I’m retiring June 30 right before I turn 57. I got a teaching job at a small school starting this fall. I get health insurance. I’m thrilled.

[-]

Likinhikin-@reddit

Been remote for a few years.

SquirrelBowl@reddit

Thanks!

[-]

Capital-Mark1897@reddit

This is exactly what we did starting three years ago and its worked out. We have cash until 59.5 then starting drawing on our Roth and wait to 67 for SS.

[-]

pth@reddit

Wife just retired at 56, I am 58, and the plan is for me to work until my 60th birthday. Primarily to give our youngest (22 last year of a computer engineering program), some runway to establish his own health care.

Sounds good, and I am very well paid working 100% remote, but it is getting harder every day to pretend to even care. Have already told my direct manager, that my only goal is to be a good employee for the next 15 months.

Ready to be retired, been working non stop since 4th grade if you count paper routes, and I am cooked.

[-]

kfitz1119@reddit

The paper routes-no wonder everyone’s burned out. I too had a paper route starting in 4th grade. For the Denver Post and then the Rocky Mountain News. I remember I had to go door-to-door to collect the subscription money and the “bonus” for new subscriptions was a 2 L bottle of pop/soda.

[-]

GoodLyon09@reddit

I feel this. I was just saying to someone that there should not be age based social security starting points, I’ve worked 45 years already and I still have to do 5 more! I’m done and want a bit of life.

[-]

Creative-Mud-7930@reddit

I am close to same age. I been working since I was 12 years old. Like you I had a paper route, cut grass, built fences all before I went to college.

I am cooked. Everyday I wake up I want to quit.

My company has us back 4 days a week. I have 6 or so years I need to work, after that I can find a new job to where I don't care what they pay me. Just for spending money.

[-]

GlitteringEvening713@reddit

I am not in corporate but I have to work with them because I am a retail manager. I have much respect for you because I tried working in an office and it got real petty and backstabby real quick. Of course every job has that issue but in a confined office space? I did the work just fine but I could not handle the boredom and weird office politics. I do not know how anybody does it. The only takeaway for me was OMG lock your spreadsheets when in an office environment. 🤣

[-]

FionaTheFierce@reddit

Planning to stop or step to very part time at 62 if at all possible (should be possible). I am 56 and I am DONE. Left the corporate job 3 years ago and am self-employed, which is a vast improvement.

ConcertinaTerpsichor@reddit

Well, honestly, I CAN understand how a hiring manager would like to believe they are hiring a younger employee who will stick around for a long time, but I think that expectation is now unrealistic and unlikely given how poorly many employers treat their employees. Commitment is not a thing of the present moment.

[-]

kat2211@reddit

Honestly, I just said fuck it. I had a pretty good paralegal career going, (although I switched jobs a lot) but I just got to the point to where I couldn't do it anymore. The thought of spending another nine years in an office until I reached full retirement age just made me sick.

Now I just do a bunch of gig work doing random stuff, with no benefits (although I get discounted health insurance through ACA). Didn't really have any savings to begin with and now I have even less. But I work entirely from home, I don't have anybody's boot on my throat, I'm working on a novel, and I'm happier and less stressed than I've been in ages.

[-]

UncleFlip@reddit

Curious about what type of gig work you do, if you don't mind sharing.

[-]

What’s the novel about?

[-]

kat2211@reddit

Very broadly speaking, it's literary sci-fi.

[-]

Prudent_Trainer_573@reddit

Same boat man. I am 50. So sick of having AI rammed down our throats. I need to work for another 10 years at least. I’m certain I will not make it . I wish I could just cut grass for a living . Anything which has immediate and measurable results. I don’t even know what I accomplish at work anymore. It seems everyone is just playing a part in a play. All BS.

[-]

funlovefun37@reddit

I think part of the answer depends upon why you’re running out of gas. Mental or physical health would HOA different decision making path than being bored or “tired of the bs”.

I would suggest a few things:

Take a seriously long vacation.

Prioritize more work/life balance.

Invest in a subscription to WealthTrace to play around with financial scenarios. Get incredibly familiar with the consequences dialing assumptions by just a little bit. They can be good or bad consequences. My point is, understanding the sensitivity analysis is critical.

There are two things I can share about finances in retirement.

1) Sequence of returns is critical. Essentially, there will be a bear market at some point. Earlier in retirement can be devastating.

2) every additional year of work makes a big difference. But so does reducing how much you need to take out because you’re working part time.

[-]

jmg733mpls@reddit

jmg733mpls@reddit

gif

I'm an old middle-class tech worker that saw the writing on the wall. AI was going to take my job at the absolute wrong time, so I heavily invested in it. By doing this, I eliminated my risk of being displaced in the workforce, left on my own terms, and set my family up for life. And when I say for life, I don't mean luxury cars, exotic vacations, second homes, etc. It means my kids aren't going to have student loans. It means instead of buying 4 year-old used cars, it's now 2 year-old cars.

I'm also 56 with 35 years under my belt in the same industry. I have been bored , then i decided to pick up all the unwanted projects and thankless responsibilities I could to keep me busy. Funny enough I have now turned into the Swiss Army Knife employee who can be used for anything. I get all of the "we don't exactly know how to do this" projects and I am no longer bored. I had to go just make shit happen, otherwise I would just freak out.

Get your testosterone levels checked and consider getting TRT. A lot of men report massive energy uplifts. I haven't done this yet but will definitely consider once I'm lean.

