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?

Not 2026 but June 2027 when I am 60 and full NI finally paid. But I am looking forward to the second half of this year for that last ever July, August etc working feeling . Also from the second half of the year I feel like I should really start planning what my retirement will look like
Have any of you done any major planning in relation to how you will fill your time or are most of you being more fluid and seeing how it looks when it happens?

Never a problem filling time! Want to sort the house out and declutter, like Swedish death cleaning, will feel good to have time to take stock and do a bit of life laundry. May begin to think of downsizing home, for future proofing. Would like to do a few budget UK road trips to see other parts of the country, never possible when we only had weekends. My husband is going to be a voluntary case worker for SSAFA, and take up golf again after many years off it when work took up all available time and energy, to get fresh air and exercise. I’d like to help Victory Afghanistan, helping girls and women online, with English and whatever else they need. And more time for Women’s Rights Network activities. And read - the pile of books is ever growing! Can’t wait

First day back and struggling to find motivation today. Wondering how I'll get through the entire year to be honest! Any tips appreciated. My job isn't awful but I've just lost the passion for it.

This was so me.
Countdown you can cross off and I booked lots of little things that I looked forward to.

Work wise (I was a teacher) I didn’t offer to do anything extra, left early, refused to bring any work home, didn’t change displays in the classroom. During meetings I zoned out unless it directly affected me.
Honestly it will fly by.

When I was working, I cheered myself up on the first day back in Jan by filling in my diary & calendar.

I highlighted all weekends & bank holidays.
I then highlighted my days off (I was FT but worked a 4-day week).
Finally I booked most of my annual leave (always left a few days spare) and highlighted those as well.
With that done, my diary & calendar were much more cheerful things to look at!😃

The year I retired (at 57) it was even more colourful.😆

I was also gifted (by a kind colleague) a countdown calendar which on each day, showed the number of (working) days remaining.
A friend had an app on her phone doing the same but in days, hours, minutes & seconds!
Silly things but they got us through.😁

@Nourishinghandcream have already done the diary block out thing! I have three holidays booked this year. I'm going to look into the working day countdown app though.

First day of retirement today, kept wondering where my laptop was!

@AlexaBeQuiet congratulations- great day to retire.

35 working days to go. Unfortunately my leaving date has been extended to 31 March from 28 Feb as I pointed out my notice period is 3 months and not 7 weeks as assumed. Wish id kept quiet about it now 🤷‍♀️

I’ll join! I’ll be 60 in Jan 27 and am
planning to retire then. Feels very weird and exciting to be on the “last lap” of everything. I have a demanding corporate job and I’ve just had enough. I am a bit nervous about the reduction in income but the extra time (and hopefully energy) will be amazing. I’m on 6 months notice so am keeping it all to myself for now. Can’t really quite believe it! Nice to have some buddies in the same boat to count down together.

@floofyhousei know that feeling of having had enough. I've been awake since the early hours worrying about my work 'to-do' list. Feel like I'm too old for the corporate world and could really do without the sleepless nights now.

I just told work I am retiring at the end of March, feels great!

Can I join you if its not actually me retiring? My DH is retiring in June, and we are moving back to Spain, but I will have to commute to UK for a few years to put some savings a2ay for my own retirement, DH 67. Me 48

Of course. All welcome.

I wrote a (very long) to-do list for work today to try and get some of it off my mind. Fingers crossed for better sleep tonight.

I’m 54 tomorrow and am retiring bang on 55 in 12 months (NHS), DH is going this June also 55. We are literally counting down the weeks.

I will be older than the OP when I retire, but have set the date and have told my manager and head of department.

Did those of you that have retired have ‘a do’ at work?

Did those of you that have retired have ‘a do’ at work?

Not really and I would not have wanted one.
Handed in my PC & ID card and a few of us went out for a meal (the company made a "contribution" as others were invited).
Nearly 40yrs service.

I had a leaving buffet at school and an amazing assembly with all the staff and the 200 children ( all of whom I'd taught) I'd been there 24 years. It was very emotional. Each class performed something.

I’m finishing 31 August. Keeping shtum as slim possibility of voluntary redundancies. Will have worked 47 years, bar two mat leaves of 13 months and six months. Single after ending a 39 year marriage. Veer between excited and terrified. Off to look up Victory Afghanistan as that sounds like exactly the kind of thing I would love to do.

I keep swinging between hating the idea of a send off (as don’t like being centre of attention) but equally realise it could be quite a downer not to mark it in some way

I made it clear that I didn't want a formal send off with standing around and speeches. We had a big team lunch (with people coming from all the offices) and went for a few beers after work. I'd asked for a charity donation rather than a big present, which happened, but got some very nice presents anyway.

I doubt I'll get a big sendoff and I'm not that bothered. I'll have only been in this current job for less than 2 years.

@loveawineloveacrisp you've done a week and now your a little bit closer to your retirement

I formally gave notice yesterday of my intention to retire at the end of March, feels great! Have a countdown chart stuck inside a kitchen cupboard door, and ticking off the days