In conclusion...

When I'm giving advice and I start to feel advised by my own advice

The human brain is a funny thing—you can trick it, even when it knows it's being tricked.

Take the Pomodoro Technique, for example. It’s a trick to beat procrastination: you set a timer for 25 minutes, promise yourself you are going to work solidly that whole time because you’ll get 5 minutes ‘free time’ once the timer goes off, and get going. It's a trick to get you started, because starting is the hardest part. It doesn’t matter that you know it’s a trick, it still works.

Similarly, when you’re stuck on a decision, a good trick is to ask, "What would I tell my best friend to do?" It’s amazing how much clarity that question brings. Somehow, the choice becomes clearer when we think about our friends than when we think about ourselves. Distance brings perspective.

Which is to say, the whole time I've been writing this, I've been tricking me and I’ve been tricking you. You see, when I told you I was writing this advice for Sam—and for you—I was actually writing it for myself. It’s the purest form of self-help—disguised as helping a friend—but my brain didn’t seem to mind. Distance brings perspective.

But I’m sorry to say that we are nearing the end, I just don’t have much more to say about early retirement.

In fact, I think my next step is to un-retire. Four years ago I chose to step back from work and focus on the kids, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. But now they need me for fewer hours in the day, and it’s time for me to stretch my legs. I’m not sure what flavour that’s going to take (hire me!) but with my innate ambition I know that early retirement isn’t for me. Not yet.

As for you, I have no idea why you are here, reading this advice I wrote for myself. Maybe you find yourself in a similar position as me, early retired and with an unexpected malaise, with the Four Horsemen breathing down your neck. More likely you’ve landed here because you’re interested in one of the topics I’ve covered to do with wellbeing, or giving, or money, or friendship. Well, I hope one or two things were useful or interesting. And if not, at least you know that you aren't alone in thinking about these topics.

To send you on your way, here’s one final piece of advice on retiring early, from my 14-year-old:

“Have lots of money.

Figure out what you want to do when you’re at home all day.

Get a cat.

Develop a secret language with the cat.” - Ada

P.S. Next week’s post will be written by a special guest star, and I’ll also let you know what you can expect in future posts…