When is a good time to retire?

[True Believer]

It has been said that we should retire when we have achieved financial independence, paid off debts, secured adequate healthcare and have a sound plan for our retirement lifestyle, which is a personal decision based on our goals. We must consider our desired lifestyle, estimated expenses, health and life expectancy to determine the best time to leave full-time work. Please share your thoughts about when to call time on your career.

 

[True Believer]

Patient: "I am here for my medical review. I just retired after working for 40 years."
Doctor: "You need to sell your car and take public transport. In fact, try to walk more. Please eat less meat and more vegetables. It is also better to eat less at hawker centres and restaurants. Have more meals at home. Try not to go out too often."
Patient: "My medical test results must be really bad. What exactly is wrong with me."
Doctor: "You no longer have an income."

 

[True Believer]

My retired friends told me that I may experience a "honeymoon phase" followed by disenchantment or a feeling of being aimless. This is normal. They told me that feeling anxious or depressed are expected.

 

[True Believer]

Deepen connections with our spouse, children and grandchildren. Maintain friendships with former colleagues. Develop new friendships through clubs, church, classes or community groups i.e. join a hiking group or a community centre class.

 

[True Believer]

The initial relief of escaping workplace politics or a grueling commute is real, but it is often short-lived. Once the novelty of total freedom fades, many retirees face unexpected challenges like missing the purpose and structure of our careers and the absence of daily interaction with colleagues may lead to loneliness.

 

[True Believer]

To avoid boredom, retirees must find new, engaging activities such as hobbies i.e. gardening, carpentry, painting, photography etc. Doing volunteer work, mentoring or joining a club helps too. Learning new skills or attending courses, exercise, hiking or travelling. These activities won't take up 8-9 hours per day, but will help us pass our time to prevent too much boredom.

 

[sbfuncle]

The initial relief of escaping workplace politics or a grueling commute is real, but it is often short-lived. Once the novelty of total freedom fades, many retirees face unexpected challenges like missing the purpose and structure of our careers and the absence of daily interaction with colleagues may lead to loneliness.

I don't think this feeling is short lived.
The relief is permanent.

 

[sbfuncle]

To avoid boredom, retirees must find new, engaging activities such as hobbies i.e. gardening, carpentry, painting, photography etc. Doing volunteer work, mentoring or joining a club helps too. Learning new skills or attending courses, exercise, hiking or travelling. These activities won't take up 8-9 hours per day, but will help us pass our time to prevent too much boredom.

I don't have much activities post leetirement but they are here to stay and won't be bored.
Sleeping, eating, gambling and music.
These activities are built to last, for every human.
You might get bored with a woman.
You might get bored cycling or exercising etc
But you will never get bored wjth
Sleeping, eating, gambling and music.

 

[True Believer]

I don't have much activities post leetirement but they are here to stay and won't be bored. Sleeping, eating, gambling and music. These activities are built to last, for every human. You might get bored with a woman. You might get bored cycling or exercising etc But you will never get bored wjth Sleeping, eating, gambling and music.

I don't expect that any hobby, pastime or activity would take up the 8 - 9 hours that used to occupy each day at work, but most of my retired friends warned me of the inevitable boredom that retirement would bring.

 

[sbfuncle]

I don't have much activities post leetirement but they are here to stay and won't be bored.
Sleeping, eating, gambling and music.
These activities are built to last, for every human.
You might get bored with a woman.
You might get bored cycling or exercising etc
But you will never get bored wjth
Sleeping, eating, gambling and music.

We never heard of people saying I'm bored with gambling right? We only want more and not less.
We can sleep when we are tired, but when i indulge in gambling, I have not enough time to eat or sleep.
Luckily music can still pair with eating and gambling, but not with sleeping.

When you put everything together, 24 hrs is not enough per day.
Hence, boredom is totally out of context for my leetirement.

 

[True Believer]

I don't think this feeling is short lived.
The relief is permanent.

The problem is that freedom from work stress, pressure and office politics will be replaced by boredom that may actually drive one crazy.

 

[True Believer]

When you put everything together, 24 hrs is not enough per day.
Hence, boredom is totally out of context for my leetirement.

My retired friends say that none of their hobbies or activities are enough to fill 8-9 hours per day. That is the problem.

 

[sbfuncle]

My retired friends say that none of their hobbies or activities are enough to fill 8-9 hours per day. That is the problem.

You should advise them to eat, sleep, gamble and go along with music.
All these 4 activities are built to last in every human brain.
Just make sure they gamble smartly and leesponsibly.