Author Topic: Did FIREing help your health?  (Read 12333 times)

texxan1

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Did FIREing help your health?
« on: April 20, 2017, 12:59:53 AM »
A simple question, that im sure is here somewhere but have not seen it

Did FIREing make you healthier...

Im  in a high income job and seems like last few years the jobs pay more, but add to my stress level... Im 45 and considering firing at 50... well, not considering.. Im done at 50, but the more and more I read.. The more I think I could go now without issue...

my biggest reason for waiting is for Health Care bennies from my company, which I cant get till im 50.... But the stress is getting to me enough that im considering going after my current project ends in 2019.... a full 3 years ahead of plan.... But wont have those health bennies

Im working on a plan to lease my house, move to Asia somewhere  (Thailand most likely) for the duration of my project since I work month on, month off.... everyone thinks im going to Asia to save money, but honestly its more about just traveling the LOS...

Thanks for any response...



and an FYI...

100% savings rate on my main salary (228k net last year)
Side gig making about 25k a year (fishing guide when home) will lose this when moving abroad
Vending biz (26k net last year) ( will go down to 20k if a make the move abroad)
various cash coming in each year (10k)
maxed out pre tax in march (7% company match on gross)putting in 25% after tax, but going to change to 10 next month
560k in 401k
400k cash in bank
100k in new vanguard account (slowly putting my cash in there)
389k lump sum pension if I stay till 50 and take at 55
168k lump sum pension (dif company) at 59.5
Paid off house, worth about 500k


everytime I do the numbers, im astonished that I can do it at 50, and keep seeing that I could do it now if I wanted too

thanks
Tex


deborah

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #1 on: April 20, 2017, 01:07:51 AM »
Yes. Definitely. Even though I haven't done much about it. No stress. Being much happier. Cooking at home rather than getting meals. Concentrating on eating proper food...

Dicey

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #2 on: April 20, 2017, 10:07:20 AM »
Just had my annual physical. I've been seeing this MD off and on since 2004 and switched back to her when I got married and FIRE in 2012. Her parting comment to me was that I looked younger now that when she first met me. Sweet!

Stachey

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #3 on: April 20, 2017, 10:20:39 AM »
My stress is a LOT less and I feel so much better for it.

Also my work involved sitting in front of a computer all day which was REALLY affecting my health.  I have seen such an improvement in my health from being to exercise more...my back, my (mouse) hand and arm...there is no comparison to how I was feeling when I was working.

Mtngrl

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2017, 07:13:08 AM »
My husband's blood pressure went down and he's been exercising every day -- three years now and he is in better shape than ever.

jim555

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2017, 07:41:57 AM »
Absolutely.  Lost 25lbs. and have time to exercise now.  So much less stress has got to help too.

zinethstache

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #6 on: April 23, 2017, 03:28:42 PM »
FIREd and of  end of Jan. and started full time travel on March 15. DH and I both feel much better now. DH can walk up hills without issue (He has Sarcoidosis in his lungs). I am diabetic and my A1c dropped a couple of points in three months just from lower stress levels.

My back was very bad while working (required 6+ gabepentin daily with muscle relaxers) and has not caused me any major issues since my last day of work on 1/27. I used to vanpool and had a 1hr + commute each way. (I had fusion in 2015 after a major back injury in 2013 and my back is one of my main reasons to push for FIRE). Now I take 2 gabapentin and 1 or 2 muscle relaxers as needed. I accept that my back will always need to be "managed".

I get the sleep I need, the excercise I need AND eat way better now. DH is amazed at how much I can do now. Need that 30lb propane bottle wrestled into place, no problem!

Greystache

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2017, 08:07:14 AM »
Like others have mentioned, the biggest benefit of retirement was the reduction of stress. I also had chronic back and hip issues associated with sitting in front of a computer 9 hours a day.  After retirement, those issues are gone. Now most of my aches and pains are related to over-doing sports and exercise and home improvement projects. I am currently battling pain in my forearms from too much golf. All in all, not a bad problem to have.

gerardc

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #8 on: April 25, 2017, 01:07:44 AM »
Following

MsRichLife

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #9 on: April 25, 2017, 02:06:46 AM »
Due to serious burnout at my last job before FIRE, my health was pretty bad. I've been FIREd for 5 months and my stress is very much reduced and I'm feeling much better than I was. I still have a long way to go in terms of my health, but I now have the time to devote to it, rather than just ignoring it because I was too busy working.

