Hey folks, how does one create one of these posts without looking like a douche? Anyway, the past couple years have been pretty darn prosperous. My family and I sold some businesses across three states and helped the acquiring company integrate them into their operations. Stressful doesn’t even begin to describe it, but on the balance, things are positive. I’m under 40, no debt, happy healthy family, and living in a beautiful part of a free state.

The downside is that I’m overweight, drinking too much and eating like a college kid over the past couple years. I know I need to make some changes, and those changes start with correcting those behaviors in particular. I’m kind of floating through life, not particularly passionate about any single course of action.

As of next month, my regular employment converts to a 1099 position that will require less than 5 hours/month. The consulting agreement is enough to live decently well on. I have a plan I’ve worked out with a couple separate financial advisors to help preserve my purchasing power in the face of our clown world financial & monetary system. All my bases are covered, I’m just not fulfilled.

I want to get back in shape.

I want to learn a new, potentially marketable skill.

I’ve got some ideas about businesses I’d like to start.

I want to do whatever I can to promote freedom, free-market Capitalism, and to defy authoritarianism.

I want to spend more time with my wife and kids without the distraction of a high pressure job, at least for a bit.

There’s a lot of wisdom here. What would you want to do? What rules would you impose on yourself? What would you seek from extended time off? Should I bother?

Thank for reading, folks.

I would volunteer with something that interests you. Might learn a new business that way, too.
And drag your kids outside. Hike, bike, hunt or fish with them. Will help you get in shape too. Your wife might get into that too. I got my kid interested in Geo Caching and visiting historic sites and its something we share to this day.

I don't have much advise for you, sounds like you are doing pretty well for under 40. But you should make getting into shape and drinking less and eating right a #1 priority. If your health declines because of your choices, nothing else matters as much.

Get your kids out of the public school system. Make educating them at home your near term job#1. Their are many networks and resources for doing just that. That would also accomplish one of your other goals.

WRT managing your weight and getting into a shape other than round, I can tell you that it does not get any easier as you age. Far less pain and trouble if you start before 40 rather than after 60.

Those who mentioned finding a passion, perhaps as a volunteer, seem to be on the right track. Since this is a firearms forum, I'll venture that doing something in the shooting sports area, perhaps as an instructor, or coach to young/beginning shooters might not be the worst avenue to explore.

My advice in the health and fitness realms would be to more slowly implement changes until you arrive at a balance of diet and exercise that is long term sustainable.

The temptation with so much time available would be to really attack it which will give you amazing short term results but not be something you could keep up long term.

Or, blend the 2, kick things off with some sort of 30-90 day challenge. After that transition into what you can do (and enjoy) long term.

Don’t neglect “filling your cup” with hobbies/activities you enjoy so you can really give to your family. That’s like putting on your oxygen mask first before assisting others.

Good luck and a great position to be in!

Edit: there is a program called “75 Hard”. It is pretty intense for anyone with a full time job but on a sabbatical you’ll have plenty of time and it includes personal development items and doesn’t specify the diet or workouts, that is up to you. It would really kick things off…

I just retired a couple of months ago, so I am on permanent sabbatical.

I highly recommend it!

My suggestions are to treat this much like retirement. It is a whole new lifestyle, and a new beginning. It is also the end of your previous money earning activities.

First, psychologically, be sure you are understanding properly that you did not lose your identity. When people lose a job or retire, it is not uncommon to feel like you lost who you were. You were never your job nor your businesses. That is what you did to earn money. Your job was owner or developer, etc, but you are jonrem.

Second, as far as health I suggest you seek out a good wellness clinic. They'll have a doc whose focus is health and fitness, not just treating certain illnesses. They'll probably have a nutritionist, an exercise physiologist, and perhaps some kind of psychologist. They'll get you set up on a plan that fits your situation, with structure to meet your goals.

Get up every morning and do something positive. Go for a walk. Bring your wife coffee in bed and watch the sunrise. Watch a half hour of financial news. Chip away at a long delayed project, like organizing family photos. Whatever, but make it something other than lounging in bed all morning. Get up at a certain time and get going.

Make a list of all those things you've been putting off. For me it includes getting the garage set up and organized, get back into a band, and sort through all the boxes of stuff that has accumulated. For you it might include learning a hobby, or traveling to certain places, etc.

