Retirement used to be something you waited decades for — now people are trying it early, often, and on purpose.
In this episode of Why This Exists, we unpack why radical sabbaticals and “micro-dosing retirement” have exploded in 2026, how work and longevity collided to create the trend, and who actually benefits from stepping away mid-career.
Along the way, a few surprising stories and facts might make you rethink the idea of waiting until 65 to really live.