Life after quitting my job isn’t what most people imagine – endless leisure, continuous pursuing of interests, and maybe even a touch of boredom.
The questions still surface: “Are you bored yet?” “What do you do with your time?”
And while the frequency has dropped since my first year of newfound freedom, my answers continue to surprise: “No,” and “Much of the same, just at a slower, more intentional pace.”
To be clear, I don’t mind these questions, as they often lead to conversations beyond the surface of financial independence; they dive into the richer, more complex aspects of living a life truly on your own terms.
Let me elaborate.
My World of Exploration
Give me another thousand years, and I will still know less than one thousandth of our world.
The vast and immense world can be overwhelming.
As an individual human, limited by various constraints, focusing on a few areas not only helps us to engage with it, but also makes the endeavour more purposeful.
Yet, once we’re able to loosen some of these constraints, what then prevents us from exploring the boundless possibilities?
This reminds me during my time as an educator, when I often encouraged my students to explore beyond what is covered in the syllabus. Why limit the learning to what will be assessed?
What if there’s no examination? Will you just stop learning?
What if money is no longer an issue for you? Will you stop having a purposeful life?
So how could I ever be bored, when there’s so much to explore?
That does not mean I am endlessly pursuing new experiences and interests. I am pretty laid back, going with the flow and simply pick up what comes into my life.
A Typical Weekday in My Life
Let me briefly share what a typical weekday looks like for me.
As you can see from the above schedule, my typical day is pretty mundane, simply revolves around my family, investments, learning, and passive leisure.
Obviously, I don’t live my life so compartmentalised, each timing just highlights the main activities. For instance, “time with younger boy” doesn’t mean I don’t interact with my wife during this period. Also, dish washing is done after the meals and not during “household chores” timing.
Of course, there will also be days I’m out running errands, meeting friends, or attending AGMs. But the beauty is my time is incredibly flexible, allowing me to largely indulge my introverted nature and preference for quieter moments.
To some, perhaps even my younger self, this current lifestyle might appear unexciting. But for the me of today, it’s ideal – more solitude, sprinkled with social interaction. This is meaningful to me now, and that’s what really matters.
And here’s the best part: you don’t need to wait for FIRE to start living a fulfilling life. I certainly didn’t put my inner drive on hold until I reached financial independence, and you shouldn’t either.
Back to the analogy.
Just like we enjoy learning while managing exam stress, you can live with intention within your existing life constraints. Embracing this now will undoubtedly lead to a far smoother transition whenever you choose to step away from the daily grind.
So, what fuels your purpose today?
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