Ozstache

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #10 on: April 25, 2017, 03:29:51 AM »
FIRE took away stress, allowed me to eat better, exercise more and drink less. Ironically, my pre-FIRE job required me to be fit and healthy but I only truly achieved that when I left it.

Frugal-Investor

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #11 on: April 25, 2017, 12:27:59 PM »
FIREing sure did change my health. I was working in a senior role for a big bank which had lots of long hours, heavy travel and stress. At the time, I thought my health was good for my age (53). I quit my job at 53 (had gotten and delayed a buy-out offer), then took a contracting job for 6 months (kind of a half-way-house) and then fully retired at 54. When I fully retired, I noticed a few things right away.

First, my reaction to the freedom of early retirement was to hike a whole lot. Long hikes or trail runs every day. And I got a dog (a few years since our last one had died) who was also eager to walk. By three months, I had a couple of really solid sports injuries from ramping up too quickly. If I did it over again, I would go slightly less crazy and probably still need to go to the physical therapist. Some problems are good problems to have, if you consider the alternatives. Now a couple of years into FIRE, I have way more variety in my physical activity: lap swim, martial arts, hiking, occasional weights, and heavy chores outside. As a consequence, I have more well-rounded fitness and strength (and more well-rounded sports injuries).

I gradually moved to a much more healthy diet and dropped some weight. Though my overall health was good prior to retirement, my cholesterol was trending towards unhealthy. My healthier diet let me drop it into a very healthy zone without drugs. Having time and planning energy to apply to myself and family made it way easier to take that direction. I now even enjoy cooking partly because of general frugality, but also because of health impact and great meals.

Lastly, in the last 8 or 10 years of work prior to retirement, my sleep patterns got progressively worse with travel and over-work contributing. At the point that I retired, I was probably getting a good nights sleep one out of every four days. It felt as though it took 6 months post retirement to sleep normally many nights and another two years to have sleepless nights be unusual. I'm generally non-moody, but found that I feel more optimistic and content when I sleep well. Also seem to have a better short-term memory that I attribute to great sleep.

Gone Fishing

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #12 on: April 26, 2017, 05:28:00 AM »
Here's a thread that went around a while ago.

http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/post-fire/fit-or-fat-in-fire/

My weight hasn't changed over the past year, but I feel some of it has moved in a good direction.  Sitting aches and pains have been replaced with minor injuries from outdoor activities.  Digestive system is happier for sure.

soccerluvof4

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #13 on: April 26, 2017, 12:59:42 PM »
Yes. I lost 60lbs and as of my last checkup my numbers across the board were all really good. Blood pressure is really good and my diet is much better since I have the time to eat better. I dont seem to sleep as long at night but i take naps so sure thats the reason. I walk on average two hours every morning as soon as I get up and thats how I lost all the weight and have kept off for over a year now. I am also at a good weight so dont need to lose anymore per my doctor based on BMI. I cant do much more than walking because I have been putting off a double knee replacement for almost 5 years and the weight off has helped immensley. I retired 2 years ago at age 50 on April 3rd.  Stress I still have with 4 kids but thats a different stress.

vine

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #14 on: April 29, 2017, 07:00:52 PM »
Yes - my stress is miles lower and I consume much less alcohol. I also get more sleep than when working.

Finally, the things I tend to do with my life now are inherently more healthy. There are more activities that involve exercise.

bunchbikes

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #15 on: April 30, 2017, 12:30:30 AM »
Yes, absolutely,

I have time to work out 5 times a week, eating healthy food for every meal.

Not stressed, ever.


Healthiest I've ever been.

StetsTerhune

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #16 on: April 30, 2017, 10:16:44 AM »
Yep. I'm down 25 lbs since I quit (or so, it's been a couple months now since I've come across a scale). Been traveling and generally just live a more active life. Plus I work out a few times a week (give or take, depends on how physically active I am doing other stuff that week). I've lost about all the weight I feel like I should, now it's just about staying active and fit forever.

Greenback Reproduction Specialist

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #17 on: May 03, 2017, 10:12:22 AM »
Maybe we should start a new diet and exercise plan, and market it : )

Lots of good real life testimonial in here lol : )

Cali Nonya

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #18 on: May 03, 2017, 10:41:56 AM »
Well I'll provide the counter case.

I am now back to work, but I had 15 months of a leave of absence due to industry down-turn and my better half was laid-off  (we are both technically FI but not quite to our comfort levels yet).  The job losses were not-planned for, so in that case the stress levels were still pretty high and I would say for both of us, health actually slipped lower.  I know I thought I would diet and exercise more with more time.  While I did exercise more, but I also had time to cook more, so I actually put on some weight instead of loosing in my time off.  My better half after the lay-off is less stressed but more inactive and I would say has worse health than when working.

