Yet another article suggesting we won't be happy in retirement

[Pellice]

To add to the pile:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/too-little-free-time-much/2021/09/21/634c561e-1a15-11ec-bcb8-0cb135811007_story.html

This one argues that too much free time makes us less happy.

I love the Washington Post, but they've been piling on the lifestyle articles lately. (Although I admit I read some of them, including this one.)

The absurdity is demonstrated by this contradiction. Early in the article is the statement, "It turns out that reclining alone on a beach all day might not be as ideal as it sounds."

Later in the article is the statement "...“productive” means worthwhile or fulfilling, rather than contributing to the greater good. 'For some people, it might be sitting on the beach watching the waves, and for others, it’s volunteering or renovating the house.'”

So it actually turns out that reclining on a beach can make some people happy.

Geez, almost everyone has things that need to be done - sheets to be changed, bills to pay, relative care, pet care. The article sets up a fake straw situation, one of magically total leisure time. It takes no account of the flexibility and power conveyed by the ability to order one's own time along with the reduction of obligations presented by w*rk.

 

[street]

I think in anything we do in life if we aren't happy the blame goes on us (me). If a person is bored it is their problem to solve. It just doesn't come down to retirement makes us unhappy but our actions to not do anything about it.

 

[Markola]

^^^^^. Love that, Street. What makes me happiest is doing what I want to, when I want to, including earning some cash under my own terms, here and there.

 

[NW-Bound]

I guess it must be true that I am unhappy in my retirement. Why, I dream of being at work quite often.

Just recently, I dreamt that I was at work, and discovered that I had not been paid. Now, I was doing a contract job, what some people like to embellish by saying consulting work, but it was actually work paid by the hours that I claimed. And I had forgotten to submit the charges. Arghh, I often liked my work, but not to the extent that I would work for free. And then, it was true that I already achieved FI, hence did not check often to see if the pay had been deposited in the bank, hence the late detection that I had been working for free. Inadvertently that is. What a nightmare!

Yes, I still have dreams about work quite often. More often than it should be. What does this tell me, I don't know.

 

[NW-Bound]

By the way, the article talks about having too much free time in ER.

Yeah, maybe someone who quits work at 40. But I only stopped working at 55, and am a lot older now. I don't think about free time, but what time that I have left, period. Free time, my tush.

 

[youbet]

This one argues that too much free time makes us less happy.

.

I'm having a problem disagreeing with that Pellice. At least in my own life.

I've been totally FIRE'd over 16 years. No part time work. No volunteer work. No mandatory obligations. At some points during this time, I did experience some uneasiness due to too much free time. Easily solved by upping hobby involvement, scheduling some extra fishing trips, DW and I becoming more socially engaged and taking on some homeowner projects.

But, it's true. Too much free time was making me less happy. Too much scheduled time would do the same. Everyone has their own balance point I guess.

 

[Dtail]

Never bored and never wondering if I have too much free time.
Wished I could have retired earlier than 57 y.o. and I truly enjoyed my career.

 

[RobbieB]

Whenever I'm bored, I go do something. I just can't sit here on my ass forever and do nothing. Much as I try, the urge to do something always gets me off my seat.

Retirement. Not meant for everyone I guess. Me, I like it -

 

[Chuckanut]

If I get bored, I will find something to do that improves my life. Usually, it is getting in a bit more exercise. Getting the blood flowing also improves my mood and gives me new ideas on things I might do. At other times, I will do some cooking like trying out a recipe in my "Recipes to try file'. And there is nothing wrong with a bit of extra sleep

 

[kgtest]

I guess it must be true that I am unhappy in my retirement. Why, I dream of being at work quite often.

Just recently, I dreamt that I was at work, and discovered that I had not been paid.

Lol, I literally lived this nightmare the past few weeks...only I had submitted the time as required. Had to heckly management to actually "approve" the timecard which they did not do in time to make payroll. What a mess. I will be moving on in short order. Missing payroll should be the LAST problem a company has IMHO. The writing was on the walls a while ago.

Strangely, I do not dream about work ever, but I do have some wild (fun, and not so fun) dreams every single night. I've been told its a sign of good REM sleep. Not sure if falling to my death only to be woken right before I go "splat" is "good" sleep, but hey I didn't go splat.

 

[youbet]

To add to the pile:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/too-little-free-time-much/2021/09/21/634c561e-1a15-11ec-bcb8-0cb135811007_story.html

This one argues that too much free time makes us less happy.

I love the Washington Post, but they've been piling on the lifestyle articles lately. (Although I admit I read some of them, including this one.)

The absurdity is demonstrated by this contradiction. Early in the article is the statement, "It turns out that reclining alone on a beach all day might not be as ideal as it sounds."

Later in the article is the statement "...“productive” means worthwhile or fulfilling, rather than contributing to the greater good. 'For some people, it might be sitting on the beach watching the waves, and for others, it’s volunteering or renovating the house.'”

So it actually turns out that reclining on a beach can make some people happy.

Geez, almost everyone has things that need to be done - sheets to be changed, bills to pay, relative care, pet care. The article sets up a fake straw situation, one of magically total leisure time. It takes no account of the flexibility and power conveyed by the ability to order one's own time along with the reduction of obligations presented by w*rk.

