To suddenly not want to work anymore?

[MasterGland]

I want to sit at home with my cats and read books. Perhaps bake occasionally, play board games with my son. Weed the garden.
I have realised that I can easily fill my days with these things. They make me happy. I am really struggling with motivation at work. I used to be quite career oriented, but now I keep calculating the minimum I need to retire, and how I might do it as soon as possible.
It is a sudden change for me, and not sure if it is related to the current lockdowns... but have not directly been affected by them really as worked straight through both. Anyone else had a sudden change of heart about the pursuit of endless work?

YANBU... I used to be really career oriented but I'm over it frankly. My priorities are so different now but I like a certain lifestyle.

I run my own business, which I hear a lot of people say they’d like to do. The problem is that after many years of doing what I love and working long and often antisocial hours, I’m so tired and burnt out. Then this year came along and has been a total nightmare (as it has for most people). It has really finished me off.

That sounds lovely I'm so happy for you. Work can make us forget how to enjoy little things in life

@asifiwould

I had to wait till I was 52. That was 4 months ago, and it was the best decision I could have made. I potter, I walk, I make things, I binge watch TV, I garden, I bake, I read, I notice stuff. Spent a full half hour watching squirrels today. Six months ago I would have had that inner nagging voice letting me know how much work I needed today. Today I enjoyed being in the moment.

I had planned to hang on for another 4 years, but covid made me realise that I needed to stop 'living to work'. If you can afford it I wholly recommend a slower pace of life.

I meant to reply to this

OP, I've been down the route that you are considering. Looking back on it, I would have done it differently. I would have found work that I truly enjoyed, perhaps part-time, even if the money was not so great.

YANBU - it's natural to get fed up. I'm wondering though if all of us feeling this way all of a sudden must not be related to the year we have had... Lockdowns, many not seeing colleagues (I've been wfh, alone, since March), furloughed colleagues meaning there is more work for everyone else, stress of the thought of losing one's job and not being able to pay the mortgage, deaths among family or friends related to the virus... It has just been an awful year and it is tempting to fantasise about what you would do if you had more time to yourself. Personally hoping it will pass as also need a few more years to pay off the mortgage etc!

Absolutely @MasterGland, with you 100% on this. I’m mid-thirties & been feeling this way for some time, so much so that at the beginning of this year (pre-Covid) I went down to 4 x days a week at work. It’s literally the best thing I’ve ever done & short of early retirement which lets face it we are a while off, something I’d strongly recommend if you can make it work financially Altho not sure if this is feasible as a teacher? Financially, obv student loan payments & pension payments are less, as is tax so actually it’s not a whole lot less on the monthly net figure & a 4 x day working week is just marvellous!

I'm the same. I left my part time job in December. I was lucky to be able to do it. Sadly Covid has completely screwed my plans to potter about and occasionally doing something for my husbands business and I'm currently back full time.

Starting a new part time job in jan but can't see me leaving again anytime soon.

I don't want to be at work. I don't hate it but I have no interest in being amazing at it and would much rather be at home painting my house, cooking good meals and going for walks.

@MasterGland @TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross

Great FB page called Exit the Classroom and Thrive.

I too am a teacher but at 63 was doing supply on March 20th 2020
I have not been back since then because of the risks.
Good luck to both of you.

@speakout

I really don't want to retire. I am in my late 50s and have no plans to retire- ever- if I am still able to work.

But I love what I do. I live in a biggish house surrounded by woodland, very peaceful, I can watch deer from my window.
I am self employed, my work is creative, related to a craft hobby and I sell my items online.
My products sell easily and makes me more money than I need to live. I wake up excited about tackling the "work" I have planned for that day.
Work can be a pleasure.

@speakout can I ask what you make?

Well I think you’ve got several options really. Do nothing, grumble and carry on. Check if partner can afford to support you not working. Marry a partner who can support you not working. Work like made, cut spending and save every penny to take a sabbatical. Do a financial review and plan an early retirement in your 50’s (depending on age now). You Do have options. If it’s the job currently either retrain or find something else (not easy I know and getting worse no doubt). Good luck with your choice

Driving to work last November, dark, cold foggy and I was very tired I suddenly thought 'I can't do this anymore' and I retired on December 20th, 5 months short of my 60th birthday, never looked back.
I appreciate you are much younger but you could start planning now in terms of saving etc

I'm 55 in less than a month and will be able to draw from my personal pension. I've got a healthy amount of money in there (depending on the stock market) but sadly not enough to live on. Just in the middle of selling my house to cash in £60k of equity and reduce my mortgage by moving to a cheaper area. I am constantly checking my numbers to see how much I have and what I need to live on. Had to start again with a 23 year mortgage 8 years ago when me and my husband divorced and my new mortgage will be 9 years - but I aim to pay it off within the next 5.