I think a well planned for FIRE is one thing, but an un-planned for RE even if technically FI might be a bit different.  Stress does go down, but this does not help health if it's replaced with depression.

deborah

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #19 on: May 03, 2017, 10:13:59 PM »
That sucks. However, it is nothing like retirement. I was laid off at one stage in my career, and I have known other people in similar situations, and your whole approach to life is to get another job. Quickly.

I once interviewed a person who had been laid off for a year, and he was practically comatose. Couldn't get an answer out of him. The sad thing was that we were going to give him the job before the interview. But we couldn't.

Go through the information in the pre-fire checklist thread - https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/post-fire/pre-fire-checklist/. Before FIRE I went through a few books in the library - What Color is your Parachute for Retirement was a good one, but there are others which deal with the lifestyle change rather than just the money side of it. Or look at your life from the six perspectives - financial, social, spiritual (not necessarially church), creativity, family and learning (or however you want to break them up), and work out where there are problems in retirement, and come up with some concrete ways to fix them. Having done this myself, I think this really helps you to enjoy your retirement whether forced or not, and get your life back.

effigy98

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #20 on: May 11, 2017, 07:56:22 PM »
I think a well planned for FIRE is one thing, but an un-planned for RE even if technically FI might be a bit different.  Stress does go down, but this does not help health if it's replaced with depression.

I have experience this as well. This advice is gold which is going in my pre-fire checklist. Thank you. I have seen "HAVE A PLAN" to replace work mentioned by several who have retired. It is terrible when life hits you on both sides like that with unplanned, uncontrolled, chaos.

Todge

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #21 on: May 12, 2017, 04:09:10 AM »
We've FIRE'd - planned - we knew about 2 years out we were going to do it. We have kids so our days are still pretty busy and that keeps me active - walking/riding with them to/from school each day at a minimum.

I got some free weights second hand am following Mark Rippetoe's Starting Strength program - so Monday, Wednesday and Friday I do a 40 (or less) minute workout. As a result, I feel really good - had some back twinges through my life but not had one since I started weights. I'm sleeping better as I don't wake up through the night with a tight back.

When we first FIRE'd we were travelling and camping so I put a few kilos on, but I'm happy to say, now we've settled our diet is better and pants are feeling looser! The CSIRO in Australia has a diet book that's formulated from scientific research. The local library has a copy and I've been borrowed it a few times to help inform our eating habits. Nothing crazy, just common sense stuff. We don't eat out a lot now either, that helps in keeping weight in check.

It's coming up to a year now - and I learnt that I'm naturally lazy so need to place things in my day to keep me active - riding to the supermarket one day for a shop, mowing the lawn another day, gardening another etc. I try to keep as active as I can without overdoing it or making it feel like a chore - by incorporating a bit into each day it feels natural and like something I can keep doing.

gardenarian

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #22 on: May 15, 2017, 03:06:27 PM »
Several months into my retirement I dislocated my hip while mountain climbing. ouch. It has been a long rehabilitation and may never be quite right.
The moral is, listen to your body and don't push yourself too hard.

Thank goodness I can still ride my bike!

I do eat a more wholesome diet, as I have time to think about what I want to eat, and to be able to go to the farmer's market, and to cook (though I have never really enjoyed cooking, never will.)

Despite my injury (and other disabilities that I won't go into) I'm much happier, and that is the best thing for health!

Bolshevik Artizan

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #23 on: June 21, 2017, 08:31:19 AM »
Interesting question, this. When I was working I was playing soccer 2x a week and importantly biking to work and back (approx 90mins every day). Now we live in a very mountainous area with bad roads which make cycling dangerous. I still play soccer 2x a week and do a lot of construction/heavy yard work. Eating better and drinking less alcohol and coffee, but more sedentary and the stress of childcare seems to have replaced work stress.

On balance? I would say roughly the same, or perhaps somewhat less healthy because of my much-missed cycling. But far, far happier and getting happier still.

BA

Laura Ingalls

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #24 on: June 21, 2017, 12:25:45 PM »
My physical health is better, but mostly my mental health is much better.
The last year pre fire I had a killer commute, a job with tremendous time deadlines, and was heavily grieving the death of my dad. 

I still am engaged in part time paid employment but it is pretty close to zero stress and I have time to walk/hike and go to yoga several times every week.  I am wired way too anxious and yoga works better than anti anxiety meds do. 

