I’ve checked the spreadsheets. I’ve run my numbers through the AI tools. I’ve mapped out my bridge to the State Pension, and I finally did the scariest thing of all: I pushed "send" on my resignation email.
May 2026 : 10 min read - Part of the My Personal Journey to Early Retirement series at FreeBefore65.
But here is the truth that none of the financial brochures warn you about. The decision is only the beginning.
I am currently four weeks into a twelve-week notice period. I have eight weeks left of my working life. And if I’m being completely honest - which is the whole point of the FreeBefore65 journey - it is a very strange, slightly uncomfortable, and occasionally terrifying place to be.
I call it "The Limbo."
It’s that awkward no-man’s-land where the bridge behind you is burning, but you haven't quite reached the other side. If you are planning your own early retirement, here are three realities of the "Limbo" phase you need to prepare for.
1. The "What Are You Going to Do?" Trap
Since handing in my notice, everyone - colleagues, friends, the person at the post office - asks the exact same question: "So, Tony, what are you going to do with all that time?"
When I tell them the truth, which is "I don’t really know yet," you can actually see the flicker of panic in their eyes.
In our culture, we are so deeply defined by our "doing" that the idea of just "being" for a while feels like a failure of planning. I spent 18 months planning the finances, but I’ve spent almost zero time planning my Tuesday mornings.
I’ll admit, the 40-hour hole in my upcoming weeks makes me nervous. But I am actively trying to convince myself that "I don't know" isn't a problem I need to fix by Monday. It's a luxury I've earned. It’s okay to retire to a blank canvas rather than a packed schedule.
2. The Secret Jealousy of the Office
When you’re on a long notice period, you become a bit of a ghost at work. You are still in the meetings, but you are suddenly looking at the stress and the deadlines from the outside.
And I’ve noticed a distinct pattern. Colleagues will pull me aside by the kettle, tell me they're happy for me, pause, and then quietly say: "I wish I could do that. I’d love to just walk away."
It is a bizarre mix of shock and secret jealousy. It has made me realise that a lot of people aren't staying in their jobs because they love them; they are staying because they aren't brave enough - or they don't feel they have "permission" - to make a different choice.
Being the person who actually jumped makes you a walking mirror for everyone else’s frustrations. That’s a heavy, unexpected dynamic to carry during your final weeks.
- What the Final Weeks of a Long Career Before Retirement Actually Feel Like
- Early Retirement - The Hardest Part of Leaving Isn't the Leap. It's the Goodbye
3. Writing the New "House Rules"
Then, there is the reality at home.
As I’ve mentioned before, my wife is still working. She works from home and she loves her job. Up until now, I’ve either been out of the house or locked in my own home office.
In a few weeks, I’m just going to... be there.
I’m already starting to worry about getting under her feet. Is she going to resent me making a leisurely second cup of coffee while she’s wrestling with a difficult brief? We are having to write a new set of "house rules" in real-time to ensure my early retirement doesn't become her daily distraction. Learning to be "retired" while your partner is still "professional" is a balancing act we definitely haven't mastered yet.
The Reality Check
I’m sharing this because I don’t want FreeBefore65 to just be about compound interest and tax allowances. I want it to be about the actual experience.
If you are sitting there staring at a draft resignation email, and your gut is doing somersaults - that is completely normal. You aren't just leaving a job; you are leaving an identity.
I’ve got a few weeks left to figure out who I am without a job title. It’s messy, it’s uncertain, and it’s scary. But even sitting here in the Limbo, I’m still glad I pushed send.
- I Still Can't Quite Say the Word - My Complicated Relationship With "Retirement"
- Deciding to Retire Early - I've Done Everything Right. So Why Am I Still Scared?
Over to you:
Have you been through this "limbo" period, or are you in it right now? How did you handle the "What are you going to do?" question from colleagues? I could genuinely use the advice right now, so please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Part of the My Personal Journey to Early Retirement series at FreeBefore65.
Tony writes about his personal journey to early retirement at freebefore65.co.uk. He is not a financial adviser. All content reflects his own experience and research.
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