How could fake retirement pull you from burnout?

This is about tricking your burnt-out brain into seeing your current job through fresh eyes.

You are trapped in a limbo of wanting to leave but needing that steady income. Your productivity is in the toilet, your creativity has a strict weekend schedule, and the mere thought of another team-building exercise makes you want to crawl under your desk and never emerge. 

Welcome to burnout, my friend, reserved for those of us caught between the life we have and the life we want. 

Here's the thing, though: quitting isn't always an option. Bills exist. Groceries cost money. Your landlord probably won't accept "but I'm following my dreams!" as valid currency. So what's an aspiring full-time writer to do when they can't afford to just quit? 

Enter the concept of "fake retirement."

No, I'm not talking about that fantasy where you win the lottery and spend the rest of your days sipping cocktails on a beach (though if that happens, definitely invite me). This is about tricking your burnt-out brain into seeing your current job through fresh eyes. 

The idea comes from productivity writer Greg McKeown, but I want you to forget about maximizing your efficiency for a hot second. This isn't about cramming more work into your day. It's about survival and sanity until you can make that grand escape.

Here's how it works

Pretend – yes, actually pretend, like you're a kid playing make-believe – that you've retired from your current role. Now imagine you've been brought back as a consultant. Someone who gets to be selective about what they take on. 

With this new mindset, ask yourself: 

• What parts of my job would I actually choose to do if I had complete autonomy? 

• How would I approach my work differently if I wasn't caught up in office politics and climbing the corporate ladder? 

• What aspects of my role align with the skills I want to develop for my writing career? 

This mental shift isn't about working less. It's about reclaiming some sense of agency in a situation where you might feel powerless. 

Now, this is NOT some magical cure.

Changing your mindset doesn't fix toxic work environments or suddenly make your manager less of a micromanaging nightmare. But it might – might – help you coast a little easier until your Substack hits that critical point of paid subscribers. 

The beauty of this approach for aspiring writers is that it encourages you to look at your full-time job as a kind of research opportunity. Every insufferable meeting becomes potential material. The bizarre corporate jargon that makes you want to tear your hair out? Comedy gold for your newsletter. 

So yeah, keep working on that exit strategy. Keep pouring your heart into your writing. But in the meantime, try on this "fake retirement" hat. See if it helps you show up to your day job with a little less dread and a little more curiosity.  

Remember: Your current job is not your identity. It's not your future. It's just the bridge you're crossing to get to where you really want to be.