I’ve worked in many places and on a few occasions I’ve come across this phenomenon: people counting down to retirement.
The first time was during my university days. A neighbour gave me a lift one time as I was late for my bus. He told me how he was retiring in six months. He and his wife had been saving up for a long cruise and putting together a bucket list. About two weeks into his retirement he died of a brain aneurysm.
The second time was early on in my professional career. I met a guy who was divorced and was due to retire in two years time. He had a spreadsheet with all his plans on it. The main focus appeared to be planning a train set that would run throughout the entirety of his home. His planning was very detailed. That’s all he wanted to do after giving up work; to play with model trains all day long every day.
A year ago I was working with someone who even went as far as having a whiteboard above his desk with a large number written on it in marker pen. It was the number of working days until he retired. He would update it daily so all could see it as they walked by.
Today I find myself in a new role working alongside yet another counter. This time it’s a year and a half to go to their retirement. He’s planning everything he will do when he will no longer be working, right down to the smallest detail.
What I’ve learned from all these encounters is that these individuals do not love their work. They are always looking to the future. A future that is not guaranteed. If they get there it may not be all they imagined it would be.
If you hate your work and dream of retirement, change your work. Enjoy the present as the future is not guaranteed.