In my late teens to early twenties I would set goals and grinds towards them.
For example"if I work 60 hours a week from ages 20 to 25,,, I'll
have down payment save for house and emergency fund etc.
Now in my late 30s:" If I grind from ages 37 to 43…. I will just be More gray and old with a couple of more bucks in my bank
account"
I just don't have another grind in me . Thankfully I created a decent financial buffer. (Nothing to retire on… But enough to sleep at night).
I think if I I had to start all over from $0… I would just leave the country. Or move to the middle of nowhere
Past The age of 30,,, what motivates you to grind?
Children family??
39 comments
Here’s an original copy of /u/HighlightDowntown966’s post (if available):
In my late teens to early twenties I would set goals and grinds towards them.
For example”if I work 60 hours a week from ages 20 to 25,,, I’ll
have down payment save for house and emergency fund etc.
Now in my late 30s:” If I grind from ages 37 to 43…. I will just be More gray and old with a couple of more bucks in my bank
account”
I just don’t have another grind in me . Thankfully I created a decent financial buffer. (Nothing to retire on… But enough to sleep at night).
Past The age of 30,,, what motivates you to grind?
Children family??
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Always stay gracious. Best revenge is your paper.
No
Children take the grind out of me.
Sustainable lifestyle is better and more productive than any “grindset” bullshit
only grind I care about these days is grindcore

Nah, man
I’m in my late 30s averaging 50 to 60 hours per week in a consulting role. How much I hate work is very motivating to me, I save a lot of money. How much I fear homelessness does the rest.
Yeah I work my ass off in the gym so I can keep up with my 11-year-old and her friends. I want to be the fun dad as long as possible. I don’t really set “grind phase” goals, but my diet and exercise routine is pretty counter-culture for where I live. As far as professionally? As long as I’m paying bills and have a little extra for fun shit, I’m happy.
I do, but it has to be something I really care about. Just some vague “advance career” or “make more money” isn’t nearly enough for me.
ABSOLUTELY NOT. I’m ready to become recluse and disappear with a houseful of cats (spayed and neutered of course, I’m responsible).
Noooope. Work 8 hours a day as a plumber, help the wife with the bakery we own, have kids eventually, buy house eventually, then just chill and do that. Make music for fun, jam with friends. Simple life
I never had a grind phase, but life is always a grind
It’s the work. I am fortunate to be able to identify the project that I am interested in and passionate about and then get the funding to go make it real. I’m still thrilled by what I do, and the excitement to make a difference motivates me.
I don’t grind for anyone but myself.
Fuck no. We’re trying really hard to coast in our mid 40s. Maybe save enough to “retire” modestly and take fun, easy jobs related to our hobbies.
I did that grind exactly one time, my wife has done it twice. My current grind is getting in the best shape of my life before I can’t do that any more, and that’s going very well. But…50-60 hour work weeks so some other motherfucker can get rich and fire me when he or she feels like it? No way.
You don’t have a self-induced grind left in you. Life may have a grind or two for you you didn’t plan for.
I’d rather enjoy my life more than grind harder and die with a bigger pile. Deprioritizing work to focus on a better work-life balance in my mid thirties was the best decision I ever made.
No. I don’t even want to grind when playing video games anymore.
Nope. I’m in my mid 30s with wife and kids. I’m in the slow descent from my grind phase. I still do a bit too much but I have learned how to say no and honestly fuck it beyond what it takes to get the job done.
I’ll have my moments of course because I love what I do, but finally in a solid enough place financially that I’m good. Like if I never get beyond here career wise or financially beyond the usual cost of living increases, I would be good.
Lots of grind energy and im 38 problem I’m having is all my grind seems to be fixing what other people screwed up or broke
Absolutely not.
Also, I seriously doubt I’d need to. At this point in my life I have the experience I need to make more impactful decisions than I did before. I’m actually much more productive now than I was when I was working longer hours – I’m probably not as technically sound as I was in my 20s, but as far as actually getting things done goes, I’m far better.
Grinding is a hoax. Be healthy. Get sleep, exercise. NETWORK. Networking is by far better than grinding
Comes and goes. Early 30s and single, so the time is there and the motivation waxes and wanes depending on what I want to grind toward. Cautious of sacrificing too much (friends, family, peace) for the achievement of a goal though.
I also genuinely do find enjoyment in different types of work though, so the grind doesn’t always feel like a grind
I’m 32 and I have an “I just want stability and a weekend free” phase.
I have plenty of grind left. Just for my priorities and not an idiot boss. That was why I worked so hard for years.
Once the first child was born, the grinding stopped. That’d be my pro tip, grind as hard as you can before kids bc you may not want to when they arrive. I prioritize my kids and myself first now which means doing a good job but I’m not winning employee of the month
Lol i never ‘grinded’ in my career and I still get promoted regularly and good reviews. The only grinding I do is in the gym and even then I’ve gotten soft lately and not doing that. I don’t have motivation for it anymore. I just don’t care like I used to
Sustainable Consistency beats grind
Never had one. I much prefer a more balanced schedule. I’d rather enjoy the journey.
I went hard from 22 to 35. Picked up the most intense job I’ve ever had at 36 and burned out hard.
Nope! Wife just retired at 40 and I’m doing the same next year at 41
Nothing has or ever will motivate me to embrace grindset culture. Power to you my friend, but life is all about balance for me.
Yes. Kids got a little older. I’m more intentional about sleep, eating, fitness. My energy is coming back. It’s time for another push.
I did, was intense and it paid off hugely. Then I took my foot off the gas, nearly lost everything, and had to rebuild.
Now I’m 57 and I’m just treading water, doing OK but not dominating. I don’t have it in my anymore.
Grind phase? Its been a grind since 1984 for me.
Grinding all my life why stop now
I’ll be 50 in two weeks. My spool of wire is almost empty.
Nope. I use to work over 60 hours a week. Now making 40 is a struggle. Burned myself out
I never had a grind phase. Unless it’s in video games. Then I’m always grinding.