Nearly two decades into early retirement, I’ve experienced the perks of a life free from the constraints of a traditional job. But the more I reflect on it, the more I realize that freedom, while incredibly valuable, is a double-edged sword.
I’ve shared countless times how wonderful this lifestyle has been—spending time with my family, having the freedom to explore my passions, focusing on health and wellness, and diving into creative projects. But despite all the positives, there’s a catch: the absence of obligations means I never have to do anything I don’t want to do. To some, this may sound like the ultimate dream. After all, when you combine freedom with financial security, isn’t that the recipe for a perfect life?
For many people, it might be. But for someone like me, it’s a subtle trap that can easily lead to complacency. When given the freedom to make every choice for myself, I started to notice a shift in my behavior, especially as the years of retirement added up. I found myself increasingly avoiding the hard tasks—the ones that required focus, effort, and a bit of discomfort. Instead, I indulged in the easy, feel-good activities: watching movies, scrolling through social media, or taking long naps.
This self-imposed freedom is a blessing, but it can also be paralyzing. Over time, I began to realize that I was sabotaging my own progress by overindulging in this freedom. Instead of using my free time to pursue the things I loved or to improve myself further, I found myself avoiding the very activities that had brought me joy in the past. As a result, I felt stagnant, even though my lifestyle seemed perfect from the outside.
The Struggle of Self-Sabotage
When I first retired, I had a clear vision of how I wanted my days to unfold. I imagined completing meaningful projects, diving into personal growth, and spending quality time with those I care about. But after years of constant self-management, the novelty wore off. What was once a thrilling adventure of freedom began to feel like a series of never-ending choices, many of which I didn’t feel like making.
Take fitness, for example. I knew that exercise was one of the best investments I could make in my health and happiness, yet I found myself skipping workouts more often than I’d like to admit. I’d think, “I’ll work out later,” but the “perfect time” to exercise never seemed to arrive. Maybe the weather wasn’t ideal, or my energy level wasn’t high enough. I would set myself up for success, preparing my gym space in advance, but the truth was, I was still avoiding the hardest part: the actual decision to act.
It wasn’t until I had a breakthrough that I realized what was happening. My hesitance to get started wasn’t a natural response; it was my brain trying to protect me from discomfort. So, I decided to flip the script. Instead of overthinking my decision to work out, I simply told myself, “I don’t feel like it, but that’s not a good enough excuse.” In that moment, I would force myself to take action. I would put on my shoes, walk to the gym, and just get started.
This shift in my approach was eye-opening. Instead of waiting for the “right” moment or the “perfect” conditions, I realized that the key to overcoming hesitation was to act immediately. The hesitation, which I had once used as an excuse, became my cue for action. In essence, I used the moment of hesitation as a trigger to push myself toward the things I had been avoiding.
Hesitation as the Ultimate Life Coach
What I learned from this experience is that hesitation itself can become a coach—a coach that tells you exactly when to act. When faced with a task that I didn’t want to do, I stopped waiting for the motivation to strike. Instead, I embraced the discomfort and used it to fuel my next steps. It wasn’t easy at first, but once I recognized the pattern, it became clear that taking action immediately, even when I didn’t feel like it, was the key to regaining control over my time and energy.
This approach doesn’t just apply to working out—it applies to all the things I’ve been avoiding in my life. Whether it’s tackling a challenging work project, reaching out to a friend I haven’t seen in a while, or even organizing the house, I now see hesitation as a sign that I should act.
It’s a lesson that’s been difficult to accept but crucial for growth: freedom can be both a blessing and a curse. If you’re not careful, it can lead to an excess of leisure at the expense of real progress. But with the right mindset, you can turn that freedom into a powerful tool for self-improvement.
Using Inspiration from High Achievers
Interestingly, this realization has led me to examine the behaviors of people I admire—the “overachievers” who seem to accomplish more than the average person. These individuals often juggle multiple projects, family obligations, and personal goals with ease, and they don’t hesitate to push themselves beyond their comfort zones.
When I discussed this idea with friends, I found a surprising mix of reactions. Some felt that they were already stretched too thin, managing busy lives with kids, careers, and training for endurance events. They weren’t impressed with my freedom or the lack of constraints in my life. On the other hand, others were inspired by the idea of pushing through hesitation and doing more with their time.
What I’ve come to realize is that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to life. The key is balance. For the overachievers, it might mean scaling back to focus on what truly matters. For someone like me, it might mean pushing myself a little harder to get things done.
Finding Your Own Balance
Ultimately, the lesson here is about learning to embrace the tension between freedom and responsibility. Complete freedom, when used well, can be transformative, but it can also lead to inaction if you’re not careful. The solution isn’t to avoid freedom, but to use it wisely—by recognizing moments of hesitation and using them as a cue to act.
So, whether you’re in a high-pressure job or enjoying the luxuries of retirement, the challenge remains the same: take control of your time, push past your hesitation, and take action. The more you do, the more you’ll achieve. Freedom doesn’t just give you the opportunity to live a fulfilling life—it also challenges you to make the most of that opportunity. And with the right mindset, that’s when real progress happens.