Give yourself permission to do nothing important. If you want to binge Netflix all afternoon, go ahead! If you have your list of things important to you, a little random down time will not jeopardize accomplishing those goals. You've probably been really busy and driven for years, so learn to relax. For me it is hitting the mountain for a few hours, usually without any specific time frame other than what I feel like. Hiking, skiing, biking. This down time is necessary for your health, but it can cause guilt because you used to have so many important things hanging over you. Learn to relax.

quote:

The downside is that I’m overweight, drinking too much and eating like a college kid over the past couple years. I know I need to make some changes, and those changes start with correcting those behaviors in particular. I’m kind of floating through life, not particularly passionate about any single course of action.

I wish I had some solid advice for you but aside from drinking too much since I quit that a long time ago this is me to a T.
I am 38 have 3 boys under 9, work 6 or 7 days a week, when I do have a day off I am usually driving 2 hours one way to help mom who is having some health issues. So I have about zero time to do anything let alone anything I am really passionate about. Though my boys are getting to the age where I can get stuff done and not have to have eye balls on them constantly and they can actually help out on some things. So my Mustang project that has been very slow going hopefully will it high gear when weather breaks. Also come April I’ll only be working 5 days with both days of being weekends.

I need to lose at least 25 lbs and I can likely do that in 6 or so months if I would just eat better. I eat like complete crap and I am lazy so taking the time to make healthy food is going to be a tough one for me.

I have been pondering some of the same things as you here recently but it is the dead of winter and been balls cold and a bit of snow on it is even more difficult to get motivated to do things.

I started changing some behavior by reading more I have been reading some fiction as it is a bit of a brain break for me. Much better than just surfing the web. Though plan to transition that reading to something educational or to keep learning just not figured out what yet.

Not much help on suggestion really because we are rowing the same boat in some aspects of things. So hopefully some folks will toss us some good ideas. I was actually talking about this today with friend. I used to be in stellar shape when I had time but also had a core group of people I worked out with that kept me accountable and motivated. I don’t have that anymore.
Maybe that would help? Find someone or a group of folks that will hold you accountable to your goals.

I retire in 6 years and keep telling myself I’ll get to it then but as someone said already it’s so much harder to get back in shape as one gets older.
I have been lazy for too long now.

Some really good suggestions here. I won’t be able to retire for a while since I have three daughters and a wife who loves to spend money.

Getting in shape is priority 1. Hearing that loud and clear. I keep going back to “without your health, you’ve got nothing” or “what would a wealthy person in poor health pay to be healthy again?”

I’m even considering getting a flip phone, but I don’t want to give up podcasts and music in the car. I get sucked into the phone and I notice that I read less and am generally less happy.I don’t know, I might still try it out.

From your post it sounds like you are well off financially and under the age of 40. Thats pretty darn cool. You lost me though when you say you have ideas for starting a few businesses but then say you want to spend more time with your family. Not sure you can do both.

My advice is to forget about making any more money right now and concentrate on your family and yourself. I see that you live in Tennessee. Great place to take the kids fishing, boating, hunting, hiking, camping...you get the idea. Get a babysitter (if needed) and take the wife on a cruise to Alaska, just the two of you.

As far as improving yourself, I don't have much to offer beyond the many self awareness/ self improvement books and articles that can be found all over. Maybe Yoga? I'm serious.

Whatever you decide, good luck!

I'm at the end of a 52 year Plumbing & Heating career, started w/Dad when I was 12 and am now worried about when I give it up, what will my physical condition turn to.
I've got some projects to keep me busy for a couple of years, but what after that? I do know that a sedentary life would kill me.

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Originally posted by wreckdiver:
I'm at the end of a 52 year Plumbing & Heating career, started w/Dad when I was 12 and am now worried about when I give it up, what will my physical condition turn to.
I've got some projects to keep me busy for a couple of years, but what after that? I do know that a sedentary life would kill me.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Sedentary life is kicking my ass. It’s not good.

Don't retire "from" something.

Retire "to" something.

Keep a schedule, every day, of things you are going to do, and on a regular long term basis.

Don't fall into the trap of having no plans, no goals, nothing to aim for.

You need structure in your life going forward.

Best wishes to you.
.

quote:

I’m under 40, no debt, happy healthy family, and living in a beautiful part of a free state.

I'm jealous! (Read that as Good for you!!!)
I'm closing on sixty, otherwise in a similar boat other than living in a communist shithole.

My only advice would be to think about what is really important to you and make sure that you make time for that.

I've not put the time into fitness that I should have because I have focused on other things. I just knocked a bunch of skin off various spots on my hands this afternoon "getting stuff done", that I didn't really need to do (let it be someone else's problem). It isn't a big deal, it'll heal quickly and won't slow me down, but I didn't have to do it, so why did I? I don't have a good answer for that other than I didn't think it through.

I dunno, just think about what is important to you, what you spend your time on, and make sure that the two are in allignment.

Good luck!