I would caution anyone from having nothing to do with their time. However appealing having an unlimited amount of time on your hands sounds, the fact remains that as humans we need something to fill our days. There is a famous saying – “The Devil makes work for idle hands.” If you are fortunate to have enough without the need for physical labour then you still need to find something to fill your time. That may be an artistic pursuit, voluntary work, mentoring or simply a hobby. But without something that you enjoy and that you can get fulfilment from you will gravitate towards things that are, how can I say, less ‘wholesome’!
If there is one piece of advice that I would give to anyone who aspires to step off the treadmill and leave the rat-race it is this: before you jump at least have an idea of where it is that you are going to land.
When I jumped I genuinely believed that that on my way down I would find my next thing. 10 years later and I’m still looking! But actually over the past 10 years I’ve sort have come to realise that maybe the thing I’m looking for is actually what I already have. That I don’t need more. That I don’t need the ‘next thing’. That I am and that I have enough just as I am. I am free to enjoy leisure time as I please. I am under no pressure to produce anything or prove anything to anyone. That I have enough with simple pleasures and enjoyment. Reading, writing, conversations with friends. Walking, fresh air and sunshine. A relaxing glass of wine and a good meal. Travel. These simple things are also the best things. And they are not difficult to enjoy. Many of them are free or very cheap. Those that do cost money are modest in their cost relative to the return of pleasure.