If you didn't need to work, what would you do??

[NewFriday]

I'm 53 and financially I could retire. I have a decent job that I enjoy some of the time, but also find at times frustrating and others boring. It gives me quite a bit of status, which I do enjoy

I think the fact that I know I don't need to do it, doesn't help. Knowing you need to do it for the money probably keeps most of us going more than we realise at the time.

So I'm starting to seriously think about retirement, but where do you get that sense of value and importance, the feeling that you're needed from if not work?

I've done some volunteering in the past and whilst it fills time, I never felt it gave the same sense of achievement as worthwhile work, you're always just helping out rather than doing iyswim.

If you could retire young and fit, would you and what would you do instead of work?

I’d cut down on my hours to the lowest amount possible just to give my week some structure. Then I’d spend my days cooking, exercising, going for walks/swimming, reading books, going out for coffee. I’m sure it would get boring pretty quickly but it sounds like heaven to me!

We're looking to retire in a few years time at 56. I expect to spend it travelling, caravanning, walking, attending gym classes, cinema, theatre etc.

Study, workout and travel if I could afford it.

Volunteer at a charity - so many charities are struggling now

I’d get a proper routine of exercise. So build an exercise activity into at least 4 days of my week.

I would volunteer. I know what you mean about volunteering some times seeing like helping out, but I think that depends on where/how your volunteer. Some roles you can see the impact more.

I would do something creative too - possibly an art course.

id also probably spend more time cooking and making food I enjoy.

Hmm, this is how I saw retirement until DH died and whilst it's possible to do it all alone, it doesn't have quite the same appeal, not for an extended period anyway.

I also not sure if long term it would be very satisfying.

My friend linked up with a couple of retired friends to do a Tuesday outing every week. Every Tuesday they find somewhere to go- usually a musuem or walk around a new town. Never too far or too expensive but gives some routine to the week.

I volunteer with Scouts and am on charity board.

When I give up full time work to I will maybe add another charity board and lots of travel.

Exercise and walk rescue dogs and my local dog rescue.

Sorry to hear that and I definitely get where you are coming from. It had crossed my mind that I'd struggle if I ended up alone. I guess the question to ask is what you do in your down time now - can you extend on that? What about your job - does your experience lend itself to taking a non executive post on a board? That's something else I'm considering. My plan is to try and up my hobbies over the next few years so that I'm confident I'll have enough to occupy my time once I retire. My husband is happy in his own space at home whereas I know I'll need to be kept busier or I will hate it.

I don’t need to work now but I choose to.
I have had periods when I didn’t and I walked the dog, did a bit of volunteering, read lots. Was never bored really.
If I didn’t work now I would just chill out I think, although I wouldn’t enjoy it as much as I did before DH wfh. Probably do a bit of volunteering again (animal related) and maybe apply to be a Magistrate or similar

I’m a school governor. It’s frustrating at times but incredibly rewarding and in some ways feels like the most worthwhile part of my career.

I’d love to focus on exercise and fitness, probably joining a gym/pool & going most days. I love hiking so would join a group & plan some big hikes around Europe. Also holidays, skiing, cinema, theatre, eating out, reading.

I would study, probably do some research linked to my current job. I think studying can give you a sense of purpose. Would something like that suit?

Do you have to do one or the other - could you go part time and get the best of both worlds? I’m the same age as you and beginning to think of retirement, but I’m going to do it as a process spanning a few years where I fill my time off with dog walking, meeting friends, reading, gardening etc, but work part of the week to give me everything that I enjoy about being in paid employment. Then at some point in the future when I’m ready I’ll retire completely.

I crave routine and for various child and work reasons can't have it until I retire/win the lottery. So I would have a routine, with regular exercise including a class or two.

I would write (in a regular routine, every day, bliss). I used to think I would want to do a PhD, all that time to do research into something I am interested in. Now I have an idea for a book that would need a couple of years research then a couple more writing.

I also love sewing, quilts, useful things like cloths and bags.

And I like the idea of volunteering in one of my many local charity shops.

Then there are all the museums and galleries and stuff I never have time to go see.

At your age I will have to factor in some caring for aged parents, and def helping / take over their student let.

And I want a cat

I have thought about that but I'm not sure it is the best of both worlds? I worked PT when DC were.yiung and never felt properly involved and you're still tied to work so don't have flexibility to just up and go.

I'd stage a couple on the allotment committee because the current president is a racist, sexist bigot who shoots pigeons.
Work on my allotment, volunteer a day a week at the library, possibly also write for the local newspaper.
Continue to help with prep groups for prospective adopters.
visit lots of places in the UK I've never seen before - never been to the North East and South East coasts, Northern Ireland, Ireland, most of Scotland.

Would love to volunteer at a cat rescue place. Love cats x

In your shoes I'd be thinking less about retirement and more about a new job (PT?) that gives you more of the things you like about your current one. You don't sound remotely ready for retirement. Hard to say more without knowing what you do.

I have recently done just this I am very busy. Lots of friends to meet yo with for lunch or coffee. Engage in new hobbies no regrets

I didn't actually answer your questions

Sense of value - from me, I guess, I am okay with doing what I want.
Would I retire young and fit - yes. And that's from a job of meaningful work (by which I mean, helping make the world a bit better for some people) - I still don't value my contribution to that as much as my freedom to do what I want without having to make money.

I don't need to work financially but I do for my sanity/self-esteem...having had long periods as a SAHM where I filled time with loads of volunteering, I had reached a point where I felt I had to reign it back. Volunteering is great but sometimes you can start feeling quite negative about yourself if you do too much of it - if you're always the one volunteering with the PTA/church groups/Scouts/Guides etc people can start to despise you a little bit. Well that's how I felt, anyway, after 10 years + of it.

Now I work, my self-esteem is so much healthier, even though I don't work in my original career field and earn comparatively little for what is essentially school admin. But I love the environment and the people and it is a low-stress job compared to my original career. I do four hours a day which leaves me plenty of time for housework, home admin, catching up with friends, kids stuff and hobbies etc. At the moment it's the perfect balance.

So OP I would say, consider retiring from your current job and finding something that gives you enough time to pursue hobbies etc whilst also allowing you to have some structure to your day.

As others have said, volunteering can vary a lot. I volunteer for Cruse and they really treat volunteers like valued professionals, there are lots of opportunities for CPD and to progress. I work as well, but lots of people are retired and do quite a bit per week.

I have also been a school governor and agree it's an incredibly useful role and schools really need competent committed governors.

I retired at 57 (i was made redundant)... i'm 3 years in now and after the buzz of not working faded, i missed the status and meaning of work but that went too... i'm lucky that i have some land, i ve learnt to use a chainsaw for the log burner (took a class) i do dog walking for a friend, lots of cycling, took up running, DIY got some power tools and classes in wood work and basic plumbing, fruit tree growing and grafting, holidays in Europe twice a year but long ones.

My time is my own and i would never in a million years work again.

However, if i didn't have the land, i think i would get bored.