If you could give up work, would you?

[Esceptico]

This has been touched upon in other threads but not with a poll.

I retired earlier in the year (and retired early). I’ve had mixed reactions from people I know. Some have been happy for me, some envious but others seem perplexed that I don’t want to carry on working.

It seems that for many people your worth is intrinsically linked to work.

[greygoose]

I used to think that I would stay on a couple of days a week, but the last couple of years have made me re-evaluate and realise that you are a long time dead and enjoying life is more important than doing a job, so now I would leave and do stuff I enjoy.

[anonymous-user]

Right now? No. I am fortunate to do a job I love, with people that I enjoy spending time with. I worked really hard to get to this point and wouldn't want to walk away from it!

[Emily's dad]

I’m nearing retirement, and will have no trouble walking away from my current job.
Financially I’d be secure.

I wouldn’t be able to give up work entirely though, so would look for a no stress, part time job.

Edited by Emily's dad on Saturday 6th November 08:28

[nickfrog]

Retiring at 51 was a brilliant decision for me last year. Zero work related stress, more exercise (at least 10 hours of tennis a week, which is brilliant), more time with my kids, more travelling, more track days etc etc. I wish I had done it at 45 although the last 6 years of work have disproportionnaly helped current and future lifestyle.

[Spydaman]

I had a health scare as a result of the bowel cancer screening program. It turned out ok although have got an impressive scar and a bit less colon. It did make me realise how quickly things can change and if I want to do the stuff on my bucket list I need to get on with it. I’m now happily retired at 60 and haven’t been bored yet.

[nickfrog]

Spydaman said:

I had a health scare as a result of the bowel cancer screening program

Glad to hear you're OK. Is the program based on family history?

[Dr Jekyll]

I could give up work, but it would be a frugal retirement. If I can hang on another 10 years then a comfortable one. So it's certainly an option, especially since there would be a chance of odd bits of freelance work.

I had have a day off last Thursday and was bored by 9:30 AM. So I want to wait until I can afford to fill the empty hours with travel etc. It isn't a question of getting my self worth from work, although being useful by exercising a skill is certainly part of it. It's more that the job can provide satisfaction, challenge, even fun. If your work doesn't provide that you've been in the wrong job for years or decades.

[Drawweight]

I think it depends on your job.

I was a self employed milkman so was pretty much tied to my job. Holidays and days off were a nightmare to arrange. Going a year without a break wasn’t unusual.

So I was only too glad to walk away when I could.

[anonymous-user]

greygoose said:

I used to think that I would stay on a couple of days a week, but the last couple of years have made me re-evaluate and realise that you are a long time dead and enjoying life is more important than doing a job, so now I would leave and do stuff I enjoy.

You obviously don’t include your job in “stuff you enjoy” ?

I think the key is doing something you really like and find rewarding as a job and then finding the hours or work arrangements that give a good work life balance that allow you to also do other things outside work.

So to me it all depends on how much you enjoy your job and how much of your life it dominates.

Personally I wouldn’t give up work as I like it and it’s my hobby and I get loads of travel, which I love and time off to spend with friends family and hobbies already. My work also has very flexible working arrangements so many of the older guys are part time already rather than going for early retirement.

Seems to me people would be better off if they went into different careers they enjoyed more rather than doing ones that perhaps paid more but you spend your time working long hours in the hope of some future reward like better stuff or even retirement.

[hotchy]

The answer depends on the job.

Was I managing a top football club? I'd stay.
Was I stitching on the bunny tails to live models at playboy? I'd probably stay.

Am I in amazon picking up stuff to be delivered... I'd leave and attempt to get that bunny tail job.

Personally I'd leave eventually and become a full time coach for bball. By full-time like 3/4 days a week like I do now anyway. I love playing though. I want to be like the guy I played against in the second division mens league a good few years back when I was young. Playing against the masters team. A group of 50 years + anyway one guy who would shoot and not miss was on.... 92 years old. 92 playing against 20 year olds and holding his own. Cancer got him but he played every week until then. My hero. That shall be me!

[mart 63]

Retired last November at 57, bought a villa in Spain that needed renovating. Moved out here and spent 7 months renovating inside and outside. I thought it would be great lounging around my swimming pool, doing nothing. Got bored stless after a couple of weeks.
Fast forward to now, really enjoying it here. Started working a couple of days a week, play petanca a couple of days a week, in a pool team and don't really have time to sit around. I still have property and a company in the UK that I could just walk back into, but happy over here now.

[Bill]

Yes, although having school age kids means I'd be a bit limited in the travel front for now. I enjoy my job, get a great deal of satisfaction from it and work with lovely people. But it's not as much fun as cocking about!