Consider experimenting with supplements. NMN made a huge difference for me.

Decreasing energy is a natural consequence of aging. Modern chemistry already works against us (food scientists hacking our pleasure centers). Maybe see if modern chemistry can work for you too.

[-]

hopstop5000@reddit

Agree with the TRT comment. A shot in the ass twice a week has made a world of difference. My levels were of a 70+ year old and I’m 50. Big energy boost and a hard on I forgot was possible to have.

[-]

PezCandyAndy@reddit

I've been burnt out for over 10 years. I worked at a fortune 300 corporation. Upper management pushed out my prior amazing boss and his replacement turned the job into a nightmare. He called us and anything before him as 'legacy' with a slight sneer on his face or in his voice. Every two legacy employees that quit or were fired were replaced with one cheaper college grad. We had fewer employees to do the work and also lost experience, working knowledge, and skill. The new-hires were given a very light workload and legacy employees were required to make up all the difference. The quality of our work inevitably suffered as a result.

Evil boss mentioned he was only there for the title and planned to move on after a few years. It was practically guaranteed to get better so some of us tried to stick it out. But the boss pushed even harder which caused us to make more (generally small and inconsequential) mistakes. That created enough ammo to put us on a PIP, then pushed us even harder which then allowed him to fire us. One of our coworkers found out years later that evil boss does this so he can 'legitimately' fire those he doesn't hire or like.

Physical_Ad5135@reddit

Wow! A novel!!!!

[-]

_cob_@reddit

Focus on hobbies and keeping yourself busy.

[-]

Backieotamy@reddit

Im with you. 52, working per my SS report straight since I was 14 (acrually 12 with my paper routes) spent most the 90's in the Army and in Tech since 2000 where I now make pretty darn good money. I find it hard, even selfish and first world or a luxury to complain about it but otherwise in the exact same boat as you. You are not alone, I am 1 day - 5 years away from selling everything, cashing out 401K and buying land and a small homestead and do my best to just survive with a handful of animals and my best attempt at growing food until I die whether it be the next year or 25 from now. So very burnt but just putting one foot in front of the other for as long as I can because every $25 I put aside is one more day in the mountains.

[-]

FunnyChampionship717@reddit

I'm in the exact same boat. After 27 years of navigating corporate politics, layoffs, and the general daily grind, I’m feeling it. If I had kept my spending in check, I could have walked away at 60. Instead, I’m staring down the barrel of 65.

My game plan now is to hold out for as long as I can stomach, then shift into semi-retirement doing low-stress odd jobs. I don't have quite enough to stop working entirely, but I have a solid enough safety net to step back.

[-]

MeowMeowCollyer@reddit

Or better, rent your house out, retire to the south of France, living off the rental passive income.

[-]

Incognito4771@reddit

You sound like my ex who was a contractor and said I didn’t work because I had an office job (which paid a consistent wage and provided health insurance for all of us so that he didn’t have to get a job that required him to answer to anyone else).

Tradesmen and people who work in offices are all needed to make the world run, so maybe don’t demean either role.

[-]

Altruistic-Part6071@reddit

I worked in an office for 20 years, in design. You're lucky if I had to work 75% of my time, in a nice, dry, warm office, in a nice comfortable chair, with a desk, dual monitors, cups of tea, or toilet breaks anytime I wanted.

Working outdoors, in the freezing winter, in freezing rain, while working at height, and guess what..? You can't quite until the job's done.

Office work if 50% at least less taxing than the alternative.

[-]

MeowMeowCollyer@reddit

I ran out of copping skills working in a Fortune 100 and flew the coop at 51. That was nine years ago. I’m still recovering.

In other world, get the fuck out while there’s a shred of humanity left in you.

[-]

WillieDoggg@reddit

I ran out and gas and couldn’t play the game any longer in my mid 40’s.

I thought about quitting and trying something less soul crushing, but figured I’d see what would happen if I relaxed and stopped trying while saving extra for retirement.

What’s the worst thing that could happen? I lose a painful job that I want to quit anyways?

I was surprised how difficult it was to be fired. Sure they might RIF me under other official reasons…but then I’d get unemployment while looking for something else.

You really kinda have to be a mess to be officially fired for cause. I kept pushing it further and further and was never fired. I even told them the truth…yeah, not as passionate anymore and want a better work/life balance.

Desperate-Emu1296@reddit

60 years old here laid off for the second time last September and still not working. The job market is absolutely horrendous right now so if you have a good job and making decent money, you need to suck it up and hang in there a little while longer.

I’m also trying just to get a job with some kind of benefits and that has not been successful. Job competition is off the charts, employers have their pick of whoever they want. You are also competing with people who are 30 years younger than you so age is definitely a strike against you. My only advice would be to save save save$$$. That is what is keeping me afloat right now, my unemployment ran out in March and I am purely living off of savings.

[-]

CodenameZoya@reddit

I just went through this, I hope you find something soon. It’s terrifying.

[-]

jazzchamp@reddit

This story sounds familiar...

Sorry. I'm with you bud.

[-]

cholaw@reddit

35 years on the same job???? Retire already and work somewhere that makes you happy. That's ✌🏾checks

[-]

Maybe_Later14@reddit

A couple of years left to go as a teacher. I think what resonates the most with me from this thread is that I’m not alone in feeling so, so tired. I still do enjoy my job and the kids much of the time, but it’s just so damn draining at this point. It seems like it wasn’t long ago that I’d bring tons of energy and enthusiasm to my classroom every day, and then go home and hop on my mountain bike and knock out 10 miles on a weekday. Not these days.

