If you never worked again, would your mental health suffer?

[EmptySpacess]

Currently a SAHM to a young child, and thought about continuing to be when they go to school. But I'm now thinking perhaps it's not all it's cracked up to be. Personally if I have too much free time on my hands, my mind starts doing overtime and I can have lots of negative thoughts. I'm now thinking it's probably best to keep very busy. Is this just me or are many people like this? They say an idle mind is the devils playground. And yes I know you can fill your time doing things but everyone else would be working, so you would be on your own a lot.

I haven't worked outside the home for many years.

Not once have I felt the lack of it in terms of brain stimulation- but I have many hobbies and interests beyond baking and crafting (although I do love crafting, to be fair.)

If you're more independently-minded there are a million things you can turn your mind to- learn a language, learn to sew/paint/plumb/decorate/lay carpet/garden etc, do a degree, volunteer, pursue a goal (marathon/triathlon e.g), read (good books, trashy books), improve your knowledge, study the stock market, start your own business, take up a sport/martial art...

I've always hated the kind of lazy thinking that inspires people to believe only a workplace can provide any kind of mental stimulation. If you need direction or help in that area, then of course having a job will be great for you.

It's also very silly to think that you're not contributing to society if you don't do paid work. Looking after grandchildren-to give their parents a break, or to provide childcare so that they can go to work themselves- is being useful. Volunteering is being useful. Being useful to the larger world around you is not limited to doing paid work.

Financial independence- that's different. Having a job= money of your own. That's a good thing.

I'm going to retire in 2.5 years
I think that I'd struggle with not feeling useful but I'm planning to go to school to hear readers, possibly small group work to help out in the classroom. I'm really looking forward to it. I'll learn the phonics they use too so I'm doing it properly. I'm really looking forward to it

Another early retiree on health grounds here. My physical health is not great, but mental health? Never better!
I was devoted to my work and, even though I say so myself, I was good at it, and successful. Up until a few years ago I would definitely have said I needed to work, would go crazy without it and so on. But then came a a little brush with my own mortality, being treated like shit by the NHS as a patient and even worse as an employee and everything changed. I wouldn't go back under any circumstances now. My priorities have changed a lot.
I do miss treating patients, and some of my colleagues but I don't miss the toxic world that I spent most of my adult life in at all. I really didn't realise it at the time, and sadly I probably contributed to some of the problems myself, but I was unhappy and terribly stressed for decades. It wasn't until I had been out of it all for a while that I realised that I am now truly happy for the first time since I was a teenager and it's great, even despite my physical limitations.
Obviously I understand that I am very privileged to not have any money worries and that has come from those decades of work. But I was someone who lived to work and if I had my time again I would definitely do things differently. I'm now discovering a whole different world, and realise now that my life definitely needed more balance.

A lot of my sense of worth and purpose is tied up with working (I work for the NHS) so my mental health would plummet if I were to stop working. My DP wants to move and “retire” when my youngest turns 18. I’ll be 50. I can’t imagine stopping work then! I enjoy helping people and would feel like I had lost a huge part of myself and my role in life if I stopped working.

When DC were young working was vital for my mental health, now they are secondary school age and above I would happily be a SAHM if we were rich 😂. I could easily fill my days.

Although in reality if we could afford it we would both work PT rather than one of us give up work.

Although, I have been poor before and its so draining and depressing I would rather work 50 hours per week than go back there again.

but all the retired people I know seem to spend most of their time sitting at home rather than actually doing all the stuff they said they would when they weren’t working.

Really? My father wondered how he ever found the time to go to work. He was retired 30 years and busy to the end.

I’m recently retired and now know exactly what he meant.

No, it would massively improve!

it would give me more time to do more social things ( my work never went back to office and so I now spend my working days alone which is terrible for my MH). Plus I have lots of projects I would like to do if I had time.
I am pretty active and out there and 100 per cent confident I could fashion a more social, balanced , meaningful and productive life if not working.

No , it improved massively, still poor but the happiest I've ever been
Don't spend money unless necessary, get up ealy every day and do something I enjoy everyday

I’ve either worked very part time (2 days reduced hours) or not at all (currently) since youngest DD was a toddler and my mental health is brilliant. I don’t have to worry about childcare in the holidays, can attend any school event I want to, not spend my evenings or weekends washing and ironing uniforms etc. Can take things at a much slower and nicer pace than when I was working full time.

However: I am fine in my own company (like reading, yoga and learning a language) and have lots of friends who are part time workers so meet for coffee, Zumba etc. I also have a hobby and do charity work so I’m never just at home all day doing chores.

In a word, no.

Not having to work and being able to do all the things I currently juggle alongside work would make a huge positive impact on my mental health.

There is a lot to be said for a slower less busy way of life. We’ve been sold a fallacy that to be busy busy and to work work work is just the way it has to be.

If anyone has any cures for measuring self worth and purpose against career & working then please let me know

I have always struggled with this and it affects my mental health and results in imposter syndrome and low self esteem

The cause? Growing up with academic PhD parents and grandparents!!

Yes but it would be more to do with not having any money. If I had another source of income, it’d be great.

all the retired people I know seem to spend most of their time sitting at home rather than actually doing all the stuff they said they would when they weren’t working

yea because people who are retired are typically older and worn down, it's much easier to fly off around the world and go hiking in your 30s than when you are hitting 70.

No. My mental health would improve massively!

I have physical health issues already and the only reason why I am still able to work is that I have a fully remote job. I simply am not able and willing to deal with commuting and office politics anymore.

I am planning to cut down to part-time as soon as I can and to downsize my lifestyle.

I much prefer having time to focus on my health and interests that wasting my life at work....

Yes. I like my job most of the time, and I’m proud to say that I’m a nurse. I will be very down when I can’t say it any more.

I’d hate not to work long term. I love working and the sense of connection it gives me and love using my brain.

I know there are other ways people not in employment fill their time but personally retirement is my idea of hell.

Yes, going back to work was the best thing I ever did for my mental health after maternity leave.

I’d hate not to work long term. I love working and the sense of connection it gives me and love using my brain.

You don’t get a forced lobotomy when you retire.

Yes I love to work

I don’t work for health reasons. I have hobbies. Walk the dogs and see people. Reading and cooking and after school stuff. Crochet and knitting and a book group. I am soooo much happier than when I worked. I have time and head space for those I love most. Oh and me. 😆

Yes. I'm forever grateful that they scrapped the enforced retirement age so that I can (hopefully) work until I die: just as Her Majesty did 😚

As things stand now, if I didn't need the money I would love to not work. I have tons and tons to fill my time with, I would be mentally and physically healthier and I'd never run out of things to do.

However, back when I was a stay at home mum I desperately needed to get back to work. I didn't have the hobbies back then and, after a few years at home, I really needed the adult company and to feel like I had some purpose other than "being mum"

I'd love to be able to ditch work!
I don't think my mental health would suffer if anything it would improve.

I've had stints at home due to kids & redundancies. This was both with and without a decent amount of money. I"ve always loved the freedom that came with it.

The only reason I went back to work is a) paying into my pension and b) I need to eat & sleep somewhere, be able to buy clothes and sadly even the countryside isn't free if you need transport to get there!

I haven’t worked since I was 33. My mental health is just fine. I do lots of stuff outside of the house now my kids are teenagers and pretty much look after themselves.

Nope not a bit im pretty sure my dogs would be happy to fill my time