I tried to retire twice, once at 40 and again at 62. But I like working with people too much.

Chris Childs says retirement isn’t for her.

Courtesy of Chris Childs

Chris Childs, 64, from Queensland, has attempted retirement twice.She’s tried to keep herself busy with hobbies and traveling, but realized she just missed working.Now, she believes retirement just isn’t for her.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Chris Childs. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Twice in my life, I’ve attempted to retire, and both times, I’ve been tempted back into full-time work.

The first time — in 2000 — was, admittedly, an early retirement. Both my husband and I had done very well in our jobs, so I was fortunate enough to be able to retire early.

By the age of 40, I’d worked my way to the top as a financial planner. My job was selling insurance to the women’s market. There weren’t many women in the industry.

I was among the top five female financial planners in Australia, and I felt like I’d ticked every box and reached every goal relatively early. However, some regulatory changes made me less enjoy the job — it became all about the paperwork and less about the client. I lost passion for it and retired.

My husband was still doing well in his job for a home improvement company and he was named salesperson of the year for his company as I retired. We’d also bought multiple investment properties, so the future was looking bright, and we were financially comfortable enough for me to stop working.

I thought I had enough hobbies to keep me busy

I’m very creative and artistic, and I have plenty of hobbies. I paint, do patchwork, embroider, and I adore cooking. I love international travel, especially cruises. I felt I had enough to do to enjoy such an early retirement.

However, I didn’t stay retired very long at all — only for about six months! An opportunity arose I couldn’t say no to. My husband’s company was launching a debt reduction program and offered me a position.

It felt exciting and gave me back my mojo because I got to spend time with clients again. At that stage, I realized it wasn’t actually retirement I wanted; it was more fulfilling work. I missed helping people. I realized I’m not a ‘stay home and water the garden’ type of person.

Life changed a lot between the time I returned to work and the second time I attempted retirement. My youngest son, David, died by suicide in 2011. He’d have been 42 this year had he survived.

My work on debt reduction also became very bureaucratic. The regulations reduced my time with clients, and I missed those interactions. Then, a complaint was lodged against my husband and me for our financial advisory work. It put a massive amount of stress on him.

The day we were due to settle with the complainants, he had a massive stroke and died in his sleep.

During my second attempt at retirement, I realized how much I loved working with clients

Then, I really lost my mojo for work. In 2022, I attempted a second retirement. I’d lost my son and my husband of 45 years and felt totally depleted from work stresses. I’m hard-wired into positive thinking, but I now needed a break to live the life my husband and I had planned to do together in our joint retirement. I decided to travel the world in my 60s.

So, over 18 months, I visited 100 different cities and 20 different countries. I’d stay with friends or travel with family members, like my niece. I also did lots of cruising. I particularly loved visiting Italy, France, and England. When I was traveling solo, I read books, listened to podcasts, did crosswords, relaxed, and enjoyed life. After the burnout, stress, and trauma of the previous years, I actually thought I was done with working.

While this adventure was exhilarating, I ultimately realized I missed being at home near loved ones and, most of all, working with clients. The realization that working with people to improve their lives is an intrinsic part of who I am led me to come out of retirement yet again and start my own businesses, including in business coaching and hypnotherapy.

Work and having a sense of purpose are magnetic for me. Now, I can fit my clients around my life, spending time with my dog and my hobbies. I’ve made a bedroom into a hypnotherapy room. My life is on fire; I’m going at 100 miles an hour.

I don’t think I’ll ever stop learning or working now. This is the most amazing time of my life. Turns out, retirement just isn’t for me.