[-]

Accomplished_Care415@reddit

Time for a change of pace. Go warehouse. Crazy things always happen in a warehouse. Sucks just the same but you can do fun stuff.

[-]

Thefutureisbrightino@reddit

53 and I’m done. Can’t work with people both up and down that have misaligned values.

[-]

latitudechanges1515@reddit

At 50 I ran out of steam. Downsized considerably. Sold the house and live on much less. Happier than I have ever been. Paying out of pocket for health insurance sucks but sucks way less than the corporate drain. Hang in there.

[-]

ContributionTall969@reddit

Hang in there champ. Make an exit strategy and type your resignation letter and keep it in your desk / on your computer - don’t turn it in yet!

Let that marinate knowing that you are willing to pull the plug and there is a chance that you’ll feel a little bit of empowerment. You’re in control - you are choosing to do this, or not to do it, and you are prepared either way.

[-]

esizzle@reddit

My scenario looks a lot like yours. Also 56. Keeping current gig for a bit but also wondering if I have enough steam. Happy path looks like - some form of regular work until around early 60's, then maybe part time. Try to hold off on collecting Social Security until 67, though that may be a stretch.

Mainly trying to keep in good health by going to gym and trying to stay sane by taking it one day at a time. (Stop me if you've heard this before :).

Best wishes fellow traveller.

[-]

PegShop@reddit

One week before my 56th birthday I retired early from my teaching job of 32 years. Now I am doing part-time and per diem work while collecting my pension. My husband worked for a big company doing food and facilities management and was working 60 hour weeks. He just took a job at about a quarter of the pay working for a school doing their food. Having summers off and being done with work by 1 o’clock is a great step down for him.

In order to afford this, we sold our home and our closing on a townhouse which we can buy with just the proceeds of our house sale. That isn’t for everyone.

[-]

mtcwby@reddit

Almost 61 with another 4 years to go. Whenever the job slides into annoying I will double down on my outside interests. The job then becomes something to get through and it helps me keep life balanced. Just need to get through it.

[-]

AuntieMRocks@reddit

First I planned to work till 70 because my work (nonprofit) was so meaningful to me and I was still having fun.

Then I decided to shoot for 67 to get my full SocSec payment. After all, I still wanted to have some fun outside of work before age weighed me down.

Then I looked at my retirement accounts and overall finances, and realized once I'm eligible for Medicare at 65, retirement would be doable. A little less $$$ but more precious time to chill.

Then my husband was diagnosed with dementia and I had to retire at 60 to care for him. 45 years in the workforce, over just like that. We've always lived below our means so we're okay for the moment. Plus hubby's condition is connected to his military service so the VA is helping us. Now I'm looking forward to 62 so I can claim SocSec and have an income again.

It’s so me as well. Let’s the younger kids do it.

[-]

DeadCatBounce00@reddit

This is me too, quiet quitting, zero fuks given nowdays.

Clock in.
Do just enough work to not get fired.
Never do enough work to become important.
Clock out.

If you can’t live in the west, take a look at alternative countries with a lower cost of living.

OkIce4710@reddit

gif

If your plan has the Rule of 55 you can access 401k from the company you leave if fired or quit. There are other ways to access without penalty before 59.5 also.

OP and others, persue the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) subreddits, although bit late in the game now, lots of discussions on how to save and make a plan to get out early .

[-]

cool_side_of_pillow@reddit

51F and also burned out. Work in tech. It’s all AI all the time and the hustle to stay relevant via LinkedIn is exhausting. I can’t let my hair go grey because of ageism and I’ve gained significant weight in perimenopause and am now basically invisible. Like totally invisible.

I have a big(ish) team of direct reports that I worry I’m letting down.

All I want to do is take walks and practice yoga and read good books in a rocking chair while sitting in a screened-in porch listening to a summer storm.

Alas we still have an elementary school aged kiddo (who is my world) and 10 years of the grind ahead of us.

I'll say that my folks pissed away all the money they had saved to the day they died. I ended up with $8k from the foreclosure/tax sale from my mom's house (Sold for $8k more than the tax burden). My dad had a few hundred thousand, but fucking squandered it on bad business decisions, moving states just to move, and moving back because why the fuck would you move without a reason? I didn't even get his watch or pocket knife when he died. Step Mom got all that....

At least her folks have a few mil squirreled away in property and savings/stocks. With "luck" they'll die before it's all gone and she and I can actually stop working before we're 80.

But yeah, every time we started to get ahead, we got shafted. I had to empty my 401k three times already, thanks to downturns/emergencies/financial crises'....

[-]

gottaeatnow@reddit

Yes, she is roughly 3 years younger and works from home. I'm pretty much a stay-at-home Dad now, and I do most of the household tasks.

My kids also play travel sports year-round, so I draw the default short stick for any transportation they need to practices or games.

The goal is retirement for her in 5 years when both kids are in college.

[-]

Silvermouse5150@reddit

I was at this stage a few years ago. I took a pay cut and went to work for a smaller company, I was making good money so the pay cut didn’t bother me since the kids were older and out of the house.

It ended up being a terrible decision. I took for granted the benefits working for a top company gives you. As well as the professionalism (for the most part anyways) of co-workers and the ways a top organization does things. I would have traded the amateurism and bush league way of things were done for the corporate BS any day. Big regret for me. I should have rode it out. People hate on HR, but it sucks much much worse at the non big companies. Wished I would have just stuck it out.

