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?

56 and feeling fine. I work 4 days a week, with some wfh days. I've always been into exercise, and do so 4 days a week. One of my knees has been annoying me for a while, but other than that, I feel great. Energy levels fluctuate, but overall I'm good!😊

Very true - although most of the eventful episodes were before 3 of us started working in hybrid pattern. I think the irritant would have needed to move on if we’d had to put up with him in person every day 😂

I'm am extremely lazy, but I exercise because I know its good for me mentally and physically. It creates energy as does not eating crap and drinking too much. I have bags more energy when I'm a healthy weight. I'm 54, so it's time to look after myself if I want to have a shot at a healthy and active old age. Naturally I'm a sloth who would lie in the sun reading and eating.

I do no formal 'exercise' as such - I have no time for it, so you wouldn't ever find me doing lengths in the pool, or treadmill running, or lifting weights or on a rowing machine, or any organised exercise class. All my exercise is incidental to life - so walk the dog, dig the veg plot, chop up firewood, muck out horses, walk them up to their field and back and then bring them in, walk round to my friend and walk back, even walk to the pub and back etc. If I'm late, I'd run!

Late 50’s, 35 years into my contract. Senior position in education. Exhausted.

I’m 57 and work five days a week 9-4pm, so it’s sort of full time but also feels a bit part time with the early finish - really helps.

I did make a conscious decision though about 4 years ago to take this job because it is low stress, very short 5 minute drive away and I do the job, then leave at the end of the day and don’t think about work till I go back in. It’s less pay than previous roles I’ve done but it’s helped my mental health and energy levels no end. I like my colleagues and am not the oldest person there either.

Teaching 10 year olds. Both DC now at university, so weekend time that used to be spent driving them to sport can now be spent on me!

How Reception teachers are going to hang in there until 67 is anybody’s guess…

I retired at 57, not because I was exhausted but because COVID & WFH made me realise just how much I hated commuting into the office and spending up to 12hrs away from home.
Spoke to a senior manager about the possibility of voluntary redundancy and was surprised (but very pleased) when they offered it so I got my pensions in order and went.
Am now living my best life with no stress and no timetable to worry about.

I’m the same, mid 50s really enjoying work and empty nest freedom to travel for more challenging and interesting projects and on path for next senior level promotion.

So, so knackered ALL of the time. I WFH and the only way I can get through the day sometimes is to have a lunchtime nap I dream of retirement or a lottery win.

Late 50's and WFH with own small company.

No kids at home.

Feel fine with good work/life balance.

Make sure I do daily exercise and socialise several times a week.

OH has some serious health issues.

Neither of us have anything like enough saved in our pensions, so will probably work until we drop

Interesting mix of knackered and not knackered here! And it looks like most of us can't stop until we drop. These posts are really interesting. I need a plan for the next 2 years I think as I don't want to carry on working FT but I am ok with carrying on working if it's PT. I'm wondering whether I can negotiate something where I am now. Hmm.

I've floated this to my boss recently but I'm only 54 and think it might be too early to take my pensions.

I cant take pension until 67 without massive actuarial reductions.

This. I loathe and despise al forms of exercise. I do it because I have to to keep weight down and for Overall health. I’d much rather join you in the sun with a book and some crisps @CampervanKween

This thread reminds me, I know a couple - live half a mile away from me and DH - who we met about 10 years ago. They are 5-6 years older than us, so were around 53 and 54 when we met them. They had been together 15 years since their late 30s, - her never married, him divorced in his 20s after 5 years married. They had lived together for 10 years renting privately. (1 bed flat) before deciding to buy a house. No children. They are not married.

They decided in 2013 to buy a 4 bedroom detached house - £275,000 at the time. They had £75K deposit. (£15K hers from savings, and £60K his (£50K from an inheritance, and £10K savings.) So their mortgage was £200,000. They took
out a £200,000 mortgage in their mid 50s! I think it was until they're 70! (So a 15 year term.)

I don't know what the repayments were for the first few years when the interest rates were super low, but they must be horrific now, with a high amount borrowed, and over only 15 years. Also, they work around 50-55 hours a week EACH. (Her as a carer, and him in a shop.) At 63 and 64. Fuck that for a game of soldiers. I don't know how they do it tbh. They have no time to themselves, and never buy anything new. No new clothes this decade so far, no luxuries, a 20 year old TV, and a 25 year old stereo, and they share a car.. 1999 Corsa.

Also, the house was built in 1996, and it still has the same carpet and decor and kitchen and bathroom and windows and doors as it did when it was built 28 years ago. Same carpets too. They are threadbare and manky, and the kitchen and bathroom looks a state. Windows and doors need replacing. Their mortgage costs so much that they can't afford to do anything to the house - or replace anything. OR decorate. They were forced to replace the boiler - 4 years ago when it broke. That is ALL they have done. The house is a mess.

I also don't understand why they needed a 4 bed house. Maybe a couple in their 20s or 30s yeah, as they may have kids. OR a couple who had kids who have left home, and may have (or do have) grandkids. They have neither kids not grandkids, and zero hobbies. No time as they are always at work. It can't even be that they want something to leave to their kids, because as I said, they never had any. Not together - OR with anyone else.

Why break your back working til you drop, just to say 'oooh I have a 4 bed detached house?!' Daft.

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I am not keen on exercise either but will start Pilates at home from spring as I hear it is more gentle than yoga.

60s and FT but the main breadwinner with a mortgage until I'm 70.

I was fit and healthy and loving life until a stroke last Oct which weakened one side. The meds I'm on make me feel ill and tired. I feel like I aged 15 years overnight.

I worry about being made redundant because I'd never get another job in my field due to age and health.

But I love working. I'd like to have more time to myself, maybe shorter hours or less days. Work would be happy to do this but I can't afford it.

Only another 15 years to go I guess 😪

@Motheranddaughter is your job sedentary?

I’m 57, work full time hours but compressed, wfh, middle management (so desk bound & stressful), mix of people my age & many around 20yrs younger.

I am permanently knackered & I feel old. I can’t envisage doing this for another 10 years until pension kicks in but have no real choice.

Oh to have the balls (and financial security) to do this
i literally laughed out loud reading this and imagining doing just that

66 and working FT. 9 years until the mortgage is paid so no retirement on my horizon.
I do have days when I am totally drained by the time I get home but I just have an early night and settle down with a book.
I don't feel old at work (although I am the oldest member of my team by far) and feel comfortable with the younger members, who look to me for guidance as they know that any issues that crop up I've probably sorted many times before!

I'm just wondering.. could it be that as we get older we just don't sleep as well as we did and that's making us feel knackered? I don't work at 56 but feel like I'm in my 40's due to strength training. But I don't sleep unless I take Nitol or similar, and on the days I don't sleep I feel knackered and old.

Be careful.. from what I understand Pilate is not more gentle than beginner's yoga, and can be quite brutal.

Mid fifties I was fine. I changed job and at 58 the osteoarthritis kicked in and within 8 months I was in so much pain. My job meant I was up and down from my desk frequently, and up and down stairs a lot (worked in a converted house so no lift). It was exhausting. I gave up work a year ago to be a carer for DH and I don't think I could ever go back to working unless I was WFH. I've just turned 60 and I'm having to access my private pension to make ends meet. I'll be ok as long as I don't live too long!!

My actual retirement age is 67, but I'd never make that with my health problems. Goodness knows how people will cope if they raise it any further.