It’s funny how life has a way of forcing you to hit pause, even when you weren’t planning to. I’ve recently stepped away from my role in a mortgage brokerage. There’s no huge drama to put out there; it’s simply a case of the fit not being quite right, and sometimes you reach that point where you realise staying put is more uncomfortable than stepping away.
This wasn’t so much a slow-burning realisation, rather than a moment of clarity where I realised I didn’t have to stay with this employer. Once that mental switch was flipped, I drafted up my letter of resignation and submitted it. I asked for an early release from my notice period, which they were gracious enough to agree to.
There’s a certain freedom in walking away, even if it’s mixed with a touch of uncertainty. After more than a decade in mortgage advice, I know how to deal with risk; I just usually prefer it to come with an interest rate and a repayment term. Still, here I am, temporarily between jobs, with a rare luxury: time.
One of the great things about following a FI plan is that you will reach a point of FU money, where you have the power to say “no” to what you are unwilling to accept. I walked away from the biggest salary I’ve had, and I feel good. I now have time to think about what comes next.
The “what now?” phase
The first few days after finishing work have felt like when you get off a treadmill, but your legs still think you’re running. I’m still coming out of that work-centred hyperfocus, and I realised that the nagging feeling that I was forgetting something was the various meetings I had scheduled for this week that I no longer had to attend.
But that initial weirdness has quickly given way to something better: perspective. It’s amazing what happens when your brain finally gets the bandwidth to think beyond the next task. I realised there were parts of my life I’d been neglecting: my health, my website, and the small matter of that half-finished book draft I’ve been threatening to complete since about 2019.
So, with the calendar wide open, I made a plan. Well, “plan” might be too strong a word. Let’s call it a list of intentions.
Back to basics: my health
One of the biggest shifts I’ve made since finishing work has been focusing on my health. I’ve been working hard to get my blood sugar under control, and it’s paying off. In the past fortnight, I’ve lost 3.5kg, which, given my fondness for bread, is nothing short of miraculous. I mean, come on, bread and butter is a classic for a reason. A good quality sourdough and some lightly salted butter is amazing.
I’d love to say I’ve achieved this through some perfectly balanced diet plan, but honestly? It’s been about cutting back on the easy stuff: fewer takeaways, fewer “I deserve it” snacks after a long day, and more actual cooking. It turns out your body rewards you quite quickly when you stop fuelling it like a hungover university student.
The knock-on effect has been noticeable. My energy levels are up, my sleep’s better, and I’ve started to feel like I’m operating on something other than caffeine and willpower. I’m not at the stage where I’m bounding out of bed ready to seize the day; I’m still a slightly misanthropic forty-odd-year-old Sheffield Wednesday fan, after all, but there’s a sense of progress.
The return to the gym
Next on the agenda: getting back to the gym. I’ve had a complicated relationship with exercise over the years. For a long time, it was my way of blowing off steam and dealing with my mental health as much as my physical health. I was also in pretty good condition for a while. But, as has happened several times in my past, injuries started to mount. The most recent one has been an elbow injury that has been an issue since 2022.
My exercise plan now is different, in that I have enough time to really get into each session without shortcutting things like warming up and down, and putting decent time into stretching. I don’t have to worry about starting work or making time on a lunch break for the gym. I can start getting back into it with fewer pressures and demands.
The goal isn’t to become some protein-shake-guzzling gym addict, as that ship sailed a long time ago. It’s about feeling stronger, moving more, and knowing I’m doing something positive for myself. Besides, if I’m ever going to sit at a desk writing for hours at a time, I should probably balance that with something that involves actual movement.
Website work and digital tinkering
I’ve been reading old posts, thinking about improving layouts, and sketching out ideas for new content. The Mortgage Advisor on FIRE site has always been a mix of financial independence, personal reflection, and mental health discussion, and I want to keep evolving it. I’ve got a list of draft topics as long as my arm with some hastily typed notes that made sense at 2 a.m., and I’m finally giving them the attention they deserve.
There is one note in my iPhone which I’ve kept around because, well, I’m not sure why except that it might come in useful someday. You see, a few years ago, I made a note in the iPhone notes app that consisted of just two words: onion bhaji. At some point, I felt it was necessary to write this down for some reason. I have absolutely no idea why I felt the need to create this note, and it may just be the greatest mystery of my life, but I digress.
The book that won’t go away
Then there’s the book. Yes, that book. The one I’ve been slowly piecing together for what feels like a decade. It’s part memoir, part exploration of autism, mental health, and the pursuit of financial independence, with a generous dose of mortgage industry insight thrown in for good measure.
Now, with my days more flexible, I can approach it properly. I’ve set myself small goals of 500 to 1,000 words a week on this project. I’ve got a good amount of words down already, but that’s just the first part of a much longer journey.
What’s next?
I’ve reached out to the recruiter who got me the job I have just left, and she’s been great. We had a good, long chat on the phone about other options. I’m in the fortunate position of not being desperate for work, and I can afford to wait for the right opportunity and not just the first opportunity.
In the meantime, I’m focusing on growth in every sense. Physical health, creative output, emotional balance; all the things that often get sidelined when life gets too full. There’s a certain peace in not knowing exactly what’s next, but trusting that you’re building the foundations for something better.
Small victories and silver linings
If there’s one thing I’ve learned lately, it’s that progress doesn’t have to be dramatic to matter. Losing 3.5kg might not make headlines, but it’s a small victory and a sign that I’m moving in the right direction. The same goes for tidying up my website, finishing a chapter of the book, or just getting through a day without doomscrolling too much.
Change can feel unsettling, but it also brings opportunity. It’s a chance to take stock, course-correct, and set yourself up for the next chapter.
Looking ahead
I’m genuinely excited about what’s to come. The past few months have been challenging, yes, but also incredibly grounding. I’ve learned that stepping away isn’t the same as stepping back. Sometimes the only way to move forward properly is to shed what isn’t working and make space for something new.
So that’s where I’m at. Between workouts, website tweaks, and far too much time overthinking chapter titles, I’m feeling more like myself than I have in years. There’s still plenty to figure out, but that’s part of the fun.
“Sometimes the only way to move forward properly is to shed what isn’t working and make space for something new.”
This resonates hard.
Great blog.