One example: some desks and tables needed to be moved to another part of the room. The chief of staff shouted out and asked for volunteers. Everyone jumped at the chance to help. Not me though, I’m sitting there confused, thinking I ain’t doing that shit I’m not risking injury. Meanwhile everyone looked at me like I wasn’t a team player. Fuck that I’m here to work at my desk not move shit

Another was,

Them: Did you get my email yesterday evening?

Me: I don’t know haven’t checked. I’ll check once I’m settled in.

Them: What? Don’t you have email on your phone?

SolomonGrumpy@reddit

At that time I was carer focused and salaried. I wanted to be recognized for excellence. I did get some validation when I made VP, but yeh work was overwhelming and I eventually dialed it back.

[-]

Cerfer@reddit

Oh. Then it was totally worth it. I get the sense that OP didn't want to be VP.

[-]

GuvNer76@reddit

This so much.

Spent early two decades and fortune 500 above companies. It had its issues, there are some politics, but overall people just wanted to do their job and go home.

Traded it in for a sub 200 person company. Promotions here are entirely based on Facebook friendship lists there’s employees here who have not only dated, but I’ve been engaged to multiple people in the building.

You know how incorporate there’s always one or two people it’s hard to figure out exactly what they do, I have like half a dozen in this company. They don’t do shit. We have a researching development person who doesn’t know how to work any of the products that we sell

Resident-Wind-853@reddit

I just hit 50, and I used to think that I’d to the whole run to 67. I’ve changed my mind after being unemployed 3 years ago for about 6mo, and having a lot of life happen since then. While I have a good job, and have a great 401K at this point, I think I’m shooting for done by 60. Earlier if I can, but I also have an 8 year old kid and a lot left on my mortgage so that might be tougher. I’m honestly worried about the next 10 years about job loss. If that happens, I think it will be a lot harder to get another tech job at this age.

[-]

worrymon@reddit

About 3 years ago I looked at my bank account and figured I could coast for a few years. (My boss was retiring, I didn't want a promotion to c-suite, and I hated the guy they chose to replace him. So I was going to walk regardless of my financial situation. I just saved myself the hassle of finding a new job.)

I'm coping by sleeping late, watching cartoons, playing computer games, taking walks in my neighborhood, eating in the park...

I'll probably have to go back to work at some point if/when the money runs out but in the meantime I'm enjoying my pretirement.

[-]

Muddring@reddit

I’m 51 and I had to make some real changes in order to keep going. Fortunately at our age we have the experience and perspective that younger ones don’t.

I really did have to prioritize the pillars of health: Sleep, diet, exercise, and caffeine/alcohol management.
I got control of my calendar. There are only so many slots available for people to book meetings with me. The rest is blocked for me either focus on my heads down work, pick and choose meetings that directly drive my business, or even rest/eat/scroll the phone for a minute. I work across time zones and I block times that are outside of my normal work hours as out of office.
I say no if asked to do more than I can handle and particularly to things that don’t drive my business.
(And this is important when dealing with clients). I learned to be satisfied with “this is the best I can do” from a personal standpoint. I let the supposed stress and pressures of my job roll right off my back as long as I feel good about my efforts. Yes, I’m accountable and my butt’s on the line and something that requires a late night or two. But if I’m happy with how I approached things at the end of the day I can’t get stressed about missing targets or being fired or anything else. I can only control my controllables.

[-]

[-]

simmonsfield@reddit

Where to? My kids are talking about leaving the US as well.

[-]

ImMeltingNY@reddit

Spain.

[-]

simulated_copy@reddit

You say you dont have enough, but have made great money at a Fortune 100 company.

Started saving late

Spend alot

Have big retirement dreams?

Alot of debt?

What does the 4% now 4.7% rule tell you?

[-]

NoiseNecessary4737@reddit

Turned 50 recently and I've been feeling this a few years now. It just consumes you, too tired after work to do anything, housework/fixing stuff at weekend, not enough money or energy to go away on holiday etc. I'm just thinking I'll retire asap and use what little private pension I have to keepe going until state pension (hopefully still be one and still at 67). Capitalism sucks hard.

[-]

CleanStatistician349@reddit

Suck it up. That has been my mantra for the last couple of years and I hates it.

gif

[-]

genuine_risk1@reddit

43 here and Im already where you are. My husband and I have decided that after the kids graduate (3 years) we will be living WELL below our means and save literally every single penny we can in order to boost our cushion and retire early.

[-]

YogurtclosetParty755@reddit

Turning 50 this year & right there with you. Was planning in working until 60, but now I’m thinking maybe 55. Trying to see if I can get the numbers to work. I wouldn’t mind working, just not in my current corporate role.

[-]

SyntaxEditor@reddit

Oh, I thought you were literally running out of gas! Because, you know, gas is pretty expensive right now.

[-]

Electronic_Name_325@reddit

I just don’t understand people in their 50s not having decent savings, especially ones who have been employed for 30 years. I am 54. We have seen an absolute great situation over our investing career. How can someone not know about 25 years ago that investing is a wise move? There were flyers, commercials, magazines (Money and Kliplingers, while mostly junk, did have easy to understand concepts decades ago,) so easy to be informed.

