【Experiencing FIRE during Parental Leave】Taking Back the Steering Wheel of Life. A 'Rehearsal for Freedom' Called Parental Leave
Hello! It's Teacher Chaso🧑🏫!
Is a 'life where you don't have to go to work' truly a paradise, or is it just emptiness?
By experiencing 'FIRE' in the form of parental leave this time, I have come to see the true nature of the theory whispered in some circles that 'FIRE leads to depression'.
From the perspective of a dual-income teacher couple in their 30s, I will write about these realistic realizations.
1. Common traits of people who get 'depressed' from FIRE
I often hear people say, 'I got depressed because I was too bored after FIRE,' but what I felt after experiencing FIRE is that it stems from a lack of 'sense of purpose'.
FIRE as an escape
If you retire solely out of a desire to escape your current job, you lose sight of your goal and are struck by a sense of emptiness as time just passes by.
FIRE as an offensive strategy
Even during parental leave, I studied for certifications like 'Real Estate Notary,' 'Condominium Management Consultant,' and 'Condominium Manager' to improve my skills. By having goals, free time turns into an 'asset for future career advancement'.
Just 'resting' alone can strip away the energy to even get up in the morning due to the lack of stimulation.Continuing to set small goals in your daily life is the key to maintaining mental health😆
2. How to prevent 'disconnection from society'
The biggest concern with a FIRE experience is being 'cut off from society'. Especially during child-rearing, it tends to become a 'closed world of just parent and child'. To prevent this, I was thorough about the following:
Continuing hobbies
I continued to go to badminton and tennis practice, intentionally creating opportunities to interact with a wide variety of people. Of course, this is a feat only possible because we are both taking parental leave😆
Securing a place to belong
I utilized places like children's centers to place myself in communities outside of the home.
Even after FIRE, I am convinced that 'contributing to others and belonging to a community' are essential for maintaining happiness.
3. I learned that 'I am suited for FIRE' through this experience
After this experience, I have no more doubts.
' I didn't want to do my current job even for a millimeter '
This is everything. I have no lingering attachment to my job, and if anything, I have reaffirmed the preciousness of time spent with family and parents. Far from feeling bored, every day was fun and filled with happiness. This feeling is the best proof that I am suited for FIRE😊
Three elements necessary for ideal FIRE
These are the conditions for successful FIRE that I derived from this pseudo-FIRE experience.
' The mentality that 'you can quit your job at any time' will be your strongest weapon in your life from now on '. With these realizations as fuel, I intend to further accelerate my preparations for real FIRE.
While earning a steady income at my current job, I want to find what I really want to do and what I want to continue doing even after I retire in the future😊
Right now, I enjoy sharing my experiences on note😁
Thank you for reading😊