Anyone else done with work but to young to retire?!

[tinyangel]

Simply, by brain and body do not want to go to work anymore. They want to flit about the house, do the school runs and not concentrate on the things they should do.

I work a mix of remote and in the office, part-time, but have worked solidly for the last 32 years (older mum 😉) and feel that my brain has just stopped wanting to do work stuff. Zero interest. I've looked at alternative roles in my industry and also looked at a complete change of career but my corporate oomph has gone.

Could be the menopause, could be post covid but I am never normally affected mentally by issues.... anyone else?

Me too, perhaps in a better position financially to lots here but have not renewed my professional registration for the first time - nearly 58 and haven't worked for past 12 months. I can't bear the thought of going back to my specialism hence the lapse. My time is filled with doing some volunteering, walking and keeping an eye on our elderly parents whilst my husband who is slightly older is absolutely loving his job and works abroad a lot.

That's so interesting. I like my job and love my colleagues and get paid really pretty well (and need the money!). But I am definitely thinking is this it?

Weird as I've always loved my job but post-covid I just (mostly) feel like I can't be arsed with it.

I used to love my job. Really, really love it.

I'm 46 and have to remind myself that I 'love' my job.

I'm well paid so it would be madness to give it up. My DH is v stressed with his work. It seems the whole country is stressed.

I'm hoping it will gradually get better.

This!

They should never have messed with pension age.
I've just retired, I was counting the days and I had a lovely job, nothing to do with menopause as DH is retiring at the end of the year (early mid 50's) because he is sick of work too.
To make it possible we paid into private pensions- not a lot but it will last us until 60 ish when our work pensions pay out, downsized and paid off the mortgage, had enough left to buy a small rental property and have a savings account just for holidays.

Me! It pisses me off mightily that when I started work the retirement age was 60.
I’m mid fifties and still have over a decade to go!

Funny reading this morning of worker shortages some of it is down to folks taking early retirement

Me! I am almost 64 and still have two years to go until I can retire. I can't take early retirement as I will only get state pension, but I am so done now, I am not sure whether I will be able to wait another two years.

Yes me - I am 47 and just can't imagine doing another 20+ years in this job (even though everyone is lovely and the work should be interesting). I just am not motivated at all and feel as though I need to do something else but am not sure what. I think some of it is because I am perimenopausal. Am interested to see others feel the same and I can empathise.

I think as retirement age creeps up, the cost of living continues to increase and mortgages continue to be out of reach of people, plus the fact that people are more likely to have portfolio careers going forward; we'll start to see people taking one or two career breaks as normal just to have a break and do something different with their lives.

Meeeeeeee. I’m 40. Currently pregnant and ridiculously excited for maternity leave for the time off work, keep reminding myself there’ll also be a screaming baby in tow 😂

A few years ago I was self-employed and worked very little – just enough to keep the wolf from the door – and spent my time writing (that was the employment), swimming (lived by the sea), gardening, decorating, going on walks, cooking, reading, larking about. Basically retirement. But I had a tiny flat and equally tiny mortgage and gained a hoarder/needs space DP, and a baby, and suddenly found myself with giant mortgage and giant childcare bill and now I work in salaried employment and I’m in mourning for my “retired in my 30s” years.

I spend an awful lot of time on Pinterest and Instagram fantasising about a self-sufficient smallholding in the country, selling all our crap (who needs STUFF?) and earning the bare minimum to have more time to potter. DP unfortunately won’t hear of it: he likes a city and he likes a “let’s buy a new sofa on the never never” and “let’s complain about work while also increasing our outgoings to necessitate more work”.

Hoping for a lottery win or an inheritance from a distant European relative in the manner of an Eva Ibbotson novel.

I also liked my job but just felt a bit blah with it. Had opportunity to move countries with dh’s job and jumped at it. I was 44. Thought I would start work again but have not really - heart not really in and have been lucky enough not to need to. That was 13 years ago. Miss some things about working but overall don’t really miss it.

Can you say why exactly you are moving to France? I assume you're a fluent French speaker?

I had a ski chalet there for some years but could never actually see myself moving there for good so I'd be interested in your answer.

Me !

I'm looking into medical retirement.

Yep. I actually like my current job which I have been in 18 months so far but at almost 60 I would like to pack it in. Am off today on leave and having a lovely slow paced day involving coffee in bed, coastal walk with dog, pop to shop for bits and next a sort out for charity shop. Tomorrow I am planning a hair cut and possibly cinema alone to see Elvis. Sleeping better too.

I can see how (if you can make it pay??) people end up having second homes to rent as an alternative income source…

53 and counting the years to retirement. Mortgage paid off on modest home, but want to get ds(18) through 5 years of uni. Ideally we would move to a bungalow once ds is completely out, but it would put retirement back and I can't face it. That might be something I regret later.

Everything possible is going into AVCs to fund stopping before my main pension kicks in at 65 and government pension at 68. Just now I think I might be able to stop around 60-ish if we live frugally.

Look on the bright side. At least you will get to retire. By the time your kids grow up they'll have to work until they drop.

I agree that the last 2 years have taken its toll.
i think the change in the way we are working with so many people wfh has had a massive impact too. I know many people really LOVE wfh but it has changed things in the way work and relate to our coworkers too. Im sometimes wondering if the break/gossip/chat next to the coffee machine didn’t actually do more for people that we ever thought.

@ArtistViv I love the way you are looking at things. Working for myself, I’ve always dreamt I could do that. Instead I’ve always ended up feeling guilty if im not attached to my desk 9 till 5 🤪🤪 so I’ve never got that much flexibility for myself…

Me too! I'm the same age as you OP and I hate my job but can't afford not to work. I'm so envious of a school friend who decided to retire at 45!

When I was younger and before the world went to shit I always thought I’d advise my then-nonexistent kids to pursue creative careers and joy. My now advice to my real DC will be to skip any gap year and dillydallying, study a trade or high-paying vocation and ruthlessly pursue money right out of the traps, and stuff as much of it as legally possible into pensions and investments asap, with the goal to work the shortest time possible for the longest retirement. If I had a time machine for myself…

I've also been brushing up on my French in preparation for a very unlikely future move there.....

I'm another one who is desperate to retire and wish they hadn't messed about with the state pension age. As another pp has already said, all my life I have expected to retire at 60 but now I'm in my 60s, I can't get my state pension until I'm 66. I have 3 more years to go.

I will be living on my state pension, perfectly doable in my circumstances but until I get there, I have to work. I live rurally so there's little work, the only work available is in hospitality. The work is heavy, I'm on my feet all day and there's lots of lifting and carrying, and so many stairs..... My body can't cope, I'm too old for such a physical job but have no choice but to do it until I'm 66. My back aches, I now have problems in both knees, I have a prolapse too but I have to carry on in the job.

When I have a few days off and rest my body, I'm fit and well. Everything settles down, I stop aching and my joints start to work properly again....so I know it's the job which is doing this. I actually think it's unfair that the pension age jumped so much, I can understand moving it a few years but an extra 6 years...? I shall be a broken woman by the time I stop. If I leave tomorrow I would, and I wouldn't miss any of it....

** "could" leave tomorrow....

You've described me exactly and I'm only 30! I'm fortunate to only have to work part-time in a job that is very flexible, pays well for what it is, and that I can theoretically just leave at the door every day etc but I hate it, would hate any other job, have no "dream job", can't be bothered with people whatsoever anymore (like I HATE having to speak to people nowadays) and resent that it takes me away from pottering about the house or doing hobbies. We may be able to retire early-ish but the thought of even 20 more years of it is so depressing.