I couple hundred a month in the ‘90s, learned in dotcom that risk matters a bit, but no big thing. Increased to several hundred a month, almost maxing 401k. Had the GFC hit, and anyone who kept their job and just kept investing learned how nice dips can be. And here are now, easy to have a couple million in tax advantaged accounts, and hopefully a bunch in taxable.

FeedbackExisting4762@reddit

Everyone's situation is different. Sometimes it's because of a lack of resources rather than a lack of planning.

Sometimes life happens no matter how well you plan, sometimes all it takes is a lay off, divorce, or an unexpected medical event to smack you back down. All which had happened to me. Even though I couldn't afford to start saving in a 401k until age 38, I had decent savings until a few years ago.

I have very little savings now. I'm in my 50's and struggling to build it back, but I doubt it will be what it once was.

[-]

Professional_Use8237@reddit

I’d start looking for that easier-with-benefits job now because it could take a while. In the meantime, do the thing that brings you some pleasure, learn something new. Hopefully you have a lot of good years ahead of you!

[-]

Fabulous_Bison7072@reddit

I got laid off a couple of years ago and just had a total attitude shift after that. I am so over the corporate BS. I was lucky enough to land a well-paying job after a prolonged search, and now I’m just saving aggressively with the goal to be out by 55. Will that happen? I don’t know, but it’s nice to have a goal. What has helped me a lot has been that I’m in a relatively LCOL region, and I’ve always been a saver. If you want to focus on retiring early, I would put everything on the table. If your mortgage is eating you alive, do you have the ability to downsize or move somewhere less expensive.

I would love to gradually shift to part-time work, but that seems to be a rarity in the corporate world. It would be so much easier to last until 60 or 65 if I was only working 2-4 days per week and had more flexibility in my life. My current gig has very limited PTO, and that is really hard. I will be looking for a new job soon, and finding someplace with more PTO allotment is high on my list.

[-]

Pdx_Obviously@reddit

I'm going on 55. Feel very similar to you. Our solution... Sell our house and take the proceeds and move to Spain for 5 years. Not sure what happens after that, but at least the next 5 years are covered.

[-]

joshua_addison_music@reddit

I understand the frustration and I know this is hard to hear because you probably worked hard to get to where you are but…

People are struggling badly right now and as lame as this may sound, let a grateful heart carry you through. You’re lucky to be in the position you’re in.

Never seen it this bad and I’m 52

[-]

dontaggravation@reddit

Feeling the same pinch and in my early 50s. Sole income earner

I’m hanging on by my fingernails at this point to keep my job and support my family. Having health problems as a result

Had a get real conversation with my partner and the plan is to hold on until the end of the year. And then completely drop out of corporate America. My plan is to do consulting on the side and pickup a local city or state government job.

I’ve worked part time in city government and it’s a snooze job. Show up. Do the bare minimum while getting benefits. I hate being treated like a child by the micro management but you can’t trade the peace of mind and lower stress

Take care of your health — you can never get they back. Seeing how much my health is impacted by the work was astounding to me. Wish me luck with the make it to the end of the year plan!

[-]

HistoricalStatus5577@reddit

I’m so fried, same tech company over 25 years so I am a literal miracle. It’s taken a lot out of me though - I will only be remote which thankfully goes with my vision issue, courtesy of a work-related issue ages ago. I’ve got wicked carpal tunnel that I’ll let them pay to repair. I’m mentally bored out of my mind because we eliminated all mid level managers so I’m doing work I delegated out 15 years ago if I can’t get ai to do it. However I invested well so any ol time they want to toss me is fine by me. Knowing I can live without working changes literally everything. 56F, no kids, single because yeah, all I did was work.

[-]

dontaggravation@reddit

Yes that does change everything indeed

It does take a lot out of you and I feel the same. Bone weary tired. My health issues really started to accelerate the past few years. I took FMLA for 12 weeks medical and being away from work seeing the difference in my health was astounding. Now I get why our country doesn’t offer leave because man once you see the toll it takes you don’t want to go back

I did it - quit the corporate job into something a little more fulfilling

Took a hit on pay but my quality of life is better, it pays the bills and I have insurance.. every year I’m here is like 2 years closer to retirement because I save a little, I don’t use savings and I burn a year .. do it

[-]

fromamomof2@reddit

I literally just told a friend im tired of thinking st work every day! I want to work when I retire.but want a job i can leave there and bot bring it home with me.

[-]

jmg733mpls@reddit

Remember how our parents could retire at 56? The problem is the system. I’m 50 and cannot imagine working for another 17 years. The thought makes my skin crawl. But I have no choice, right?

[-]

SolomonGrumpy@reddit

55

[-]

tharesabeveragehere@reddit

You do have a choice - simple FV calc maxing out your tax-advantaged contributions for ten years with an assumed 7% return results in \~$600k. And that assumes you're starting with zero.

Eleven more years of weekly updates...that's only 572 more TPS reports before you retire.

NoAbbreviations290@reddit

That’s a really interesting (and sad) point. I keep doing it too.

[-]

Chicagoj1563@reddit

I’m in the exact same situation as OP and will be 58 next month.

My response is to become a content creator and build an audience online. I’m in tech and spend much of my time involved with AI. So, I’m moving to build an audience around that with YouTube, substack, etc…

If I can build an online business through that I won’t be working a day job anymore.

It’s a changing world. There are options now. A day job is not something everyone has to do.

[-]

phinbob@reddit

This thread is both depressing and heartwarming.

