I return to work two years after retiring early with $770,000

I achieved what many would describe as "financial freedom" at just 40. By most conventional measures at the time, I had achieved what many people aspire to: passive rental income of around VND35-40 million a month, a home on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City, a car for daily travel, VND1 billion in cash savings, and several plots of land set aside for my two children’s future.

In theory, I could slow down and live without much worry. Over the next two years, I eased into what I would call a state of "semi-retirement."

My days passed gently. In the mornings, I would have coffee and breakfast with my wife, then spend time tending plants and raising fish. Around 9 a.m., I would sit down at my desk, take on a few freelance projects and work just enough to earn some extra pocket money.

I would play badminton in the afternoons and sit with my family for dinner in the evenings. On weekends, I would take my children to shopping malls, swimming pools or occasionally visit my hometown.

But my hometown was urbanizing quickly. Friends my age were so busy trying to make a living that they had little time left to chat. Gradually, my social interactions thinned out. The days that had once felt "free" began to blur together in a dull, repetitive way.

At first, after quitting my job, I felt genuinely at ease. There were no deadlines, no pressure, and no targets to chase. Over time, however, a sense of boredom began to surface.

The boredom came from several directions. I no longer had clear goals to work toward. My social circle was limited. And each morning, I woke up without the motivation to do anything meaningful. At times, I startled myself when I realized that I was living in a state of merely waiting for the end rather than living with drive and purpose.

That period led me to one clear conclusion: early retirement should not be understood as completely stopping work. To me, it is better seen as the freedom to choose a different way of working.

When your finances are strong enough, what matters most is no longer how much money you earn but what you want to contribute and whether you still feel "useful" to society.

Hence, I returned to work at age 42, but with a very different mindset. I now work for enjoyment and the sense that I still have value, instead of income pressure.

I work fewer hours, select projects more carefully and focus on things I genuinely like and find meaningful. More importantly, I maintain a lifestyle that keeps me connected to society, other people and concrete goals.

Financial freedom is valuable. But I have come to realize that something else matters even more: having a reason to wake up each morning with a sense of purpose.

Rest is necessary to recharge, but resting for too long, especially when you are not mentally ready for it, can turn into a kind of "early retirement of the mind," where people lose the motivation to move forward even though they still have plenty of years ahead.

*This opinion was submitted by a reader. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.