In November 2023, I was let go from my most significant freelance position.

I faced a massive setback, losing 80% of my income. The only financial lifelines I still had were my side gigs, which brought in between $800 and $1200 each month, and $6000 from my recent paycheck. I decided not to touch my savings, wanting to keep them intact.

If you follow the latest trends in the business world and the global economy, you’ll understand that securing a job right now feels nearly impossible.

Many industries, particularly those connected to technology, are finding it hard to afford their existing employees and expand their operations, resulting in a hiring freeze.

Even if you're skilled, landing a new job can be challenging; it's common for many individuals to spend between 3 to 6 months searching for a suitable position.

Several friends have opted to switch careers temporarily to cover their expenses since they can’t find opportunities in their fields.

So, after a fruitless month-long search, I made one of the most significant decisions of 2024: taking a sabbatical from work.

One of the primary factors behind my decision was my dissatisfaction with the direction my career was heading.

Even though I was skilled at programming, it always seemed like I was just in it for the paycheck, without any real passion. So, I saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to prove to myself that I could develop in different ways.

And I realized I could afford it.

I own my house and car outright, and I'm completely debt-free. I don't have any kids, so it's just me and my fiancé living together. I don't have any major expenses coming up, which means if I really cut back on my monthly spending, I could live off my last paycheck and what I earn from my side gigs for a full year.

After spending six months living this way, here are my reflections on this lifestyle...

A lot of individuals think they need a minimum of $2 million to retire comfortably, and even if they reach that amount, they might still find it unaffordable.

I'm here to let you know that this is an absolute falsehood.

If your true goal is to retire, it's possible to do so with as little as $800 a month.

The issue lies in the expectation that retirement will be a time of luxury, which is an unrealistic notion, especially for those who are part of the middle class.

We are so accustomed to consumerism that we often overlook the fact that we could get by with much less than we believe, especially if we take a moment to prioritize and organize.

And this is a lesson I’ve grasped over the past half-year..

I'm presently residing on a Caribbean island where a comfortable life is possible with just $800 per month. Although I recognize that living here is a luxury compared to those in pricier countries, I genuinely believe that if you’re determined to retire, you can certainly find a way to relocate to a more affordable place without much hassle.

California and New York are definitely not the kind of places where you can live without having a job, so keep that in mind if that's your goal.

So, with just $6000 to spread out over an entire year (in addition to whatever I can earn from my side gigs), I’ve had to figure out what truly counts in my life. I’ve realized that a lot of my previous spending habits were actually unnecessary.

• I realized that 90% of my subscriptions were not really needed. My siblings are always fine with sharing their passwords with me, so I've been spending money on these subscriptions without any real reason.
• There are plenty of tasks I am fully capable of handling myself, such as styling my hair, doing my nails, or tackling the laundry. However, I've often convinced myself it's easier to just pay someone else to do them. In truth, we often spend money on services simply to avoid the effort of doing them ourselves.
• I realized that a lot of the items I purchased on a whim weren't truly necessary.
• My friends will still be my friends if I skip hanging out with them for a weekend.

And the list goes on and on.

Ever since I began earning, my main goal in life was to increase my income. I gave up my leisure time to earn more. I saw overtime as an opportunity, believing that sacrificing free time for extra money was a worthwhile trade.

However, now that my life isn't centered on my income, I’ve come to see how insignificant it truly is.

I’ve committed myself to finding activities that don’t require spending money, and I've managed to accomplish many meaningful things. I’ve built relationships with people without needing to engage in costly activities. I've spent time alone and uncovered interests I didn’t know I had. This journey has also helped me understand that true happiness isn’t synonymous with “success.”

Something that has significantly influenced my life these past months is my mother's admission that she appreciates the changes I've recently made because now I can spend more time with her.

The sole change I've made for her is taking a 20-minute stroll in the park and then enjoying an hour of her favorite TV show together after we eat.

I believed that getting her a purse or a dress would be a good way to show my love and concern for her happiness. However, what she truly desired was more quality time with me, even though I wasn’t able to offer it as much as I used to.

My friends are happier with me because I'm now more interested in activities that involve spending time with them. They feel appreciated since I join them for things like going to the car wash or helping to edit their resumes, even though, to me, it just feels like I have more time on my hands.

Those who care about you aren't concerned with your income but with the positive difference you make in their lives, which you can only accomplish by being there for them.

I believed everything was going well until I lost my job. I would take the occasional vacation, set aside some weekends purely for relaxation, and consistently got eight hours of sleep.

However, when I had to take a break, I saw that I was beyond just tired. For the first few days, my body wouldn't even allow me to rest correctly because the anxiety of being idle was eating me up inside.

