Retirement? I Just Want 8 Hours of Sleep and No Emails
Shivika Gupta | Apr 25, 2025, 16:19 IST
"Not Dreaming Big, Just Dreaming at All." There was a time when retirement looked like a golden beach, a white house with a porch swing, and grandchildren running in the backyard. But now? The most recurring fantasy among millennials isn't a villa in Goa or an apartment in Tokyo—it’s eight uninterrupted hours of sleep and a digital detox that doesn’t scream “you missed a meeting!” Forget early retirement. Most of us just want rest before we combust.
We were raised on the gospel of ambition.Our heroes were those who never logged off, who drank coffee like water, who lived in airports and closed billion-dollar deals before breakfast. Productivity became a personality trait, and burnout became a badge of honor. But the problem? We never stopped. Even when our bodies did. Burnout isn't a trend anymore—it’s a lifestyle. And not by choice.
Millennials didn’t just “decide” to hustle. We were marketed hustle like it was a solution to everything—poverty, self-worth, dreams, stability. Side gigs were romanticized. “Rise and grind” became our wallpaper. Start-ups, influencers, freelancers—we all wore 16-hour days like war medals.
But the truth is, many of us were just surviving.
And somewhere between the startup dream and survival, we forgot what peace feels like. That’s why now, when someone asks what we want in life, the answer isn’t luxury—it’s quiet.
We’re not lazy. We’re just exhausted.
The new life goal isn’t to own a penthouse. It’s to wake up without dread, to take a nap without guilt, to leave emails on ‘read’ and still feel like a decent human being.
In a post-pandemic world, we’ve tasted pause. We’ve seen what happens when the world slows down. And now, many of us don’t want to go back.
We want:
And most of all, we want to sleep.
It’s not just sleep we’re missing—it’s peace. And a huge part of that disturbance? Our inboxes.
Emails used to be a form of communication. Now they’re tiny explosions of pressure that land at all hours. And worst of all? We’ve normalized it.
We’ve blurred every boundary. Our devices go to bed with us. Our minds never clock out. So when we say “I just want no emails,” what we’re really saying is: I want to be free. From urgency. From proving. From performing.
And here’s the big truth: We don’t want to wait till 60 to feel safe.
Traditional retirement says: Work now. Rest later. Sacrifice your 20s and 30s. Buy your peace in your 60s.
But that formula doesn’t work anymore. Why?
We’re not asking for riches. We’re asking for lives that don’t break us.
It’s shifting. Success is no longer defined by:
Now, success looks like:
In short: Success looks like living.
You’re not crazy for wanting peace.
You’re not weak for needing rest.
You’re not unambitious for choosing slow over fast.
You’re just human.
So the next time someone asks about your 10-year plan, maybe it’s okay to say:
“Honestly? I just want 8 hours of sleep and no emails.”
Because sometimes, that’s the bravest dream of all.
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health & Fitness, Travel, Life Hacks, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life!
Hustle Culture Didn’t Just Happen—It Was Marketed to Us
Performer of the Month..
( Image credit : Freepik )
Millennials didn’t just “decide” to hustle. We were marketed hustle like it was a solution to everything—poverty, self-worth, dreams, stability. Side gigs were romanticized. “Rise and grind” became our wallpaper. Start-ups, influencers, freelancers—we all wore 16-hour days like war medals.
But the truth is, many of us were just surviving.
And somewhere between the startup dream and survival, we forgot what peace feels like. That’s why now, when someone asks what we want in life, the answer isn’t luxury—it’s quiet.
The New Dream: Peace Over Paychecks
Escape and Travel
( Image credit : Freepik )
We’re not lazy. We’re just exhausted.
The new life goal isn’t to own a penthouse. It’s to wake up without dread, to take a nap without guilt, to leave emails on ‘read’ and still feel like a decent human being.
In a post-pandemic world, we’ve tasted pause. We’ve seen what happens when the world slows down. And now, many of us don’t want to go back.
We want:
- Emails that aren’t urgent
- Work that doesn’t bleed into weekends
- Managers that know we have a life
- Calendars that allow breathing room
- The ability to log off—mentally and digitally
Inbox Anxiety: The Digital Devil
Emails..Emails and Emails..
( Image credit : Freepik )
It’s not just sleep we’re missing—it’s peace. And a huge part of that disturbance? Our inboxes.
Emails used to be a form of communication. Now they’re tiny explosions of pressure that land at all hours. And worst of all? We’ve normalized it.
- Responding to emails at midnight
- Checking Slack on a Sunday
- Feeling guilty for turning off notifications
Retirement Isn’t an Age—It’s a Feeling
Living KingSize Life!
( Image credit : Freepik )
And here’s the big truth: We don’t want to wait till 60 to feel safe.
Traditional retirement says: Work now. Rest later. Sacrifice your 20s and 30s. Buy your peace in your 60s.
But that formula doesn’t work anymore. Why?
- Because peace delayed is often peace denied.
- Because mental health doesn't care about your pension plan.
- Because we’ve seen too many burn out before they ever “made it.”
So What Does “Success” Look Like Now?
Working Relentlessly
( Image credit : Freepik )
It’s shifting. Success is no longer defined by:
- Job titles
- Salary brackets
- Followers
- 5-year plans
- Waking up without anxiety
- Having dinner without screens
- Knowing your worth beyond output
- Loving people deeply, not performatively
- Taking naps. Drinking water. Not crying in the bathroom.
You Don’t Need to Escape—You Need to Exhale
You’re not weak for needing rest.
You’re not unambitious for choosing slow over fast.
You’re just human.
So the next time someone asks about your 10-year plan, maybe it’s okay to say:
“Honestly? I just want 8 hours of sleep and no emails.”
Because sometimes, that’s the bravest dream of all.
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health & Fitness, Travel, Life Hacks, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life!