Lack of dreams - long term ambition

[JonRGV250]

What tips do people have to reset their goals/ambitions/dreams? Do you just stick to short term, or try and plan long term? Focus on career, or look to have a dream in a totally different area?

Focus on what you've got and stop dwelling on what you don't have, then work from there.
Also find a job/career that no one else wants to do, get skilled and excel at it, then make bank and be unreplaceable and name your wage.
With the right mindset it's super easy.

 

[potatolord]

I have noticed so many people say on these forums about retiring or retiring early. Like its their life goal But have they honestly sat down and thought about it what would they do for so many years during retirement!?!

Most people I know who have retired or retired early ended up going back to work or was too sick (due to age) to go back to work and missed it because they was bored after a year.

My retirement is over a decade away, and all my kids will be adults by then.

I don't have any plans or ambitions for retirement. I'll probably spend my time reading and gardening. I'm happy enough forking over the garden in the sunshine.

 

[413x]

I have noticed so many people say on these forums about retiring or retiring early. Like its their life goal But have they honestly sat down and thought about it what would they do for so many years during retirement!?!

Most people I know who have retired or retired early ended up going back to work or was too sick (due to age) to go back to work and missed it because they was bored after a year.

For me to retire properly I'd need to much money.
Life with all the time but not enough money to do anything with it would be torture.

I'd rather work less and less over the decades but maintain an income to do things with than just retire early but just sit around watching tv.


Because I'll never get to the point of retiring but having enough money to enjoy it there's no point (for me) trying to.

 

[marinersfan]

I have zero ambition. I've been stuck in a job for nearly 20 years.
Thing is, it's easy, 3 shifts a week and comfortably pays what's required.
I get to spend Monday morning, till Friday afternoon doing sod all.
So that's why I've stayed.

 

[uber soldat]

 

[Tefal]

For years I strived to reach a point in my career, after nearly 20 years of slow progression I've pretty much got there, now I have realised that things aren't as good as I had hoped. Now it's dawned on me that I no-longer have a 'dream' that I can work towards, which can be a depressing thought.

What tips do people have to reset their goals/ambitions/dreams? Do you just stick to short term, or try and plan long term? Focus on career, or look to have a dream in a totally different area?

Have you tried vicious pettiness?

It seems to be the number 1 motivator in the offices.

 

[Tefal]

I have zero ambition. I've been stuck in a job for nearly 20 years.
Thing is, it's easy, 3 shifts a week and comfortably pays what's required.
I get to spend Monday morning, till Friday afternoon doing sod all.
So that's why I've stayed.

Mood kindred

 

[Uther]

I have noticed so many people say on these forums about retiring or retiring early. Like its their life goal But have they honestly sat down and thought about it what would they do for so many years during retirement!?!

Most people I know who have retired or retired early ended up going back to work or was too sick (due to age) to go back to work and missed it because they was bored after a year.

Never been happier than since I retired early. ****work, it was always just a means to an end.

 

[ristac]

It’s never too late either to set new targets and have new dreams to aim for.

 

[moon man]

For me to retire properly I'd need to much money.
Life with all the time but not enough money to do anything with it would be torture.

I'd rather work less and less over the decades but maintain an income to do things with than just retire early but just sit around watching tv.


Because I'll never get to the point of retiring but having enough money to enjoy it there's no point (for me) trying to.

With me i think health will be the main thing as i don't spend on holidays ect , i haven't worked since last October (still on the month in hand pay) but i walk and walk and surf so free apart from diesel to Polzeath but if i lost that ability things would be different or if i was stuck in my birth place of Dewsbury, but that would be a nightmare

 

[413x]

Never been happier than since I retired early. ****work, it was always just a means to an end.

Do you have enough money to do loads of stuff? Or is it more an "at home" retirement?

 

[Uther]

Do you have enough money to do loads of stuff? Or is it more an "at home" retirement?

Yep. I'm not doing world cruises but not skimping. Depends how much you think you need really. Probably less than you think...
When I finally get state pension in a few years that will cover my basic needs, and my private pension will be for the fun stuff. Not planning on taking that for a good while either yet.

 

[413x]

Yep. I'm not doing world cruises but not skimping. Depends how much you think you need really. Probably less than you think...
When I finally get state pension in a few years that will cover my basic needs, and my private pension will be for the fun stuff. Not planning on taking that for a good while either yet.

I think I'd need 1000s on top of basic needs. Ie. I don't expect I can achieve that.

It would be better for me to work as long as I can but cut down days.

Ideally I could get to contact where I work x months and then have x months off.

 

[Uther]

I think I'd need 1000s on top of basic needs. Ie. I don't expect I can achieve that.

It would be better for me to work as long as I can but cut down days.

