in a company facility). One advantage of having time off isn't just the volume of time itself, but the predictability of your free time. Now is your opportunity to get into (or further into) BJJ or Crossfit or yoga or whatever -- you will build a lot more camaraderie with the crew wherever you end up training if you go there consistently at the same time.
3) Somewhat related to exercise - find fun things to be disciplined about. Make a reading list and hold yourself to it. Devote an hour a day to learning a new language (computer or human). Not only will you learn more stuff but it's really helpful for your overall motivation levels to reset your orientation around "I have to do this thing at this time" to fun activities rather than drudgery.
4) Invest time in your relationship with your significant other/kids/dating life (as applicable). Most people -- whether it's your wife of 10 years or the guy you met at Starbucks yesterday -- appreciate a dinner cooked from $20 of groceries to a $200 dinner at a Michelin starred restaurant. If you have a significant other, they've probably dealt with numerous cases of "hey sorry I'm really stressed I just want to come home, smoke some pot, eat some takeout, watch Game of Thrones and pass out". If this was the norm for you with your previous job, time to break out of that pattern.