When I wrote about unlocking my banked vacation time in September, I knew I needed a break.
What I didn’t fully appreciate was how different life would feel when I wasn’t organizing my days around an eight-hour work shift.
The days are lighter. The nights are more peaceful. I’m not constantly checking the clock, counting down the hours until my next shift or cramming everything else into the time I have outside work.
And that freedom has been eye-opening.
When I’m working, everything else has to fit around my shift. Trips to the supermarket, gym sessions, walks, bowling, cooking, household responsibilities, phone calls and uninterrupted time with Parker all compete for a limited window.
Without that constraint, my days are wide open. That doesn’t mean I’ve abandoned structure. If anything, I’ve come to appreciate it more.
I still go to the gym. I still take walks, bowl, cook and work on Money Talks. I’m still handling the responsibilities that come with running a household and being a father.
Of course, having all that freedom can lead to complacency if you’re not careful. When there’s no immediate obligation demanding your attention, it’s easy to put things off.
Fortunately, that hasn’t been my experience. I’ve been productive, but without the same sense of urgency.
I’ve also become more patient. I take my time and don’t feel the need to rush from one thing to the next.
Sometimes, that means sitting on my balcony with a donut and a tall glass of milk or a bagel with cream cheese, enjoying the morning, watching nature and appreciating the peace and quiet.
Nothing extraordinary is happening. That’s what makes it enjoyable.
This time away has also changed how I think about work.
I’m still grateful to be gainfully employed. A steady paycheck provides stability, and I don’t take that for granted.
But spending more time away from work has made me think harder about how much of my life is committed to earning that paycheck.
I’m also watching the stock market and seeing how quickly wealth can grow without being tied directly to hours worked. Meanwhile, people who work incredibly hard can still struggle to get ahead.
It’s hard to ignore that contrast when I consider how much of my own life is tied to a paycheck.
I want to become less dependent on my job. I want more control over my time and my future.
That’s part of why Money Talks matters so much to me. I’m building something of my own, something that can educate others while creating additional income beyond my employment.
First, I need to develop those income streams. Then I can use what they generate to build wealth and eventually gain more control over when I work, how I work and how much of my life I devote to earning money.
I’m not there yet, and I have plenty of work ahead.
As of today, I have 54 days off remaining through the end of the year.
And believe me, I’m making the most of them.
The goal isn’t simply to stop working.
It’s to have more say over how I spend my life.
Transform your time
Fifteen minutes into the quiet hour on Monday, I sank into deep thought about the invaluable essence of time.
Disconnecting money from labor is eye-opening. Most of us are taught that the only way to make money is to work harder.