34 years until retirement…I can’t do it

[MyLovelyMuffin]

I am very lucky in most ways in my job, and have had it much worse in the past. The pay is good, my team are great and the work is doable if challenging as involved the general public and high responsibility.

If I am to retire at 68, I’ve got another 34 years to go. I’m 34 now, so I’m going to have to work that length of time (equal to my whole life) again before getting a pension and not having the pressure. Just the thought makes me feel exhausted.

How do people do this???

Why thinking so far ahead instead of enjoying now? You might die in 2024 and your job won’t be a problem, no?

Surely wishing life away like this shows you need to change?! Find a way to work that means you enjoy the weeks as they are lived not feeling the pain of years to come

This sounds quite depressing and miserable. What job do you do? and why do you hate it so much? is there any way that you could actually move and change things slightly so you do a job you actually enjoy or at least partly enjoy?

Enjoy life now!

Work is the thing that allows you to do the ‘real parts’ of your life- put a roof over you and your children’s heads, feed yourself and your family etc. if you can enjoy your work ( to any degree) and get along well with some people you work with, that’ll make it all more enjoyable.
also remember that almost everyone is doing this too, in the same boat

It sounds like you need to find a new job with a different company.

Much easier to work if you do something that you enjoy and feel you are good at.

You are still young and could even look at a new sector or starting your own business.

I would start making a plan so you are not stuck forever in the same job.

This is really resonating with me as my husband literally has a retirement countdown on his phone! I’m always telling him we need to make the changes now and who knows if we will even make it to retirement age?!

I really admire those who say to do something that you love. I don’t even know how to work this out or find the job I want to do. I’ve recently started a new role but already think that this ain’t for me, but no idea what to do!

How about condensing your hours if possible?
Full time work was too much for me to handle as I have a disabled Son that has frequent hospital appointments.
I found a weekend job, 12 hour shifts and due to shift allowance, I earn almost as much in 2 days as I would full time (£200 a month less than ft working DH)
Even if I could work ft now, I wouldn't.

I think maybe I’m a bit depressed. Reading these replies it’s quite obvious actually. I don’t believe my job to be the problem, I think it’s me.

Get strength from that. We can change our mindset. But don't labour under a job you do not like. Too many people have died from that. Change your mind. Then change your job.

You don't have to retire when the state pension kicks in. You can retire before if you've saved up enough into a personal pension pot. I'm planning to retire between 60 and 65 with a mix of personal pension and ISA savings then the state pension will kick in at 67.

If you're in a good job earning good money focus your efforts on retiring before you're 68 ie don't rely on the state pension

Why are you bored? It's a genuine question. Did you plan your early retirement? Do you have enough cash to enjoy it and do things?

I ask because I semi-retired 4 months ago, and, apart from my now one day a week at work, I lie in, scrolling, til noon every day. 😳

Changing company every few years really does make it go quicker and as someone else said as you get older time really does seem to go a lot quicker.
Could you afford to take a sabbatical in a few years for 1 year and maybe do something different like travel or just take time out, this would give you something to look forward to.
Also is it a possibility you could retire early?
Im 48 and although I don’t hate work I can’t imaging working after 60, as it is I’m one of the oldest in the office and can’t even imagine who will want to hire me beyond 55 even though I have a professional qualification and years of experience in my field, quite frightening really.
Im trying to save quite a bit in the hopes I can retire early ish.

Don't wish your life away!! Live in the here and now!!

Before you know it - your retirement will be tapping you on the shoulder!!

I felt the same at 34, but 10 years on it has definitely gone much quicker than the previous 10 years. My husband is 14 years older than me so I think I will get fed up once he retires though that I still have to work

I’m 35 and I feel the same. I’ve tried LOADS of jobs in different industries and I FUCKING HATED EVERY SINGLE ONE. I work term time now so that I can have time off more frequently. Still despise it. I am soooooooo happy in the 6 week summer holidays. Work does depress me absolutely but hey Ho… bills!

Retirement age is set at the age it's deemed unreasonable to expect a person to work due to ageing and all it brings with it. It's not a reward for working for x years as such.

I am a similar age to you OP and expecting we will be able to retire with the state pension is very optimistic! Unfortunately I think the age will be way into the 70s by the time we get there. That thought frustrates me too, but wishing your life away to get to your 60s and retire is ridiculous. You could die before that age and never get there, anything could happen:

You need to get a job you like or at least gives you motivation of some sort. I actually know a few 70+ year olds still working part time because they enjoy their jobs and don't want to stop. It is possible to enjoy your job, even if it can be tiring sometimes.

I'd also advise planning financially even at this age - if you have a good employer pension you should utilise that. Personally I'm concentrating on the mortgage at the moment, as getting that debt down frees up money for the future.

Remember, you may not ish for retirement but i'm sure many retirees wish they were 34 again. Don't wish your life away!

You are young enough that this advice can have a proper impact: start saving as much as you can into a private pension. I am late 50s and never gave any thought to my pension until a few years ago. I mean, I have one, but it will not be enough to live on. Fortunately, I have other investments and my dh has paid more into his so we will be alright, but honestly, we are worn out and would like to retire ASAP, certainly don't want to wait until 67. I really wish I had thought about my pension when I was 34. If youdo something about it now, you won't have to wait for state pension age to retire. Loads of people my age are now retired.

@canwetalkaboutcake

It isn’t always possible to enjoy your job though. I can’t even tell you how many different jobs I’ve tried in various different industries. I’ve worked in the private/state and voluntary sector and I can assure you I’ve hated every single one. Okay granted it’s a bit tough and I have to get on with it, but it isn’t always possible to find something you “like”. Sometimes that has to reframed to

“find something you can at least bare… find something bareable”.

Well don't! Do something different. Decrease your hours, or do a 4 day week with compressed hours either temporarily or permanently. Find a hobby or a passion and pursue it. See where it leads. Start with tweaks. Discover what you enjoy and what brings you purpose. Eventually your hobby might lead you on a new path to something more fulfilling. Life is for living and you should live it whilst you can.

At the very least take a sabbatical if you can. House swap. See if you can work remotely. I don't wish to depress you but I have had several friends pass away shortly before or just after retirement. It seemed such a waste.

You won’t be in the same job for 34 years. What else do you enjoy in life? can you afford to go part at time? You sound a little burnt out. People I know often leave their ‘big’ careers and do something a bit different or slower until official retirement.

OP, I hope you're OK well being wise, as you alluded to above. Aside from that,the state pension age is 68, but you can retire any time you like before that. You've got lots of time to financially plan, look up the FIRE movement (Financial Independence Retire Early) and follow some blogs. Regardless of whether you enjoy your job or not, start gearing yourself into a position where you can choose how to work in the future. I'm 54, but at 38 I started to wake up, and thought about not wanting to sleep walk into working to state pension age. I should stop work, or at least being able to choose what I want to do in the next 4 years. There's more to life than working, but don't wish your life away and enjoy the journey. Good luck. FIRE!

I have 46 years OP. Incomprehensible to me. That’s more than double what I’ve already lived. The vast majority of my life so far has been childhood. I can’t imagine working 46 more years whilst adulting & I ADORE my job, I really do- I love it. But 46 years. Omg.

Sorry OP I know that was unhelpful! There’s so many of us in the same boat. I think you’ve just got to make the best of it and do something you enjoy, which will make it feel easier x