It seems like there's plenty of people in similar positions. Maybe we need to find a way to take an easy job for the last like ten years of our employment.

One thing that's worked for me is to try and find a role where I solely concentrate on what I'm good at and that I enjoy and stick religiously to just doing that. I had to have a mini-breakdown and spend a summer freelancing and hiking to get here.

Business decisions that don't make much sense? Meh. Department x making stuff no one wants? Not my problem. I do my job (moderately well) and take the money.

I've just started actively planning for retirement, modeling expenses, income, and looking at what to do about healthcare (biggest headache). It's been a fun project, and AI tools have helped a lot (although you have to check their work, mine invented a mortgage that didn't exist).

You might also consider some pharmaceutical help from antidepressants and testosterone replacement, just to get you through these years.

Perhaps we need to start r/burntoutbutstillhere to figure out how to survive until the promised land comes into sight.

One final thought: if you're not already, now is the time to concentrate on your health. You want to hit retirement with a good chunk of healthy years ahead, and now is the time to do what you can to increase your chances. There's a lot of information out there (including a good book 'Outlive').

Sorry, didn't mean this to become an essay.

[-]

TraditionClassic2937@reddit

Someone really needs to create this sub....

[-]

Thick_You2502@reddit

SolomonGrumpy@reddit

If you make great money what have you done with it?

[-]

MusicalMerlin1973@reddit

I’m planning on sticking it out until 62 if I can in my tech job. After that, I’m going to bridge to 65 hopefully at some job that has medical. SS delayed until 70. We could take it sooner, but I want the higher for my wife just in case she outlives me.

So I’ve got to hold onto this job 9 more years.

I hate heat and humidity. Anywhere a bit colder that's less expensive to live in?

[-]

Manic-monkies@reddit

I would. How? I’m out in 5. Saved up for retirement.

[-]

grandmofftalkin@reddit

I bailed at 50 after getting yet another awful manager. Was at the company 20 years. Interesting work. Great benefits, including car plan and grandfathered Cadillac health plan they don't offer anymore.

But the body keeps the score and I was falling apart. Started coaching practice for people pivoting careers and retirement transition. Much less money but I haven't slept this good since I was a teenager.

[-]

Affogoto@reddit

51 here and left corporate world at 47. Took a year off after I negotiated a settlement. I decided to never work a corporate job again.

My wife works and we have health care through her job. When we can access our retirement funds, we’ll be fine. It’s bridging the gap until then.

I now work part time in a job I love. I have some hobbies that also earn money. I volunteer. I feel completely renewed and refreshed.

You’re doing great in comparison to myself.

Buzzcoin@reddit

We should retire after a certain amount of work years not an age.

[-]

PrettyWorn_@reddit

Corporate burnout is exhausting, and making good money doesn't cure a drained spirit. You are definitely not alone in this stage of life. Many professionals in your shoes cope by strictly protecting their boundaries, taking every second of their PTO, and focusing heavily on hobbies or countdown milestones. You've given 35 years to your career; it is completely normal to be out of steam. Be gentle with yourself as you navigate this transition...Five years! So close, you've got this.

[-]

ButOfCourse@reddit (OP)

Thank you stranger… your kindness means a lot

[-]

PrettyWorn_@reddit

Something that has helped me, which I love. (Don’t forget to enjoy life in between work.) 🫶

Exactly same boat here. Just turned 53.. I can potentially retire but its a massive risk to me to retire so early so I want to keep going.

[-]

demona2002@reddit

TLDR - AI really helped me better understand clinical burnout symptoms and strategies.

*********

I am also the same age, retirement target date and suffering really really bad burnout. (panic attacks, depression, exhaustion, resentment, etc). The following is bringing me some relief:

I started seeing a therapist to unload - which is really helpful - but weekly appointments don’t give me quick enough access to all the info I need.

I also had a full bloodwork done. Learned my HRT (57f very low on testosterone) needed to be adjusted and I am low on Vitamin B12 and D.

Equally important - I have also started a long running discussion with ChatGPT about my specific symptoms and burnout reset strategies.

Prompt started along the lines of “act as my medical team including psychologist, GI specialist, nutritionist, OB/gyn, endocrinologist, sleep specialist, psychiatrist and any other team members who might be needed to assess me. The mind body connection influences all of my health. I am going to tell you all about my current mental and physical state, and notable variables such as previous trauma, health history, nutrition, work/life experience’s, relationships, triggers, and more. Ask me all the questions you need to in order to fill in gaps and assess my current state and help make recommendations to facilitate recovery. Our main focus is clinical burnout but you should proactively assess whether any symptoms require medical follow up for other conditions. This will be an ongoing interactive conversation between us daily where I will input my symptoms, environment, inputs and outputs and you will assess and make recommendations / share insights to help guide my recovery strategy. Your feedback will be comprehensive and may adjust over time based on our mutual observations. You will continue to proactively seek information through interview questions whenever you feel a data point is missing”

I have pumped every detail into it (whether it asked me for them or not) - when I wake, how long I sit at my desk, medications I am taking, when energy depletes, symptoms I feel and when, daily food I eat, hobbies, trauma I have experienced, how all these things affect how I feel, etc. The more detail the better. It has made some really good observations and suggestions which are actually helping.

ChatGPT helps me to reframe how I look at things, and identify some actions I can take towards healing - both physical and mental.

I am now more intentional about taking more breaks, get more sun, eat cleaner, do more mindless pleasurable hobbies, work fewer hours.