[greygoose]

El stovey said:

greygoose said:

I used to think that I would stay on a couple of days a week, but the last couple of years have made me re-evaluate and realise that you are a long time dead and enjoying life is more important than doing a job, so now I would leave and do stuff I enjoy.

You obviously don’t include your job in “stuff you enjoy” ?

I think the key is doing something you really like and find rewarding as a job and then finding the hours or work arrangements that give a good work life balance that allow you to also do other things outside work.

So to me it all depends on how much you enjoy your job and how much of your life it dominates.

Personally I wouldn’t give up work as I like it and it’s my hobby and I get loads of travel, which I love and time off to spend with friends family and hobbies already. My work also has very flexible working arrangements so many of the older guys are part time already rather than going for early retirement.

Seems to me people would be better off if they went into different careers they enjoyed more rather than doing ones that perhaps paid more but you spend your time working long hours in the hope of some future reward like better stuff or even retirement.

I don’t dislike my job and I like the people I work with, however I would prefer to be out in the garden, driving country roads, tinkering with cars, going out for pub lunches etc. A colleague died at 60 last year before retiring and my mum died at 56 so my perspective has been switched to increasing my retirement years if I can.

[Esceptico]

Dr Jekyll said:

If your work doesn't provide that you've been in the wrong job for years or decades.

Or maybe you don’t like work?

Or even if there is a job you might like, how do you find it? My daughter is currently trying to choose a degree course but it is hard to advise her on potential careers as you can only really know what it is like to do a job after spending some time doing it. Not practical to try dozens of jobs trying to find one you like (for many careers you need to study a relevant degree before you can start work).

[anonymous-user]

Esceptico said:

Or maybe you don’t like work?

Or even if there is a job you might like, how do you find it? My daughter is currently trying to choose a degree course but it is hard to advise her on potential careers as you can only really know what it is like to do a job after spending some time doing it. Not practical to try dozens of jobs trying to find one you like (for many careers you need to study a relevant degree before you can start work).

I think part of the problem is that the education system is all about getting people into traditional jobs that benefit industry and the economy rather than things the kids might enjoy and be good at. School and parents constantly steer kids away from careers that they think aren’t that worthy or aren’t well regarded by them and into more traditional ones with more status regardless of whether it would actually make the child happy and feel rewarded.

Kids are then also often limited by their parents views and choice of careers.

It then becomes all about grades and university and salaries and working harder for some future ideal life where you’ll be happier and that your real reward for doing this job will be in the future that never quite appears. That constant grind for an elusive future reward might even continue all the way until you eventually give up or have to retire.

Sounds a bit depressing but it doesn’t need to be like this at all just encourage your kids to do what they’re good at and give them lots of different experiences and try not to limit them by your own world view.

If you’re doing a job which you don’t really love and it isn’t making you feel fulfilled and where you think about it being worth it in the future maybe even when you retire . . . genuinely ask yourself and your partner if your lives might improve by making a change sooner rather than waiting until you’re 50 or 60.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 6th November 08:42

[ARHarh]

I retired at 55, 3 years ago.

People asked what I was going to do all day? I said "What ever i want" Some understood some just said won't you get bored?

I can't understand people who have no interests and will get bored if they don't waste 50 hours a week working. Even worse if you class your only worth to society is working for multinational corporation.

I have plenty to keep me occupied during the average day, I am also easily pleased. A couple of hours out on my bike or walking the dog are perfect ways to fill my time.

[Alex Z]

Would I give up my current job? Absolutely.

Would I find an alternative part time job that felt like it was achieving something more productive? In a heartbeat.

[mike74]

I decided to (hopefully) give up work and retire at 47 earlier this year, I say 'hopefully' because I'm confident the figures stack up that allow me to do it but I suppose you can never be entirely sure.

The thing is I've not actually told anyone I've retired so as to avoid all the questions about how I can do it, how will I manage etc and to avoid people mithering me for favours now that I've got all this free time.

Instead I've given everyone the impression that I just fancied a change of career and fully intend to get another job at some point.

It's quite fun living this secret life of retirement that none of my friends and family are aware of.

[23.7]

Yes I did, people said I'd get bored (I didn't) people said I couldn't afford it (I could) it suits me

I think it depends on how you view work, I'd stopped enjoying it. My brother on the other hand was a big cheese, so lost a bit of his identity. He struggled a bit, and for the first couple of yrs took on contract work. As did my sister, summers off then working during the winter.

We all do some voluntary work though, I could get paid but with renumeration comes commitment and responsibility.