To not really want to work anymore?

[caranconnor]

I am 50 and although I have enjoyed working in the past, I would prefer never to work again. I feel I have done enough. It is not an option, I have to work for another 17 years. But anyone else feel like this?

How does anyone retire early? There's always things to pay for, bills, food, leisure activities, kids even if they are grown youd probably still help them financially to some degree as a parent.

Yes I agree the workplace has changed a lot in the last 30 years. Emails and the speed everything is required makes it all so stressful. I am always behind with everything and never feel like it’s under control. It used to be that you left work at work; now there are emails and mobile phones it follows you everywhere

Was it like this years ago? By years ago I mean early 20th century and before. Did people then wish to retire? Did they just get on with it? Were they happy? Is this just human life and always has been? Things are obviously a lot different now and this is our norm, but were they happy with their norm? Or is all this wishing we didn't have to work a fairly new phenomenon?

Hope that makes sense

I’m 62. Been working in Primary for last 26 years. I am find it tiring working with kids. Lots have emotional / behavioural problems which I find more emotionally draining than I used to. I’m not sure how much longer I can go on. I cut down by one day a week two years ago. Our lunch hour is cut to half an hour and three duties a week outside, no break before or after. After clearing up and setting out there isn’t time for lunch.the staff room is at the other end of the school so lucky to get a cup of tea.
Parents are often late and after marking and liaising with other staff and/or meetings I rarely get home before 5 pm and at least once a week stay until 6pm. Then there is prep and cutting out etc several nights a week.
I would cut down more if I could but it will affect my pension. I love my job but feel I have had enough.

@Soen I've got a pension that pays for those things. But I'm an unusual case.

The way most people would do it might be to become mortgage free ASAP and then downsize living off the equity until their pensions kicked in.

I would get bored & lonely & miss structure & contact if I stopped working.

I'm 38 and I've felt like that since I graduated and got my first proper job- not even half way to retirement yet. But I don't do my dream job's- it's something I kind of fell into and invested 10 years in qualifying for
It's paid well which makes it hard to move into lower paid work that I might enjoy more.

So far I've stayed sane with the odd job move- I've averaged about 5 years in each post so far. I can feel myself getting itchy feet again but am faced with a real dilemma this time as my pension is pretty good where I am- meaning retiring a few years earlier is a real possibility if I stick it out...

It's not so much that I don't like working, more that I should never have picked the safe route with a boring job at the end of it.

I'm 50, returned to work 3 years ago after 10 years being a SAHM, tbh I was bored to tears by the end and couldn't wait to get back. However it's a physical job and I'm bloody knackered! Don't think I can keep it up for another 17 years. On the bright side I'm mortgage free and have a passive income as well.

Running I think most people dropped dead before reaching retirement age!

Me too, I’m 53, fortunately mortgage paid off and I have a pretty good pension from 60. I have worked full time since 18, even when DC were babies, I feel done.

I’ve just applied for, and got, flexible working reduced to three days a week from April, and I can’t bloody wait.

Probably Haggis. So retirement wasn't a thing back then and it was just the norm to work.

Disclaimer: Only read some if the posts

I am also 50 and ready to quit or cut back my hours, whilst not disabled I do have some health issues and find it hard to work the 50+ hour week now.

I no longer have a commute and have in the past year cut back the working in the evenings, which seems to have gone under the radar with my manager, next I need to get under 40 hours a week.

This is going to mean renegotiating my contract and I can’t see it going well.

I'm 45 and would walk out of my job tomorrow if I could. I'm permanently knackered. And I have loads of other ambitions I want to fulfil.

For me I would get bored if I was off all the time but I'd ideally want to work part time even 4 days per week. Hopefully if mortgage paid off in late 40s I can do this

Completely agree, also age 50 and also not an option. I think in the past early retirement meant retiring at 50, now I think early retirement is 60.

I’m 61 and work 2 days a week, I started taking a final salary pension from a previous job at 60 so cut right down at work, I couldn’t face full time until 66 and glad I don’t have to but I spent a good part of my working life expecting to get my state pension at 60 and retiring fully

Me too op, I’m exhausted. Not even 50 yet. Worked since 14 as we were so poor. NHS nearly 30 years and it’s just a relentless slog and run by arseholes. Only had 5 months mat leave in that time, and full time hours all through. Makes me so cross to keep hearing how unproductive we as a nation are when we’re mostly slogging our guts out. I’m so envious of people who love their jobs.

Turned 60 this year and have another 7 to go - if I last that long..

If I have to have a job, this one is fine, but - I'm TIRED of going to work 5 days a week - and have been doing full time office work since I was 15 (that's 45 looong years, by my calculation ;)

I also would be living in poverty if I had to do the next 7 years on savings, so I hear ya!

Same here, I'm mid fifties and expecting to work til 65-67 but I've just had enough. I've been working since I was 21 with no breaks for kids. Commute is exhausting and basically I'm just bored of the whole thing now. Can't afford to give up work however as DH doesn't earn much. So just got to keep dragging myself up and out every day.

Makes me sad when I see women in their 60s+ who look as though they really do need to stop working and take life easy, but probably having to do so to live.

I reckon retirement should be at 50, let the younger ones take our jobs, and we'll have a higher pension in return ;-)

I'm 41 I work 23 hours over 4 days, I hope I never have to work full time again. I am prepared to change my lifestyle to fit my budget.

Gosh no. I'm 55, still working & have no desire to retire or cut down my hours yet. I love what I do. I'll keep going for a few years yet.

My dad got fed up of his job in his late 50s and moved into teaching it at a further education college to youngsters 16-18. He ended up really enjoying it and did that happily for another ten years. The change was good for him.

Me too. I’ll have been working for 40 years (minus 6 months mat leave) come next May. I’ve another 12 or so to go.
I’m tired and only 55. At this rate I’ll be too exhausted to enjoy retirement.
That said, I’ve enjoyed working (mostly) but it’s just relentless.

Maybe try doing something different? A change is as good as a rest :)

I retired in 2004. I am now 72, I love retirement, and wanted to retire at age 15. I loved my work but I enjoy my free time better.

I can recommend it !