These things are helping me reset my nervous system.

I know folks are down on AI. It does not have all answers and not always correct but in my experience this has been really really helpful - and given me a lot of ideas to explore.

Imaginary_Narwhal241@reddit

Thanks for the advice. This is a real problem and it makes sense to me now.

[-]

LAKingSteve@reddit

59, was laid off after 32 years at age 57 and luckily got a new job

Thought I was done when laid off but new job gave me new life. Plan is to go to 65 or so. Maybe a bit earlier. At least I feel rejuvenated but what you are feeling is incredibly common.

[-]

Rice_Post10@reddit

I’m 55 turning 55 this summer. Exactly the same situation. I can retire at 62 and trying to hang on but it’s tough. I’m burnt out, I’ve been working since I was 25 and I’m done. I’ve mentally checked out and don’t care about promotions or PD. It’s just a paycheck until I can retire.

[-]

OldLifeguard-00@reddit

I’m turning 50 and running out of gas as well. My wife now earns as much as I do and I’m flippin’ lucky that our mortgage is rock bottom and very low dollar amount.

Sell all your earthly treasures, buy a van, and park it near the river.

Happiness follows.

[-]

Few_Whereas5206@reddit

I am 58 running on fumes. Luckily I can retire. Just doing time until 60. I would do a budget and see what you really need per month to retire. You may be in better shape than you think. Alternatively, lower your spending and lifestyle to allow yourself to retire earlier.

[-]

Tls-user@reddit

Honestly, I hit a wall at 50, but that was the same year as Covid happened so I sucked it up and hung in there until 2023.
I took a two year unpaid leave to do a test run and then fully retired in 2025 at 55.
I just couldn’t stay on the hamster wheel any longer.

[-]

DeadBy2050@reddit

have been in my career for 35 years. I work for a fortune 100 and make great money.

Gotta ask, did you ever consider living frugally during at least part of those 35 years so that you could retire by now (age 56)?

I retired comfortably a couple years ago in my late 50s. This was after working 25 years in my last job; and the last 20 of those, wife stayed home to raise kids so we had only my income.

[-]

Skobotinay@reddit

Balance until you figure out your landing plan. Take a trip or two. My mom used these small vacation as motivation after raising five kids and working. Little steps. What movie was that from? Find a hobby and embrace it s little at a time. You never know it might actually open into something cool. A friend of mine started his own business. Another became a park ranger. Redefined « job » but expanded self. Best of luck.

[-]

mrsredfast@reddit

Baby steps. From What About Bob?

Baby steps onto the bus…with a goldfish around his neck. 😊

[-]

MemoFromTurner77@reddit

r/coastfire

r/baristafire

Check out both subs for ideas on how to pull this off.

[-]

fergal-dude@reddit

I have avoided this by never working for a corp. I can't imagine working hard to make someone else a profit...

[-]

marcjones281@reddit

How much do you have saved?

[-]

Guardsred70@reddit

I feel your pain.....in a way. I've worked very hard to stay at the pointy end of things and NOT get slurped into leadership too soon. Because those guys get fired and then they have lost their technical skills.

I plan to keep going hard for about another 10 years while job hopping (since the kids are gone now).....and then I'm going to find a position where I can sorta slack off a bit and have people saying, "Ugh....we can't fire him. He's old. I'm sure he'll retire next year."

[-]

leshbombs@reddit

[-]

MeanMuggin-Capybara@reddit

Same age, same situation. I know I won't last too much longer in the corporate world. Last year pushed me way beyond my limits, so I unilaterally decided to go remote 4 days a week and move 1.5 hours away to a quiet rural town, and I'm so much happier here. Whatever happens next, happens. I'll be ready.

[-]

Queasy-Let-6910@reddit

Mid 50's too and unfortunately, I'm reasonably convinced (more likely to happen then not) markets will tank to some extent within the next 5 years when crypto currency market pops and the AI companies still aren't making enough return to justify the massive cost outlays.

[-]

Fritzo2162@reddit

Crypto doesn't really follow any rules- the whales control that market. When they need money then pump and dump, and there's no rules preventing them from doing that.

As far as AI, that's 100% going to happen. I work in the industry and the things they're selling AI on don't t actually exist in the way it's being portrayed. The whole market is based on vaporware. Couple this with public opinion HATING the product and a marketing campaign of "Buy our product so it can put you out of a job, influence our politics, and possibly make humans obsolete," and you have the setup for a 2008-style market crash.

[-]

DogsAreOurFriends@reddit

I am a few years older, staring 60 in the face.

This will sound stupid, but I listen to Gus Fring's "A man provides" speech daily.

I hate it, I am trying desperately to hang in there for two years until the youngest is through college, but to be honest there is probably enough in the 529 to get him through if he lives at home.

[-]

Electrical_Ad2652@reddit

Take a vacation and recharge

[-]

dyverthesprit@reddit

This is all of us.

[-]

Important_Mud_6700@reddit

I retired at 58. After grinding away since college probably 60 hours a week, babysitting in middle school, and working in high and college as well. We are like hamsters on a wheel. It sucks.

I retired early even though I knew I would have less money than if I stayed 7 more years. I spend less now. No more FICA out of every paycheck. But the peace of mind and ability to self-determine my days has been worth the pay cut

[-]

trouble0322@reddit

Ditto, but I did so at 45. I will not sell my soul to make a billionaire richer.

