I had a successful exit two years ago ,thinking retirement would be bliss,traveling here, exploring hobbies there. But it all became routine and surprisingly boring, faster than I expected.
Over time, I started forgetting things, which really unsettled me. I became increasingly lazy and unmotivated.
Earlier this year,I began volunteering as a systems administrator and network engineer for an NGO and I couldn’t be happier. The daily interaction with staff has significantly improved my cognition,which had been rapidly declining.
I don't mean to be negative, but things become boring fast when you have no hobbies and interests outside of work. You were likely programmed to do work -- so much that it became your only hobby.
The sad thing is - especially in software/tech - it's so competitive these days, if you don't "live to work", you won't work enough to live..
As a 30+ year software dev, the expectations / requirements are definitely more challenging than when I started. Mind you, the tools are also somewhat better, but there's this feeling of needing to be always-on that's hard to shake.
And the whole "take as many days as you need" fake-unlimited-vacation thing, where people end up taking less vacation days than before because it feels "wrong" to actually take 4-5 weeks vacation in a year when others aren't taking as much. At my previous employer, when I joined, it was start at 18 vacation days per year, add one for every year at the company up to 28 - and you could bank up to ~35 before you lost days. At least you felt "entitled" to take those days. Then, they switched to "flexible PTO" and I'm sure overall, people took less days vacation. My current employer is "flexible" and I feel anxious taking 4 weeks throughout the year.
What an inspiring way to give back, kudos. There's definitely something to be said for keeping busy, and as you allude it's that people-centered problem solving and banter that gets you that lift.
Yeah it's real. I spent a few months recovering from PTSD and burnout a few years ago, and noticed myself starting to slip in various ways. As soon as I could, I picked up a coding project as part of my recovery plan — it was really helpful.
Even if I retire, I hope to be able to do some cognitively-challenging thing for as long as I can.
Over time, I started forgetting things, which really unsettled me. I became increasingly lazy and unmotivated.
Earlier this year,I began volunteering as a systems administrator and network engineer for an NGO and I couldn’t be happier. The daily interaction with staff has significantly improved my cognition,which had been rapidly declining.