But for many youngsters today, it’s becoming a necessity. Youngsters in their 20s and 30s are flocking to small countryside resorts to spend some quiet time away from the mad city life.
I recently came across a news article about a new concept in China, where the host offers you a sense of retired life while you are still young. It’s called a “Youth Retirement Village.”
This resort or village, named “Guanye Youth Retirement Village,” about a 3-hour drive from Beijing, is slowly catching media attention not because of where it is located, but because of what it offers. Youngsters around 25–30 years are giving rave reviews about a staycation at this place.
Honestly, it’s fascinating how the people who used to travel for adventure are now travelling to pause.
We are often told by our parents that we should study hard, look for a stable job, try to settle down, and continue working for the next 35–40 years, which is OK, sounds good. Our parents did that, and everyone around us did that. They were even able to manage a house, raise their kids, enjoy some comforts in life, and retire with a pension for the rest of their lives.
The problem with this concept, however, is that the rules are being changed by those in power, those who have an unfair advantage. We are no longer expected to work till 5 or 6 pm; working till 8–9 pm is the new norm in corporate India.
Employees are expected to go “all in” to serve their employer. Industry leaders openly glorify 70-hour workweeks and 18-hour days… and somehow expect society to accept it.
Here are three quick reflections on why this shift is happening and what it means:
1️⃣ Burnout is Borderless: When I hit 40 a few months ago, I felt that creeping burnout, too. It’s not just a local phenomenon; younger generations everywhere are realizing that endless hustle culture has a cost. You just cannot work 24×7 for the rest of your lives.
2️⃣ A New Kind of early retirement: We’re seeing a generation that’s no longer waiting until 60 to “retire.” They’re embracing mini-retirements, gig economies, and self-employment to find balance now. The same impulse that made me take a sabbatical is driving this trend globally.
3️⃣ From Bosses to Balance: As AI and remote work tools grow, many are rethinking traditional jobs. They’re looking for freedom and refusing the old 24/7 availability expectations. It’s a wave of change that’s just beginning.
Maybe it’s time to pause and ask ourselves, what are we really rushing towards?