Folks may want to actually read the article. It's pretty interesting. In no way does it suggest "Yet another article suggesting we won't be happy in retirement" as the thread title indicates.

It does say that studies show that if an individual has more free time than he/she is comfortable with, that may reduce happiness. Happiness would be increased by getting up and doing something. chuckanut's and RobbieB's posts seem to be in congruence with this. And I've had some times during 16 years of FIRE that becoming involved in some activity increased my happiness despite reducing my free time.

 

[teetee]

I would think people retire early has higher chance of being happy since they have more physical strength, creativity, and mental capacity comparing to people retire later in their lives.

But of course if a person is not happy to begin with, retirement may only enhance that emotion and make the suffering longer.

 

[Badger]

By the way, the article talks about having too much free time in ER.

Yeah, maybe someone who quits work at 40. But I only stopped working at 55, and am a lot older now. I don't think about free time, but what time that I have left, period. Free time, my tush.

+1 And what I am still able to do with that time.



Cheers!

 

[candrew]

"It turns out that reclining alone on a beach all day might not be as ideal as it sounds."

Only if I get a sand rash in my crotch.

 

[Pellice]

Folks may want to actually read the article. It's pretty interesting. In no way does it suggest "Yet another article suggesting we won't be happy in retirement" as the thread title indicates.

It does say that studies show that if an individual has more free time than he/she is comfortable with, that may reduce happiness. Happiness would be increased by getting up and doing something. chuckanut's and RobbieB's posts seem to be in congruence with this. And I've had some times during 16 years of FIRE that becoming involved in some activity increased my happiness despite reducing my free time.

But my point is that the article is setting up a straw man (straw situation?) with the words "free time." The author gives no example of "free time" other than the beach example, which another interviewee later contradicted. And in fact, the point is made that time spent on hobbies, friends, learning new things, or, pretty much, doing anything, does NOT count as free time. So, in that case, what IS "free time?" Is it like a timeout confined in a room?

However, I admit I did not read the underlying research. No time!

 

[marko]

"It turns out that reclining alone on a beach all day might not be as ideal as it sounds."

Some people just lack imagination.

 

[Stormy Kromer]

I would think people retire early has higher chance of being happy since they have more physical strength, creativity, and mental capacity comparing to people retire later in their lives.

But of course if a person is not happy to begin with, retirement may only enhance that emotion and make the suffering longer.

I've observed that most people are about as happy as they want to be.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

When I get bored I simply BTD. Cures boredom every time.

 

[Gumby]

I wonder what those people did during the summer when they were in grade school? As I recall, the possibilities were endless and the days flew by.

 

[ncbill]

Doom...gloom!

"they'll find you dead in your Barcalounger in front of your HDTV if you ER!"

there was always plenty to keep us occupied before we started working, so why not afterwards?

 

[pacergal]

Some folks do get restless if they have too much "unoccupied" time. Not me!
I grew up with a Mom who found things for us to do if we ever complained of boredom. I learned at an early age to find something to do and it was my responsibility to keep myself busy/happy/satisfied.
Still do.

 

[Gumby]

Some folks do get restless if they have too much "unoccupied" time. Not me!
I grew up with a Mom who found things for us to do if we ever complained of boredom. I learned at an early age to find something to do and it was my responsibility to keep myself busy/happy/satisfied.
Still do.

If any of us expressed the thought that we were bored, my mother could easily find some sort of housework for us to do.

 

[finnski1]

Many peoples identities are tied to what they do or did for a living. Luckily I never cared too much about that. I have boat loads of "free time" but it was not "free" to earn it. I hike with several retired folks and I couldn't tell you what a single one of them did for a living. They could all be trustafarians for all I know. We all enjoy hiking our local mountain every weekend and that's pretty much all that matters.
DW and I have been lifelong hikers and campers. We are in better shape in our 60's than during most of our working lives except maybe when we were very young. Just did 2 separate 4000 footer hikes in the White Mountains of NH. These are very strenuous but incredibly rewarding. Here is a photo of Mts Madison, Adams, Jefferson and Mt Washington from the hike up Mt Moriah. The feeling of being very fit right now is priceless to me. I am sure I couldn't have felt that without all this free time.

I have so many interests(music, design and build projects, renovations, home improvements etc)now that I couldn't possibly explore all of them. Each year that goes by I value my "free" time more than ever. If people can't be happy with a bunch of free time I feel sorry for them but my philosophy is to just keep moving forward. Enjoy the here and now and not what might come in the future nor what you should have done in the past.

 

[Bryan Barnfellow]

By the way, the article talks about having too much free time in ER.

Yeah, maybe someone who quits work at 40. But I only stopped working at 55, and am a lot older now. I don't think about free time, but what time that I have left, period. Free time, my tush.

I believe that I worked very hard indeed to garner my days of early retirement and that not a drop of it was "free."

 

[Ready-4-ER-at-14]

I have a good friend who is Chinese which doesn't matter except english is her second language learned later in life. She makes an interesting mistake when trying to say "I am bored". She says " I am boring".

However when I think about it when I am bored it turns out I am being kind of boring in terms of going out, doing new things, not visiting friends or family. So suddenly when I do some thing interactive suddenly the world is less boring...

Read recently that happiness is an activity and not a state of being...