I'm starting up my own online business on the side while I'm working in the hope that I can start earning money, and then have something to do when I 'retire'. Because I would want to do something - just not for someone else

I would never be bored at home - always stuff to do, to learn, to read. I've had some very stressful jobs in the past and had to take redundancy or leave due to toxic environments, and I've had gaps of between 4 months and 6 weeks between them. I've never been bored.

Lockdown has just intensified my feeling that I don't want to work for someone else for much longer.

You need as I'm sure you know 35 qualifying years for your government pension but why not go part time. Try that first and see how you get on. I dont know your finances but every little helps when you get to 70

I’m very interested in learning about all these online businesses that people have started/are starting that will give them an income. What are they?

Hmmmmm, I've seen people working in their 70s who seem to enjoy it. I'm in my mid fifties working full-time and looking at making a career change. I also do some part-time stuff on the side. I don't know whether I'll ever retire but I'm still very ambitious. Don't get me wrong though, if I won the lottery hell yeah I'm sure that I would!

I haven’t read all of the responses (sorry that is very lazy!!) so apologies if this has been said but I think it’s hard to be motivated in this current situation because what are we working for? Just to live atm - put food on the table, pay the bills etc ... there’s no fun, can’t even just hang out in our houses with our favourite people!

I think many people who have worked since March with zero chance to work at home have just had enough especially when others are paid 80% to relax at home

This is me which is why I was glad when my contract came to an end so for a chance for a mini break before the next job.

I'd love to quit the day job, get a dog and do all the things you describe.

I think I'd be happy working a couple of days a week. That would be perfect.

Sigh.

I think a lot of this is ennui due to the awful year we've had. November is a dreary month at the best of times and the second lockdown is definitely not helping. I have worked for myself virtually all my career and, in my mid-fifties, am content, although I sometimes get very tired. I was able to stay at home with my children when they were very young, as were a lot of my contemporaries but I can remember thinking "oh, is this all there is?" when my youngest grew out of the baby stage. My husband, early sixties, would like to be part-time but I am not ready for that yet.

I was ok until this second round of furlough. Many friends bragging about all the baking they’ll do and how they can’t wait for a holiday, one friend ecstatic because her workplace have shut down until after Xmas and they are going to pay her for her holidays on top of her salary, she is planning a extravagant Xmas on the ‘large sum’ she claims to be getting. Meanwhile at work it’s getting busier and more stressful plus and increase in travel costs means I’m £100 worse off a month. I think I’d be ok if I hadn’t seen the posts especially as I’m sure there are plenty on furlough worried sick about the drop in income.

I haven’t read every post, but most people seem to be focussing on the mortgage. I’m mid fifties and have paid mine off, but putting 3 kids through Uni costs way more than the mortgage ever did. We are paying three lots of rent around the country and it will be be another 3 years before the youngest finishes. Until that moment I can not retire. For those who will now be thinking that the kids can pay for themselves, student loans do not cover residential costs, let alone living costs. Those of you with young kids you hope will go to Uni start saving now!

I am NHS and am physically and emotionally exhausted. I try to remind myself that at least my income and employment is secure, but I am sick of hearing about people’s furlough hobbies and extra time off. I have only had a few days break since March, and am on my knees. My employer will not consider part time, so it is full time or nothing. And I can’t afford nothing for another 3 years. How I dream off furlough!

I used to enjoy working but in my 30s, I suddenly lost my husband. Since then I've never got any enjoyment out of work, but I am good at what I do. I decided to put that to use and make changes, so I can go part-time in future or retire early.

I pursued and got a higher paying job in a cheaper area, have been promoted since, and the equity from selling my old house plus savings meant I could buy a smaller house outright in new area. No mortgage means I'm able to save at a faster rate.

I know that there are many reasons why this wouldn't be possible for others, I don't have kids, my job security isn't impacted by COVID, etc. I'm just giving my own experiences to say I don't enjoy work either and this is what I'm doing about it.

Maybe OP you could set yourself some mini goals to help with motivation. E.g. overpay mortgage if financially possible - even a small monthly amount can make a difference. MSE website has a good calculator for this. Or consider part-time or a career change at a date you set for yourself.

I've been attempting to work out when I can retire early

I've been mortgage free once already
I Continued to work FT+ overtime
Saved & invested

I feel that it is easier to work & save when young & hopefully retire early
Some of my friends are already struggling to work in their 60s
It doesn't make sense to me, not to work when young (not including health issues, caring duties, virus issues)

Yes need 35 qualifying NI years for full state pension

Yes I have lots of plans of things to do in retirement

I used to work mon-fri with 1 or 2 days off a week
I now work shifts, so it gives me much more time off
A better work/life balance

I realize that there are ups & downs & that life can change in an instant

Appreciate the small things

I expect that few people at the end of their life, would say that they wished that they had worked more

Work hard, play hard