An Autoethnography beyond Academia: The Embodiment of Motorcycle Maintenance

This autoethnographic account explores the challenges and revelations of cultivating a life outside academia. Through reflections on professional rejection, personal recalibration and the rediscovery of joy and connection through motorcycling, the narrative reveals how stepping away from academia’s relentless demands fosters resilience, creativity, reconnections and a renewed sense of self. Balancing professional identity with meaningful personal pursuits offers a pathway to holistic well-being, challenging the pervasive culture of overwork in academia. By embracing intentionality and valuing life beyond measured targets, this journey highlights the power of reclaiming meaning by bringing the “lived” body back into focus.