Lately, I have focused on paying off my mortgage early instead of investing. I figured I’d be more relaxed if that’s settled. I’m 41 and plan to settle there balance in 4 years time whilst keeping an emergency fund and all that.
Afterwards, I plan to start working part-time. 4 day week and focus more on rest and life.
A penny for your thoughts.
Paying down the mortgage as quickly as possible became our priority when I was diagnosed too. Looking back that was a good decision for us.
Of course I wish I had taken out critical illness cover on that mortgage, and I expect you wish you had too, but never mind, live and learn. 
I would talk to a financial advisor if you have not yet done so. Having said that, our minds were already made up about the mortgage before we got an IFA. Peace of mind was the driver for us on that one, just as you say.
I was diagnosed at 14 and took the loan ten years later. I pay insurance on it but i have no idea what it covers exactly. As you said, my priority now is to get rid of it as soon as possible.
Seriously, you need to thoroughly pursue the possibility that the insurance might pay off some or all of your loan before you do anything else. Particularly before you pay down the capital. Please, please check that first. Do you have a financial advisor? It might be you could do with some professional help here.
We don’t have financial advisors here but I’ll definitely check that out, thanks!
Sadly, i have to die for them to pay out.
Yes, I was the same. Life cover only, alas.
I got a critical illness pay out a few years ago and could have paid the mortgage off but instead have maxed out my stocks and shares ISA allowance out every year since. Mortgage is fixed at 2.9% and ISA has averaged 16% return every year in a range of ETFs and tech stocks.
Good for you. There are many ways to skin that cat: historical data, financial literacy, personal circs and risk appetite being among them.
Paying it off early is more of an emotional decision than a maths one, and at 41 with a 4 year plan it’s a reasonable trade for the peace of mind. The maths only wins if your rate is low and you’d actually invest the difference, which most people don’t. The 4 day week afterwards is the bigger call, that’s a permanent income cut rather than a temporary one. If you’re comparing options for where the money goes instead, The Investors Centre is one site that tests platforms with their own money rather than running affiliate lists.