Or, create a midlife crisis and pull the trigger on that dream sport car. That’ll give you a reason to want to drive to work everyday…

Actually no. If I had my way, I’d work for as long as I can (but then I work as a physician in my own medical practice), but I’m now semi-retired at 50 because my wife wants to slow down and enjoy life… and I want to do that with her.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. My patients have repeatedly and decisively made their preference clear in the past - they're not interested in seeing a replacement doctor, as I don't run a general practice. And in the past, I used to accede to their request as I felt responsible for their wellbeing. Well, a lot of things changed thanks to COVID, and also personal health isn't as good as it was say, 20 years ago (after all, I'm no spring chicken anymore), and so another mindset slowly crept into play: "I'm not going to be of any use to anybody if I'm sick, or worse, dead".

That mean giving permission to myself to take more time off, as I need, and also to scale back at work.

I've not made any active attempts to grow my practice - I've restricted the number of new patients I wish to take in daily, even my Indonesian and other ASEAN country patients (where as in the past, I'd run down and get the surgery open even if they flew in on one of my rest days!), and I take a month off on alternate months to return to Australia, where I keep my MID LIFE CRISES in Sydney.

I find this has helped me reduce my own boredom at work (as exciting as medicine is, human beings are such that we'll fall into a routine and get bored at times).

I'm not advocating that you adopt the same approach, but perhaps vary your routine on & off work - take a longer drive in your BMW to work, drive a different route, find the enjoyment in the journey - all this to charge you up BEFORE you start the day, and then discover new things about your colleagues while at work, make friends with the barista at your favourite cafe and have a bit of a chin wag with him or her at lunch, whatever it take, to keep things fresh and get you looking forward to getting to work.

Just some random ideas tossed over your side for your consideration - I've just turned 50, so I can safely say I've been there, done that and bought the T-shirt, insofar as where you're coming from

Good luck!

I didn't ask whether you're married - I assume you are, and with kids?

If so, then my advise wouldn't be complete without mentioning the same variation of routine with the family members that mean the most to you.

In my case, it's just my wife and I, so we incorporate a lot of activities with our classmates (primarily in Australia, where I spent a lot of time studying) and also with our favourite nieces and nephews. Luckily for us, they are all of different ages, so it's like a never-ending sushi train of variety. AND, the best thing is that I get to live out my childhood (which was obviously a lot less fortunate than theirs) through presents and toys that I get to buy for the younger ones!

These things, as seemingly irrelevant as they may read on the surface, actually help with how I perceive work too - a life outside of work that is fresh and exciting keeps me energized for the tedium that invariably comes with the routine of work.

The kids will definitely keep you busy and on your toes, bro! And, as someone else said, you can focus on the "greater goal" of a tidy retirement nest for you and your wife to enjoy once the kids are finally out of your hair. That's gotta be a strong motivator at work!

If you end up in Auckland, by all means, hop across the puddle that's the Tasman and we'll have a get together Down Under!

Yes, money can be a very strong and powerful motivator

Actually, when you don't have to work, believe me, you'll miss the camaraderie and the interaction and the mental stimulation at work... human beings are funny creatures

I agree! I love the whole hotel experience, the pampering, the spa, even the eclectic sounds and sights of a new place ... but I definitely don't like hotel mattresses and their pillows!

During my Sydney to Tasmania road trip, we purchased 2 tempur pillows and brought them along with us so at least we'd have a good pillow to lay on... the only regret was we couldn't purchase a bed small enough for the same purpose...

Yeah.. in my case, I aim to re-learn how to drive stick. Hopefully in a car like yours

Congrats on securing a new offer so quickly! Now that I know (from one of your other threads) that you’re writing from Aotearoa, Land of the Long White Cloud, I can’t help but wonder whether the way you feel may have been influenced by the environment in which you find yourself, or been affected by the friends (or lack thereof) that you keep.

You mentioned in that other thread that you keep mainly to yourself and your family, and that your friends are rather superficial in the sense that they are good for a beer after work and that’s about it (apologies if my recollections are not entirely accurate). Could this be one of the factors contributing to the problem?

WFH ... both a blessing and a curse, as you've rightly pointed out.

Hopefully, with this new role in a new job & a new work environment, you'll find a second wind to push on!

Wishing you all the best, my friend!

Yes, enjoy your visit home HappyA_Q!

Patchy - some sectors are still hiring (eg healthcare), but some sectors (banking, tech) are slowing down

Hence why I’m so grateful that my passion pays the bills

Not sure if you know, but the job market isn't exactly rosy at the moment bro...

Good luck bro.

Actually, quite enjoying semi-retirement. Off to Sydney again for a month and a half to enjoy an early spring.