Days later, the twitching in my right eye (which I had always assumed was normal) finally ceased. My anxiety no longer erupted unexpectedly throughout the week. I no longer felt compelled to snack multiple times each day, and I came to understand that relaxing on the couch was perfectly acceptable.

I felt so overloaded that I couldn’t even relax because my thoughts were constantly racing about my next task. But everything shifted when I realized I no longer had any obligations and no one was waiting for me to act.

You might not realize how much stress you're carrying until you make yourself truly relax.

Believing you need to be productive every single hour, constantly packing your life with activities to avoid wasting time, and feeling the pressure to finish your to-do list daily isn't normal.

I often took trips or stayed at all-inclusive hotels without actually taking time off from work so I wouldn't lose my vacation days. Instead of enjoying the amenities I paid for, I found myself stuck in the room, working.

I convinced myself it was beneficial, but in reality, it was tearing apart my sanity.

Accomplishing goals is rewarding, but it isn't the most vital aspect of your existence; you are..

Taking time off from work has taught me to truly appreciate the importance of relaxing and just enjoying life.

I don't feel guilty anymore when I don't finish work ahead of vacations. I don’t have the urge to wake up early just to free up my schedule for later. I’m no longer hesitant to have guests over due to productivity pressures.

One of the key aspects of this retirement phase hasn't been just lounging around and living without a care, but rather figuring out what I truly want to pursue in life.

I had been eager to pursue this for quite a while, especially after my former boss chose to retire and travel the globe. He returned brimming with a new business concept and often remarked:

People generally don't aspire to retire; instead, they dream of pursuing their passions without worrying about finances. However, many never reach this point because they believe their passions won't provide a sufficient income for a comfortable life or they fear failure. Nonetheless, there’s always something you'd rather do than lounge on the couch watching TV all day or sleeping in late. Getting paid for that is the ultimate blessing.

People don’t actually aim for retirement; they wish to pursue their passions without financial worries. However, many individuals never achieve this dream because they believe their passions won't provide enough income for a comfortable life, or they fear failing.

However, there’s inevitably that one activity you'd rather do than lounge on the couch watching TV or sleeping in. And getting paid for it is truly the greatest blessing that could come your way.

After a month of taking a break and truly resting, it dawned on me that I wanted to pursue something fulfilling—something that wouldn't feel like just a job but would also allow me to earn an income. With this in mind, I chose to explore different side hustles, hobbies, and online business ventures until I discovered my true passion.

I got back into creating YouTube videos and realized that my issue wasn't a shortage of time; it was actually a waning interest in my channel. Alongside that, I picked up fiction reading once more and felt inspired to begin writing a novel. Additionally, I started exploring nursing and what it entails.

When financial concerns aren't your main focus, you can shape your lifestyle around activities you enjoy. This gives you the freedom to pursue what truly makes you happy.

Finally, this has been one of the best periods of my life. It's not because, as many people assume, I’m idling away my time, but because I’m dedicating my energy solely to what truly matters.

I’m finding out who I am. I’m building genuine relationships. I’m figuring out the passions I want to pursue for a lifetime.

Money no longer dictates my life, and in this shift, I've uncovered what genuinely brings me joy: engaging in activities that hold true meaning for me, spending time with my family and friends, enjoying quality moments with them, and relaxing guilt-free.

Sure, I get that simply earning money isn't worthwhile if it's your sole objective.

I found myself blindly chasing after money, completely unaware of the toll it was taking on me. I was giving up my own happiness, my sense of freedom, and the depth of my connections with others, all for the sake of financial gain. This relentless pursuit was starting to impact my mental well-being. While it's true that earning money is both beneficial and necessary, it loses its value if you're not passionate about your work.

Had I not had this free time, I would never have discovered what I truly wanted to pursue in life. It made me realize there are activities I am more passionate about than just resting.

I wish everyone could enjoy the experience of being retired for a minimum of six months to gain a true understanding of what is genuinely important in life.

I once placed a lot of importance on money and achievements. My life revolved around measuring my growth and tracking my success.

However, this is no longer where my primary attention lies.

Obviously, money matters to me, and I still aim to increase my net worth. However, living life to the fullest is what matters most.

I aspire to make a living by pursuing my passions. I aim to try out various experiences and let go of the ones that don't bring me joy. My sense of success comes from enjoying what I do, rather than just making a lot of money.

This has been one of the most amazing times of my life. I’m truly enjoying everything I do to grow and letting go of anything that doesn’t bring me joy. That’s exactly how life should be lived.