I recently returned from a holiday and I’d forgotten that I always land in a bit of a funk post-holiday.

That transition from spending your entire day exploring and visiting and travelling, to work and washing and snarling traffic and routine always leaves me a bit whiplashed.

I keep asking that annoying, dreaded, post-holiday question:

“Why isn’t every day like those days on holiday?”

There are, of course, plenty of reasons – responsibility, financial needs, commitments, obligations, building an actual life – but none of them are particularly compelling in the face of a wintry Melbourne morning.

The follow up question is, of course:

“What am I working for?”

Now that question I have an answer for.

First off, I’m working because I need to. Financial reality means that we need to continue earning an income. We don’t have the financial resources to make a life of leisure a possibility.

But even if we did, I doubt I’d want to spend my time laying on a beach.

Because I’m fortunate enough to be able to pursue work that I find interesting and fulfilling and rewarding.

Not every hour, or every day or even every week. Like every job, there are less enjoyable elements.

But often I’m able to assist lovely people navigate life’s big transitions.

And I’m lucky enough to work with a great team, and we all get to help good people make better financial decisions.

Finally, I also work because I want my son to see me working.

Him growing up with a strong work ethic is rather important to me, and I’m guessing/hoping that setting an example will help develop that.

So what’re you working for?

If you could pack it in tomorrow, what would you do?

And if you would like to stop work as soon as possible, what are you doing to make that happen?

Could you be doing more?

We work with plenty of people to help them better plan for the end of their working days, so get in touch if you’d like to discuss this further.