[-]

I was in your situation at 49, with 27 years of experience in fortune 250 company, so at that point I decided to work on my bills and get out of debt except for the house - it took me almost a year and half to have zero credit card debt, no car payment nothing except for the house. I also have more time to do things around the house that require me to pay for like cutting the grass, pressure washing, cleaning windows and cars (all where hired helped and bleed money everywhere).

So finally when I quit my job, it took me exactly a month to get a lower paying position, with less responsibilities but 20% less pay. It has been the best move I’ve made in my career. I don’t have direct reports, I travel less, I WFH, I can focus on deadlines and meet them, I should have done this long ago… I can see myself doing this for another 10-12 years and calling it quits; the intensity went from a 9 to a 2 🤷🏻‍♂️

You can do it, just carve out a plan, stick to it and don’t tell anyone what you are doing - good luck

[-]

BloodyBarbieBrains@reddit

My family all did jobs that were beneficial for society: arts, teaching, nursing. And we’re all fucking starving in old age, but our hearts were full while working.

Just ride out your soulless job. It’s just a different tradeoff than other people choose, and you don’t have long to go. Sorry, but I don’t feel sorry for people who picked that kind of career and make great money and are now… complaining.

So far my .gov job is a nice change of pace compared to my .com jobs. But I know there are pros and cons to everything.

[-]

ParagraphGrrl@reddit

I'm in a pretty good place job-wise but my bestie is where you are. I worry about them. It seems to me you have three choices:

Lean into the job thing. Volunteer for the weird stuff, use your seniority to advocate for people coming up behind you (or clients, or the public), etc. Just try to entertain yourself until you're ready for the transition.
Really dig into your retirement plans and see if there is anything you can do to speed things up, or at least move to your "low-key job with benefits" earlier than originally planned.
Make your life outside work as rich as possible and use your seniority to keep your work life reasonable while you wait it out.

[-]

GeneralBobby@reddit

I've been dealing with burnout for years but have not been able to deal with that. Anxiety and ADHD have me perpetually on edge. Physically, I've beaten the everloving shit out of my body and receipts have come due and my walk is quickly turning into a hobble. Prostitutes aren't the only ones who sell their body for work ..

Yeah. I've been done for years but mortgage needs to be paid.

[-]

Novel_Pin_6784@reddit

I think 55ish is the age it starts hitting us all. What we did: full bore max get out of debt. It took 3 years. Fortunately, I have a pension. That pension is enough for us to live comfortably. At 62 I will be able to start getting my money back that we have to put into social security. At that time (we hope) we can start doing what we want, when we want.

Debt is the destroyer of dreams.

Best of luck!

[-]

Substantial_Lion965@reddit

My steak too juicy; my lobster too buttery

[-]

trUth_b0mbs@reddit

retirement age in my country is 65. Fuck that. Will be retiring in the next 5yrs (at 55) and not here; will be moving abroad where my dollar will go much farther.

everyone I know, including myself, is just tired of working. So what we're all doing it seems (have talked to my friends and they're doing the same lol) - work your hours and that's it. No more over and above, no more exceeding expectations. You pay me for the work I do and leave me alone.

I will work to the best of my ability from log in to log off time but not a minute more. I will take my full 60min lunch and breaks that I am legally allowed to have. They will not get a second more of my time unless they pay me.

this is how we're all trying to make it through.

[-]

obstreperousRex@reddit

I have worked in manufacturing for 30+ years. I ran out of gas a couple of years ago after dealing with a minor collapse of my career involving Covid then going through prostate cancer.

I just don't have the energy or the drive to do this anymore. I go to work and put in the barest minimum required so I can keep a roof over my head.

[-]

---TC---@reddit

I take as much time off as I can. I take all my PTO, I find ways to lower my work load or "load manage". I'm 58 and I want to work for 5 more years.. but I know I'm going to have to be diligent with my work load.

For context, I work for a multi-national too.

[-]

mrshagzsf@reddit

Same. And I’m starting to have medical issues too. Affects my work and I feel like a target now.

[-]

wingmaneffect@reddit

29 years into my career and I’m too young to retire with any health benefits and too tired to make it to 55. I’m really worn out physically and emotionally. Partner is a little older and plans to retire at 55 so I may just hop on to their benefits despite the cost.

I feel ya, friend. Hoping the market doesn’t tank as well!

[-]

[-]

Sea_Machine4580@reddit

Run your numbers through Chat GPT. 35 is a lot of years that you have contributed to retirement funds, etc. You might be a lot closer than you think. Especially you may find that you don't need to work until 67. Check out the lean Fire sub for more ideas.

[-]

TraditionalBackspace@reddit

Exact same thing for me. I've grown so tired of the culture and bad decisions. Old ideas that didn't work recycled as new ones with shiny new names. Reorgs that you know will make everyone's lives harder with no benefit. When you have figured out the game, it's hard to continue. I'm saving and investing as much as I can by living way below my means, cooking and fixing things myself where I can, and minimizing non-essential expenses. The company could toss me on my ass any time and I'd likely not find a job that pays even close to this one. I don't want to be rich. I want to be free and comfortable.

[-]

Mr-E-3345@reddit

I mean if you’ve done it 35 years and don’t have a retirement plan then something is wrong. My question is if you stay 5 more years what changes for your retirement? If you leave now and get an easy job does that job need to make a certain amount to live off of or is it just a cushion for retirement money?

[-]