Janet Blaser Quit Her Job at 62, Started Drawing for Social Security and Retired in Mexico. Was it a mistake?

Janet Blaser didn’t spend much time planning life after leaving the workforce. Then suddenly, he was 62, eligible for Social Security, and completely exhausted from the daily grind.

He was already living in Mazatlán, Mexico, running an English magazine to support himself. He asked to sell the business and get rid of the stress.

Claiming his benefits early meant accepting a permanently reduced monthly payment. He knew the math, and he knew he was leaving money on the table by not waiting until his retirement years. However, the trade was giving back his time while he was still healthy enough to enjoy recreation.

At age 68, Blaser had been officially unemployed for six years. Having complete control over his schedule was a great privilege. But he soon discovered that leaving a lifelong career presented challenges when immigration brochures were often left out.

His experience serves as a master class in the psychological impact of leaving the workforce.

The shock of a blank calendar

When you are your own boss, the lines between work and life blur. Blaser handled everything for his publication, from advertising sales to design and distribution. He always put a lot of effort into work. When the home was also an office, shutting down the computer at 5 pm seemed impossible.

When he sold the business, the lack of deadlines suddenly hit hard. At first, he struggled to let go of the need to appear productive every day. Work has become a big part of who he is.

Gradually, a new foundation emerged. He was still writing down daily tasks – list-making was hardwired into his being – but the urgency was gone.

If he wanted to plant a palm tree in his living room on Tuesday or push it to Friday, the world kept spinning. A good morning can instantly turn into a beach day at his favorite surf spot.

Many retirees face a sudden identity crisis when emails stop. You must actively learn that pure satisfaction is as important as checking boxes on a to-do list.

Surviving the lack of structure

Having endless free time forces retirees to stay with their thoughts. It’s common to wonder if the things you’ve accomplished in the past are all you’ll ever achieve. Blaser found himself constantly rethinking his life goals and occasionally feeling a sudden urge to achieve everything he had wanted so quickly.

This excess weight is usually caused by a complete lack of structure. You can’t spend every waking moment of your later years living on vacation forever. Even in a country with a very low cost of living, setting up a regular jet is mathematically impossible for most people on a fixed income.

You need a national game plan. Retirees should find out what a typical Tuesday looks like when they no longer have an employer dictating their hours.

Designing a sustainable system

Resisting that drunken feeling takes some serious self-control. A very busy life doesn’t have to be boring, but you should create your own framework.

For Blaser, that meant prioritizing physical and mental health instead of rushing to the office. His morning was deliberately slow. He took time to write, sat quietly, and carefully made a cup of coffee. She incorporated daily stretching, yoga, and daytime rest into her routine.

To maintain a sense of purpose without the stress of a full-time job, she also took a small notebook with her. This allowed him to remain sharp and engaging on his own terms, completely free from rigid constraints.

Despite the exhaustion of hard work, he actually had the energy to stay busy with his older children and friends. A quick phone call can easily turn into an hours-long conversation, and eventually you have the bandwidth to be fully present.

Structure does not equal stress. Building a daily routine based on low productivity, self-care, and genuine connection provides the necessary scaffolding for a happy retirement.

A change of perspective

When you step back from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, you gain a tremendous amount of perspective. Blaser has watched young people struggle with the same bad bosses, financial pressures, and relationship obstacles he’s lived with for decades. The distance from those stressors softened his vision and tempered his instinctive reactions.

He focused on gratitude for his setup instead of regretting his lack of great wealth. Laying off employees is the first step. The real work is adjusting your mindset to handle quiet moments, manage sudden freedoms, and actively choose to see the glass as half full.

If you want to have options in your retirement, and you have more than $100,000 in savings, get advice from a professional. SmartAsset offers a free service that matches you with a vetted, trusted advisor in less than five minutes.