Disillusioned with early retirement

Early retirement is considered a dream of many people in the new era. Many people set a goal of working for 15-20 years, instead of 40 years like the previous generation. This makes many young people follow the financial independence, early retirement (FIRE) movement.

But from their own real-life experiences, some early retirees are realizing things aren't as great as they seemed.

Conrad Golly is a former law professor in the US. A few years ago, he decided to retire early but now he is starting a business because he can't stand being idle. "I am financially stable but still want to bring value to others and contribute to society," Golly said.

American financial advisor John Mclaughlin also returned to work after early retirement. "I am 59 years old and can still bring value to my company. I have seen many friends and elders who have suffered physical and mental decline after a long time staying at home, becoming a burden to society. I understand that everyone will go through that stage, so this is the time to contribute as long as possible," Mclaughlin said.

According to experts, the positive side of early retirement is that it helps workers end the challenges of work. But some cases can easily lead to boredom, lack of purpose in life and find "love" when working.

As for Mclaughlin, he wants to stay sharp by collaborating with business partners. "My 30-plus years of experience have made me a 'valuable asset,'" says the 59-year-old. "It's my early-career experience that allows me to warn others to avoid similar situations."

Software engineer Anshul Sharma also expressed frustration after retiring. "I miss the challenge and camaraderie of work. I like working with colleagues or the satisfaction of completing a project, instead of feeling disconnected from society," the engineer said.

In addition, early retirement requires long-term discipline in spending, as well as a large enough capital to meet all your needs. This is something not everyone can do.

Like software engineer Sharma, he found that his accumulated assets were not enough to support himself. Over time, his savings began to run out and he is now looking for ways to generate income.

This happened to Mclaughlin, who spent more money than he could sustain. The 59-year-old thought he had saved a lot of money and had passive income streams from real estate. "But I started to spend assets instead of accumulating them. I have too much time to live and I don't have enough assets left for me and my family to enjoy life," Mclaughlin said.

Psychologists say that one of the reasons why many people want to retire early is because they are stuck in a busy job and the only way out is to quit. However, in many cases, the best solution is just to take a short vacation to recharge.

Chanda Torrey, an American, chose early retirement to escape his 80-hour work week for years. Before taking the plunge, he envisioned a new life filled with meals with his girlfriend and morning cocktails.

But within a few weeks, he began to feel depressed and missed the company. "It turned out that I just needed a vacation instead of a series of days lying at home with no idea where the future would lead," Chanda said.