Paradoxically, I am probably slightly heavier as I have less anxious stomach to deal with.  I am female and about 5-8.  145 would look better than 160 but since I am only 145 when under lots of stress I will be happy with 160.

Mr. Green

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #25 on: November 30, 2017, 05:38:32 PM »
I'm now down 30 pounds since February. Early in the year I thought the weight loss was entirely due to stress I was having with the big life changes that were occurring with FIRE. However, the weight has continued to steadily drop and I think that much of it is simply because I'm moving much more than I did when I was sitting at an office desk every day. My eating habits are certainly better, as I self-medicated my dislike of my job with eating, but they are still not great. I need to add weight training to what I'm doing now but my health has definitely seen a big improvement since the beginning of the year.

foghorn

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #26 on: December 02, 2017, 02:58:51 PM »
I was laid off from my job over the summer (at age 50).  While I am slowly considering returning to the workforce, I am also giving serious consideration to committing to FIRE.

To answer your question - during this time of not working I know that my health is better by one key metric - my sleep.  I no longer wake up at 2:00am worrying about some project at work, some deadline I have to meet, or thinking about some jerk that pissed me off the day before.  I quickly noticed that I am sleeping through the night and waking up when my body says it is time to do so.  I still go to bed about the same time and wake up about the same time as when I was working - but not seeing the clock in the middle of the night is bliss.  I am much better rested than I ever was while working. 

One of the biggest fears I have if I return to the workforce is the stress of a job messing with my sleep all over again.


FINate

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #27 on: December 02, 2017, 03:13:58 PM »
I'm in the best shape of my life post-FIRE.

We do an hour long boot camp (HIIT) 3x/week. Weight training (mostly legs) 2x/week. Bike the kids to/from school most days and most errands by bike. For fun, backpacking, hiking, fishing, hunting, mountain/road biking.

Our diet has improved. We've stopped buying packaged snacks and most highly processed items. Fruits, veggies, and such for snacks. Almost always eat meals at home and make our own bread, english muffins, and other home cooked goods.

Sleep has improved, weight decreased and strength and overall fitness is much improved.

Mr. Green

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #28 on: December 02, 2017, 11:26:11 PM »
I no longer wake up at 2:00am worrying about some project at work, some deadline I have to meet, or thinking about some jerk that pissed me off the day before.
Man, that kind of stress has GOT to take some years off your life. I know we need money to live but, damn. I can't imagine the relief of not having to deal with that anymore.

Gone Fishing

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #29 on: December 03, 2017, 06:39:32 AM »
Interesting enough, I actually don't sleep as well as I did when I had a monotonous day of work ahead of me. Now, I often wake up between 1-4 am stoked about whatever awesome thing I have going on.  I could stand to lose 20 lbs, but my weight is stable, and my activity level high.  I used to yo-yo a lot while I was working.  I'm certainly stronger now.  My blood pressure was always borderline, but was much better on my last visit to the doctor. 

smoghat

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #30 on: December 03, 2017, 09:34:43 PM »
For sure. I sleep better and my blood pressure is around 120/79 (I take minor BP meds, but that’s 15/10 points lower than it used to be). My back is way better and I’ve gained a lot of muscle at the gym. Can’t say I’ve lost the weight I’d hoped to, but one day I will give booze and sugar a rest and it’ll happen. Or so I kid myself!


oblivo

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #31 on: December 04, 2017, 01:47:15 AM »
People say I look relaxed and healthy now. I thought I would lose weight, but I think because I no longer bike commute and I spend most of the day in the house near the kitchen, well..... at least I've cut out the diet coke.

Stress levels way, way, way, way down, but still there, now trying to find things that I enjoy doing that are meaningful to me.. more difficult than I expected

jim555

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #32 on: December 09, 2017, 12:25:35 PM »
I don’t really play by traditional FIRE rules, in that I don’t really care all that much about reaching FIRE. I instead focus on living a post-FIRE life now, because it’s the better way to live regardless of financial status.

Since discovering MMM, I’ve come to totally disregard anything about his journey to reaching FIRE and took all inspiration from his post-FIRE life choices and decided to skip the whole “10 years of intense work” part of the process. I did that for 11 years in school. I don’t have another decade of soul sucking drudgery left in me. Can’t do it.

Why not go straight to the awesome and profitable life part?? He makes more from his hobbies than he ever did as a professional, so why bother with the work you don’t love part in the first place??
I truly don’t see the benefit.

