If you're in your mid or late fifties and still working full time, how do you feel?

[IamRoyFuckingKent]

Because I'm knackered! Is everyone else? And do you feel old at work? Or are you surrounded by a lot of people your age?

I have been working FT OTH for a long time it feels and I'm starting to feel old at work. If you don't, why not?

I am so glad you said this ! Nearly 54 and I’m flippin exhausted after work. Wish I had the inclination for hobbies.
might feel better when the weather gets better x

I’m not mid fifties or F/T - 49 & work P/T and I am totally over it, I’m knackered, miffed I don’t get ANY time to myself and fed up a working along side cheesy sales people that are tripping over themselves to be looked on as the favourite & best.

56 and doing ok but I have got a huge amount of flexibility in my job. I am contracted for 22 hours but often work 50 if I am busy but because I didnt want to sign a contract for the extra hours I can be really flexible with what I work each week.

DH is 57. He is self employed and says he is starting to get quite knackered.

We finish paying out mortgage in a couple of months and the plan is that he will drop down to four days a week and I will start to take at least one day a week off (currently I officially have 2 days a week off but I usually work them).

Earlyish 50's.full time (termtime)Ta in reception class. I'm absolutely knackered both physicallyandmentally. Can not do this for another 15 years but not qualified to do much else outside childcare/education.

63, and love my job. No thoughts of giving up for a while yet

Nearly 60. Mentally exhausted at the politics which means I, and other members of my team, achieve very little. I am on my highest ever salary and can't believe that I work so hard to result in so little meaningful output.

Trying to get physically healthier in order to deal with the mental load better. Will have to work for the next 3 years at least.

Ha ha are you me?!

Nearly 60 as well. Felt a big dip in energy in my mid 50s and now like others much less tolerant of the politics/ bullshit. Went down to 4 days a week last year. Also WFH full time after local office closed down (result of pandemic). Don’t think I could cope with it otherwise.

54 teaching. Exhausted 😩

54; Feel fine.

recently moved companies and jobs into a new position. Loved getting into a new way of working and learning new things..

cycle to work, do exercise when I can fit it in. Generally don’t feel like I’m slowing down at all.

quite happy to keep going for the foreseeable. The only reason I have half an eye on retirement is I’d like to travel the world and do some hiking, off the beaten path type trips.

I'm 66 and I've only just reduced my hours, and working the equivalent of three days per week now. It feels very strange to have so much more time on my hands - but very nice!

I feel really lucky reading this thread. I'm 58 and work on average 27/28 hours a week. On my days off i swim, walk or just get time to myself. I'm not knackered at all. I've not had a holiday in 5 years and i was feeling sorry for myself. We could if i worked full-time but i value the time alone more.

Its swings and roundabouts.

Depressingly (I hate exercise) there’s something ru be said for this

But do they exercise because they are naturally more dynamic? Because that is my experience.

I dropped my hours at 56 then stopped altogether at 57.
Best thing I ever did.

I have not worked full time since before I had my kids (in my early 30s.) I went back to work for 16 hours a week for about 15 years, (til my late 40s,) then I went back up to about 25 hours for about 10 years. I am in my late 50s now and dropped to 21 hours a week a couple of years ago. (WFH.) But my DH worked full time right up to the age of 55-56 (he is 60 this year,) so like 40 years of it.

By his early 50s he was permanently knackered and weary and just generally fed up of working. He worked 40 hours a week, but some weeks worked overtime. He changed jobs and dropped to 28 hours a week, and he felt so much better. When he hits 60 he is dropping it to 21. Fortunately we can afford it as we have no mortgage and very low outgoings.

Most people at DH's workplace of 25 employees are 20+ years younger, but they are ALL younger... There is a bit of a mix at mine, but only 2 people out of 30 are older than me. 61 and 63.

Everyone should be allowed to go part time at 50, and retire at 60. I know that's me living in a little fantasy world, but that would be the dream...

/

Am 57
Work full time
Enjoy my job and feel far too young to retire
Still supporting 2 youngest DC at Uni ,so no choice really 😀
I do think working keeps you young in your outlook

I'm 54 and have an ND 12 year old. I am a lone parent. I don't work full time and am largely a carer because I have to be available. I'm exhausted frankly. I'm fit and well currently (exercise loads, eat well, but have had cancer within the last 4 years). Patchy sleep, menopause that is untreatable due to the nature of my cancer, a lovely child who is demanding 24/7. This is not how I thought my life would be but you just get on with it don't you?

59 and took semi-retirement from my large music teaching practice last summer, so working part time. I was ready for it and don’t regret it in the slightest. I have time to do other things, especially music for myself. I also have far more energy than I have had for several years. I have taught for nearly forty years and, while I have thoroughly enjoyed it, am ready for other adventures now. I hope to be able to do many more church activities as well. I realise I am in a fortunate position as so many people have no choice but to work until state pension age - 67 for me, my husband finally gets his state pension in July at 66. I really don’t know how people are going to manage when the pension age rises to 70 plus.

We'll go you!!

I exercise more when I’m on leave. Always say to my sister that if I didn’t work I’d be much fitter. I was really fit until 45 and a severe illness. Never regained it.

I only have so much in the tank and prioritise earning a living over exercising more. I do what I can, cycle to work for instance.

My energy levels have never been the same post chemotherapy.

I'm 59 and work full-time, twelve hour shifts and I enjoy it, yes I get more tired than I did in my 40s but I'm happier, just been promoted and taking on lots of new projects. I'm surrounded by people who were born after I got married and they use me as an agony aunt/work Mum. They tell me I don't act my age!

late 50s,
4 days a week
cant believe i have to carry on for another 9 years.
i think it is the time of year making everyone feel tired
i struggle to get more sleep in as i just wake up early!

@New2024 love your post -witty and made me laugh.

I'm heading for 60 this year and hoping to retire from the NHS as a nurse. Knackered but will get a part time job doing something else.

Interesting thread - and it has encouraged me to continue in my keeping fit efforts! Some days I manage to hit 10k steps, but have always been doing at least 6k steps with dog.

I’m 57, close on 58. Yes, knackered most of the time. Oldest member of our team, working full time, long days, NHS nurse. One of my colleagues has left to drop to 2days a week and she’s younger than I am! That’s what I want to do but can’t afford to drop hours, as I live alone. I’ll probably be working until I drop.🤷🏻‍♀️

Same!