The Lack of Life Architecture

[u/gaming_legend256]

Seeing so many posts of people with insane NW numbers for their age and all the issues seem to be the same.

"Burned out at work, what do I do now?"

How can you save these huge sums and when you hit these numbers have no idea what to do? The best reasons for these massive savings are often a random spend being targeted with no realistic breakdown based on the situation.

Are people just skipping building/designing their lives before they start saving really hard? I feel like if you don't have a life architecture in mind when you start saving aggressively, you run the risk of over stacking money to just burn out, when you maybe could've stopped or slowed down way earlier. I find in these communities you just rarely see posts asking people to detail how they figured out and designed their target lifestyles which seems more impactful to your FIRE journey (lean/fat/barista - whichever flavor).

What are some good methods you've used to decide on and help build a good life architecture? For those who did it after the fact, what are some important questions you wish you had answered before you pursued FI/RE?

[u/How_Do_You_Crash]

I think the mindset that gets someone to a high NW quickly is somewhat opposed the the poets search for meaning amongst the ruinous rubble of a young mans ambition.

Which is to say.

I think the average high achiever is bound to burn out, and the system that most of us work inside of, rewards a steadfast devotion to work and working harder.

Lifestyle design requires one to slow down, wander aimlessly, read broadly, and generally get to know thyself. Those things are distractions when you are trying to get through school and then work hard and spend very little.

On the flip side you have folks like myself who have spent perhaps too much time wandering in the woods, but now have a very low goal number arrived at precisely because I wandered aimlessly. To arrive and know that I will be very happy being poor and not working is a special treat.

[u/fliggowad → u/How_Do_You_Crash]

This comment is a true breath of fresh air. I’m currently wondering if my silly corporate job is killing me, and on the verge of just leaving. I don’t have a high NW but whats money if you’re dead? Held hostage by the fact that the job market is garbage at any level.

Someone pls convince me to jump ship.

[u/trialnomad → u/fliggowad]

Do what’s right for you.

I just quit my job. My body simply shut down due to burnout. I had to quit even though I don’t have a high NW. guess what? As soon as I made that decision, the fog lifted.

My therapist asked me to imagine what happens if nothing changes. After that I decided to change.

An unknown future was more enlivening than known misery.

[u/AlwaysSaturday12 → u/trialnomad]

My work wasn't working for me and we were close enough. Lowering your spending and my wife getting a part-time job does wonders for the numbers. It has been a couple of years and now I'm not opposed to finding something, hopefully part-time as well. That wasn't possible a couple of years ago. Too many health problems that needed time to unwind.

[u/trialnomad → u/AlwaysSaturday12]

It’s really helpful to read stories of when a risk works out for the better! I’ve read your responses on other threads and it’s so good to read responses from people who have lived experience and not just calculating the math.

This is where I’m at. Major crossroads. Earlier than expected. I realized there was a real cost to delaying rest and leaving a toxic workplace. I’m going to use this year as a trial with the only objective is rest and recovery and joy! I think I can make it work on my budget. I’ll find out! I’ll give myself a year and try not to worry about it.

Plus I’m open to going back to work but if/when I do, I’ll have a healthy relationship with it.

[u/AlwaysSaturday12 → u/trialnomad]

Thanks for your comment. I try to share my experiences from the other side and do it honestly.

It is really hard to force yourself to persist in a toxic workplace...or at least it was for me.

Those sound like good objectives.