Join me in a 2026 retirement countdown

[loveawineloveacrisp]

Next year is the year I'm going to hang up my corporate boots and retire and I can't wait. I'll be 57 and I want to finish just before Christmas, none of that arguing over who's going to cover the Christmas period nonsense.

Not really sure when I should let my boss know. I'm on 3 months notice so I guess that's plenty of time.

Anyone care to join me in a countdown?

cant add up, its 2028, not 2027

Aaaaaagh. In recent weeks and months I've developed the Sunday night work angst, now it's spread to first thought sunday morning. I've even started having fleeting awful thoughts that if something dreadful happened then I could take some time off. I keep having to cheerlead myself, force myself to make healthier choices.

I'm just back from a week away and I so do not want to work tomorrow. However I've decided to give 6 months notice this week (more than I need to give, but gives time for recruitment and handover).

I did the same @loveawineloveacrisp , it did feel good to have that part done, but it seemed to have triggered an inability to patient for me. I've made the decision, I've told everyone, and..... Now.... I'm.... Waiting. Hope your time off was rejuvenating!

Was your boss happy that you'd given more notice? I'm trying to think if there are any downsides to me doing that rather than just giving my contractual 3 months. I feel like it'll be a weight off my mind having the decision officially made.

I'm counting down now. I'd planned to go next Xmas but they are making redundancies at work and I'm 63 so I'm hopeful they will pay me off in a week or two.
I'll be able to spend the summer with ds before he leaves for uni 😎

I can't wait !!!

My boss was glad to have the heads up. I've been around since the dawn of time. I did this a few months back. Initially they offered to negotiate a bit, but that also meant that by the time we'd thought through all of that we were both on the same page. It was a relief to have done the formalities. It's meant that I don't have a secret to carry and I'm also hoping it will help me with the feelings of irritation that arise when the new stupid things come up at work.

@dudsville what did they try to negotiate? For you to stay longer?

My worry is I've only been there 15 months. I didn't expect to be ready to finish so soon when I took the job.

Now under the 12 month mark, and realised that actually end March 2027 would probably work too. My likely successor is aware of my plans, supervisor not. Have found a potential consultancy position to ease my exit. Starting to feel real...

Yes, it was to stay on a little longer @loveawineloveacrisp . It would have helped some things, but muddied other things.

I remembered you saying you'd not been there long, so it'll be different in many ways. Is it a leadership role? What's your worry with saying? If there was any concern that my employer or colleagues would have not been all above board and supportive then I wouldn't have let them know. For me there wasn't any risk. Is there for you?

Enjoy that countdown @PersimmonsAreNotTheOnlyFruit ,so many say that the time really speeds up. That's not been the case for me, so I hooe for you it does!

Ah, ok. I guess I just feel a bit guilty for leaving so soon. I don't think there's any risk that my manager won't be supportive.

I sat with a lot of guilt about my decision for a good ltlle while. My team is lovely but really struggling and it feels like I'm leaving them to it, but I can't resolve the problems and I've grown to really dislike all the changes. Let some younger or fresher folks take a crack at it!

Well my notice is officially in! Last day on 31st Dec.

Fabulous @loveawineloveacrisp , did it go OK?

@loveawineloveacrisp oh Congratulations- how are you feeling now it's done.

Thanks, yeah all good! Boss was excited for me. Eek, bit scared now!

I felt a bit angsty about handing in my notice. It was weird. I'd done the hardest part of telling my decades-long colleagues that I was leaving, but somehow sending that official notice was another level I hadn't anticipated. I'm still thinking of it daily. I think for me it's just a lot to process. But I can't wait for new years day, that fresh beginning. I hope to have soon annual leave to use up at the end so I don't yet know when my actual last day will be. That feels like a gift to open later.

I’ve got a month to go and it seems unreal still as it wasn’t particularly planned and was sprung on us 6 months ago

My workplace is closing and I’ve combined voluntary redundancy with a very slightly earlier than planned retirement. Im tentatively looking forward to it and Im wondering whether adjustment is easier knowing there isn’t your old place of work carrying on without you.

It takes a while to get your head around everything so don’t expect to get it right straight away

it can feel like a holiday when you expect to go back at some point for at least 6 months

you may well have years and years of stress and exhaustion that needs to work its way out of your system. Exercise is good.

it may help to have some projects to add some structure to your life while you work out what you want from the next stage of life. A room that needs painting or some furniture that could do with some love. Or family that you rarely see. Whatever. Some plans. Because you may crash.

volunteering is worthwhile

That's great. I haven't told anyone yet, but feeling like time has slowed down. Can't be bothered with work at all any more! Just kind of cruising until I give my notice. Going to wait till August, that's about 4.1/2 mths - contractually only need to give 3. Just wishing my life away at the moment....

Well so far at work I've been told twice that I'm not old enough to retire! Is 57 really that young?! Am sleeping so much better since I had that conversation, it's like a weight has been lifted.

I have booked a 4 week holiday for April next year which is when I expect to finish the day to day side of my job. I am self employed so will need to tell my clients but not until next year & I hopefully have someone looking to take over my business so will need to organise that transition.
I just need to get through one last winter working in the cold & wet 🥶 ❄️ 🥶 ❄️

I'm also feeling the slow pace of this @HUSKYPAL , it's depressing, and I think underlines just how much the leaving is wanted and needed!

Ha! I'm right behind you at 55 @loveawineloveacrisp , but I get what they're saying. We were raised by a generation some of whom could retire early, and the same goal was attainable for some of us, but it's not something the majority can do nowadays. It's a priveledged position. My house is paid off, I don't have kids and I'm content with a simple life, but if my circumstances were different I'd be working to 67. I feel for my colleagues.

A 4 week holiday @Retiringplans ? Wow that sounds amazing! I can't really get my head around imagining life after stopping.