Sometimes I don’t these days. Retirement has been wonderful, but the steady routine of knowing I was going to work five days a week was way less complex than varying volunteer activities and work shifts, plus getting my aging parents to appointments.
The calendar function in my phone has become a lifeline. So has the task function, with its many lists and reminder alarms. I sometimes add in the pomodoro app to keep me on task, and I often take a few minutes at the end of the day to review what I have actually accomplished, so I don’t get overwhelmed by what I didn’t get done. And more than once each week, I do turn to either my phone or watch to confirm that today is indeed Friday (or only Wednesday, and I still have time).
Do I regret the new lifestyle? Only a little. I would like to be able to sleep later in the morning, but the insomnia means I make it to the pool in time for the weekly 6:45 start of lifeguarding shift. Otherwise, I am thriving on doing things that give me joy or (hopefully) help make the world a little better. Regularly scheduled classes and swim practice are firm anchors that give me boundaries and structure. And I can usually find time for a quick nap if I really need one.
How about you? What tips and tricks do you use to get through your week? Are you someone who thrives on variety, or do you prefer a steady routine?
I have found that it can be challenging when you’re retired to take note of the ways iin which you take up space in the world. A daily journalling entry reminding me of what I did, made, created, watched, read, etc. has really helped. Because what is time?
The first time I went back to visit my office after I retired, one of the guys ran up and said, “Quick, Winnie, what day is it?”
That’s definitely a common adjustment we have to make. 9 years later, I still have to think about it fairly frequently. But so far, I have always come up with the right answer.
I like a combination of routine and flexibility. I take (3 most weeks) tap dance classes, so they are scheduled & help shape the week. I have a training schedule online. But the still substantial amount of free time I would appear to have on my calendar fills up ridiculously fast. Also, when one has some skills, others notice and encourage you to make use of them in their organization or on their committee. I have noticed that smart people hold out for not signing up for any ongoing involvement until (enter the right period of time for you here). They take time to look around, to attend a meeting or two, to get used to how much time they want to leave open to have the apparent freedom that can come with retirement. It’s not easy to say, gee, I really want to leave some time to – choose yours – read easy novels in a nice, hot bathtub, or do jigsaw puzzles, or try to get to Genius level on the NYT Spelling Bee, or…whatever you thought you’d have almost too much time for.
It’s an ongoing balancing act, but not an unhappy one. Welcome to this phase of life!