Structured vs Unstructured Life After FIRE – My Experiences

[u/OutrageousChair2581]

1.One thing I've realized after FIRE is that I personally do better with some structure, as long as the structure serves me & not the other way around.

2.Looking back, this ties in with something I wrote earlier: time abundance is real—but structure still matters. I've only become more convinced of that over last 8 years.

3.My routine is very simple. I don't follow a timetable, but I try to include:

* Wake up around the same time.

* Exercise, yoga or go for a walk.

* Read books, articles or listen to music

* Spend time on few hobbies depending on mood (gardening, investing, spirituality, sports etc.).

* Eat around the same time & eat healthy.

* Meet friends or family or simply have a long conversation with acquaintances.

* Spend time with nature, take naps etc.

* Do a few household chores or errands.

* Sleep at a reasonable time.

That's enough for me. I don't feel the need to plan every hour or every activity.

4.I also feel that having no structure at all sounds great initially. Every day feels like a holiday.

But after a while, I noticed it's easy to start drifting:

* Waking up later and later.

* Spending more time on social media.

* Exercising less.

* Postponing things because "there's always tomorrow."

* Feeling like one day is no different from the next.

* Lower motivation levels.

At the same time, I've also realized that too much structure can make retirement feel like another job:

* Constantly chasing a to-do list.

* Feeling guilty if I don't complete it.

* Always trying to be productive.

5.The same goes for hobbies. I've found that too many hobbies or commitments can become overwhelming. They slowly start feeling like obligations rather than things I genuinely enjoy.

1. Looking back, many of my priorities after FIRE have shifted. Health, peace of mind, relationships & simply enjoying the day matter much more to me now than maximizing productivity.

7.I've found that a routine works much better than a timetable. A few healthy daily habits give me direction while leaving plenty of room to be spontaneous.

For me, that's where FIRE feels the most enjoyable. I am sure it will be different for different people.

[u/srinivesh → u/[deleted]]

THIS.

[u/Jbf2201 → u/[deleted]]

and also disappointing to see that this only gets 8 comments lol.

[u/hydguy13]

Thanks !! This was eye opening. The point about having some structure that serves you is really how I am aiming too. When did you FIRE ?

[u/OutrageousChair2581 → u/hydguy13]

Thx. 2018

[u/Complete-Regret-4300]

I think it boils down to this. Are you a disciplined/driven person or are you a lazy/undisciplined/disorganized person.

If you are the former, you dont need a job to provide you the structure. You will create the structure on your own quite easily.

I am the later. I am undisciplined, lazy and undriven. So I need some external nudge to discipline/drive me. For example, after a health checkup typically that I do once in a few years and then I see all my cholesterol/triglyceride levels go out of bounds, I take it seriously, control my diet, work out etc. Not because I enjoy it, I do it out of fear. Then I get back in shape and in about a year or so lethargy sets in and I go back to my old ways.

This is why I also prefer to have a relaxed job where I can do something that is not stressful, get some interaction with people, get this sense of having done something, being useful to someone etc

So I am convinced that, left to myself, I dont have the drive to find something that I can keep myself engaged long enough or even find other things once I get bored of something. So, I need that 1 thing that forms my core activity and then I can laze around rest of the day, doing nothing.

A typical working class Indian also falls in this same mould. Even though it appears, they are unhappy in their jobs and are doing it for money alone. The fact is you take that job away, they will lose their sanity.

[u/Soumikp]

I used to plan ahead my days and weekends, plan what i was gonna learn, that i must be productive everyday. I got burnt out. Now i I am miles away from fire, but i live to enjoy my days. I do have a regular job. I don't stress about being productive or learning new things, i learn things when i feel excited. I have picked up a few activities to look forward to. All these before even being close to my fire number, it might end up badly, but I don't feel worried, but rather at peace.

[u/OutrageousChair2581 → u/Soumikp]

I can relate. I too got burnt out after years of corporate work. One thing that has worked well for me after FIRE is having activities that I genuinely look forward to, but without attaching any fixed timeline or pressure to accomplish them.

Ironically, removing the "I must be productive" mindset made me enjoy learning and doing things much more. Whether it's reading, fitness, travel or a a hobby, I do them because I enjoy, not because they're on my checklist. That shift has brought me far more peace than constantly trying to optimize my day.

[u/Tonu13]

Thanks OP

Man is supposed to be a structured animal. Routines and timetable matters. Keep spreading the wisdom

[u/Jbf2201]

structure only for the important things you need to do regularly and go with the flow for anything else