Ideally I could get to contact where I work x months and then have x months off.

Lifestyle creep will kill you. Something I learnt early enough to not fall into the trap luckily.

 

[mid_gen]

I think I'd need 1000s on top of basic needs. Ie. I don't expect I can achieve that.

It would be better for me to work as long as I can but cut down days.

Ideally I could get to contact where I work x months and then have x months off.

This is the way. My plan isn't to retire early, it's just to transition to self-employment and work more flexible time, takes months off each year etc.

Will take a quite a bit of work and building a solid network to be able to keep work coming in when you're an old crusty competing against all the young whipper-snappers, but I'm pretty confident I can do it given my CV. I'm pretty happy in my full-time role at the moment, right blend of challenge, fun, interesting work and money.

 

[slinxy]

I have noticed so many people say on these forums about retiring or retiring early. Like its their life goal But have they honestly sat down and thought about it what would they do for so many years during retirement!?!

Most people I know who have retired or retired early ended up going back to work or was too sick (due to age) to go back to work and missed it because they was bored after a year.

Is you mad??!

There are so many places to visit and see... so many languages and culture to learn.. so many books to read... so many movies to watch...
I have a bucket list of video games that I'm buying and saving for retirement.

For me it's not a case of not working, it's a case of doing what I want to do without pay being a factor.
If I could teach primary kids IT and get paid enough for a living, I would be more than happy doing that than having to do any of my previous or current role.
And if I didn't like it after a while, I could quit and try something else.

My ultimate dream would be to learn to sail buy a small boat and sail between different islands from week to week.. different countries from year to year.. Have a bike so I can travel while on land and just see as much of the world as possible. The major issue is that I don't have my sea legs and I get sea sick at night. lol...

 

[slinxy]

I think I'd need 1000s on top of basic needs. Ie. I don't expect I can achieve that.

It would be better for me to work as long as I can but cut down days.

Ideally I could get to contact where I work x months and then have x months off.

Lifestyle creep will kill you. Something I learnt early enough to not fall into the trap luckily.

I completely agree with Uther, Wealth is about how much a person accumulates being rich is about how much a person spends.

I pretty much stick all of my payraises into either my penison or one of my savings... am I being tight with my money? no... the amount that I'm allowing myself is much more than the average wage for a person in this country. I give myself "pocket money" on a fortnightly bases for guilt free spending. I don't live in the nicest of areas so don't compare myself to the Jones.

The more I can save the sooner I can retire and the more I can do what I want with my own time.

 

[malachi]

Is you mad??!

There are so many places to visit and see... so many languages and culture to learn.. so many books to read... so many movies to watch...
I have a bucket list of video games that I'm buying and saving for retirement.

Whats stopping you from doing any of that now? Lol. What are you waiting for!?!?!?

Hasn't stopped me and I just turned 40.

 

[slinxy]

Whats stopping you from doing any of that now? Lol.

Hasn't stopped me and I just turned 40.

The bucket load of work that I have to do when I return... sadly my life is basically work or thinking about work from 6am Monday till 5pm Friday. with a bit of eating and sleeping thrown in. I even get messages about work at a weekend.

I'm normally either too knacked and/or wind up to enjoy anything on that list during the week days.

Saturday, I go to the gym and after a weights session pop on some headphones and lose myself on the threadmill.. I schedule 2-3 hours of reading around the football; if my team is playing.

Sunday is chores day, the chores often includes catching up with family and friends.. and repeat like if it was goundhog day.

 

[413x]

The bucket load of work that I have to do when I return... sadly my life is basically work or thinking about work from 6am Monday till 5pm Friday. with a bit of eating and sleeping thrown in. I even get messages about work at a weekend.

I'm normally either too knacked and/or wind up to enjoy anything on that list during the week days.

Saturday, I go to the gym and after a weights session pop on some headphones and lose myself on the threadmill.. I schedule 2-3 hours of reading around the football; if my team is playing.

Sunday is chores day, the chores often includes catching up with family and friends.. and repeat like if it was goundhog day.

I couldn't cope with this.

Not an exaggeration either.
My mental health would be in the toilet.

I won't take any more responsibility at work. And I'll never allow myself to take a position where I can't switch off at 5.

There are times when I have to work late of course. But that's a rare exception.

To be honest.. If I was thinking about work. Monday to Friday non stop I'd probably be sacked as I'd be broken by it.

Its taken a while to realise who I am. But I can't (for my own sake) allow myself to be consumed by work. I need my days out at the weekend. If I do not go out.. I'll start to Slip.
We have a cleaner now to help with that, so I don't need to be house working on my days off. That was a big step for me.. As it felt like a waste of money.



Everyone is different, which makes life interesting.. But for me... Saving entirely for retirement would destroy me.