Anyhoo.
So yeah, even though I don’t have 1M saved yet (I’m actually in massive student debt), I already live a post FIRE life, and yes, it’s been amazing for my health.
I’ve lost over 70lbs, I’m very active, I can cook over 50 delicious and healthy recipes from memory, my life is filled with meaningful projects that give me a sense of purpose and value, and my marriage is great. I get a lot of good quality sleep, spend a lot of time outside, and have ample energy for hobbies and projects.

My point is that FIRE isn’t a pre-requisite to living your best and healthiest life, it’s just a nice security blanket that makes it feel a lot safer, but taking that path can have some brutal health consequences for people starting this later in life. It’s easy to knuckle down and power through in your 20s, it starts becoming actually dangerous as you get older.
Please share your secret on skipping the soul crushing job part of the journey.

Hikester

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #33 on: December 09, 2017, 03:04:35 PM »
Definitely yes for me. Have time to exercise, get adequate sleep, more flexibility with food etc. I can go for long walks, bike rides, hiking and of course less stress. Having more time means I can now bike to the grocery store or walk somewhere even if takes longer. I can afford to fit activity into my everyday life without having to entirely do it by car because it is faster. I feel happier and more satisfied with life because I have more choices now. Not being chained to a desk is also very liberating.

zinethstache

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #34 on: December 11, 2017, 10:01:47 PM »
I posted in April (after FIREing the end of Jan) and have an update.

I read a poster above who ramped up exercise too fast and had to back off.

I have managed to sprain each ankle (have permanent nerve damage from a spine injury so my right leg is the culprit).

Each sprain slowed me down. Which I think was just fine. We full time travel and everyone tells us to go slow to prevent burnout. I keep having to slow myself down...

Now my ankles are mostly healed up. I walk very carefully now as it is more important I take slower high quality steps than walk fast on bad ground.

My back is even better now and I feel very little stress. When I am stressed I have free time to manage it.

I am ramping up a side gig for fun which has a large online web component and an in person teaching component. I am careful not to go overboard. DH helps calibrate my enthusiasm. I was in a web development environment for over 20 years so I can pull all-nighters coding with the best of them. My back doesn't like that so much however.

DH is still doing well too! We are thriving in our FIREd life.


Shrike

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #35 on: December 12, 2017, 11:50:29 PM »
No.  I retired in August and have gained quite a bit of weight.  I'm home a lot more than when I was working (obviously) and the kitchen is always RIGHT THERE.  Mindless eating habits have taken a turn for the worse since retirement.  I move around less, and I eat more.  I'm aware both of these habits need to change ASAP and am taking steps to do so.

gerardc

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #36 on: December 15, 2017, 06:52:16 PM »
Please share your secret on skipping the soul crushing job part of the journey.

No secret, just not willing to be miserable anymore.
MMM has a great post about how people who’ve reached FIRE tend to do their best and most profitable work. Well...why not just skip to the best and most profitable work?

I make it sound easier than it is, obviously, but I find slogging at a soul crushing job far more difficult in the long run.

I spent 3 years slogging and making a lot of money. It made me sick, injured, and miserable, and hurt my marriage. I decided “fuck this” and bailed on my very prestigious and very profitable job that would have let me reach a generous FIRE in under 10 years of beginning to work, just like Pete...but I wasn’t starting as young as Pete, I was out of steam, and I likely would have stayed fat, ended up sick and injured, and probably divorced. I didn’t have another 10 years of life to give up.
So yeah...bad plan.

Now I work part time at a much easier and non-miserable job which allows me to dedicate time and energy to passion projects that could end up far more profitable, and are just plain fun. I could still reach a solid FIRE with my part time job alone by working until my early 50s doing something I enjoy, which sounds just fine to me as a backup. So that’s a worst case scenario.

People thought I was insane to take a 50% pay cut so early in my career, while still in debt, but I thought is was insane to spend even a single year longer waiting to live.
Life is too short to wait to live.

I’ve invested way too much in therapy bills to let myself be miserable. Lol

Man, totally.

The irony is, that's the typical "bum life". But if you're frugal it's actually better than being a lawyer or in a high-octane position, IMO.

Most of us here are in stressful positions, and we can't think of working until 65. But if you're a hairdresser or sell fruits at the market, it's easy and you can cruise until 65 easily. Which is better?
« Last Edit: December 15, 2017, 06:55:18 PM by gerardc »

gerardc

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Re: Did FIREing help your health?
« Reply #37 on: December 16, 2017, 12:32:55 PM »
Yeah I think I agree with you, Malkynn.

It's important that have a bunch of FU money though, not just 2-3 months of expenses. Then you can do the risky thing that won't work for a few years and that your parents discouraged you about, but that might work out better in the end.