Last day in my job tomorrow, why do I feel so sad? It's what I wanted!

[Sweetpea59]

I've been wanting to retire for a while now, or at least have a break. I'm in a senior role & feel burnt out. I've got stuff I want to do outside of work. We can afford it, but of course we won't be able to splash the cash like we have been able to. It's what I wanted, I'm dying to get on with other stuff I want to do; so why do I feel so sad now it's only another month until i finish? I can't work out if it's because I'm feeling old, getting cold feet about reducing to one wage & not finding a new job because of my age if I find i need or want to. There's nothing anyone can say really, I just need to air my thoughts. It's like my status will be diminished, I can't explain it!
I've just noticed I typed tomorrow in my title, that's due to dh talking about tomorrow. Can I edit the title?

seems natural. It’s the unknown!

enjoy your retirement!!!

I understand. I left a senior role
last year as I was burnt out and unhappy. I felt sad when I was leaving as has a few nice colleagues and enjoyed the role at times but knew it was the right thing and have enjoyed the time off. Make the most of it! Good luck.

I have a couple of years and planning the same. You still have options when you retire for volunteering, start new hobbies, part time enjoyable work. I understand your worries I have the same worries but think you can build something really nice and a lot less stressful!

This is extremely common, often is a mix of loss of status as you say, the voyage into the unknown, the closure of a chapter and acceptance of aging and life being finite perhaps. Friends, relationships, purpose - it is a lot of things to change at once and can be overwhelming.

But, it sounds like you have strong rationale and a clear idea of what you want to do - and like any life change after the first bump of emotions, we recalibrate quickly. There are lots of ways to enjoy existence, and it sounds like it is time to use yours. doing some different things - and you have a great plan to do them.

Embrace the emotions - and well done on having the courage to be bold and to do something for you. I'm sure a few weeks out you will question why you didn't do it sooner!

I am jealous 😂

There is indeed a loss of status, OP and i felt it quite keenly initially but it didn’t last, I’m happy to say ‘I’m retired’ these days to anyone who asks.
I also missed the many bright and talented colleagues I worked with but they have mostly moved on or retired themselves now.
On the other hand retirement has brought me so many pleasures, I couldn’t possibly go back to being a wage slave!

Isn't it always the way though? It's like when you change jobs. You can't wait to leave and then when you get the chance everyone seems nicer and the pressure has been lifted as you're relieved to be leaving and so everything doesn't seem so bad!
Think of it this way, if someone now said to you sorry we've made a mistake you can't retire yet, how would you feel?
Enjoy your retirement.