I have some friends in Germany, and their view - for the middle class - is that life begins in your 50s. At this age your kids have moved off to college or university, your debts are mostly paid off (not that debt is really a thing in Germany) and you can look forward to a few decades of retirement. The important part however is this only works if you are healthy enough to enjoy it, so it’s important at a young age to take care of your body and not overwork.