You've Got Time

For me, being retired is like being a kid in a candy store.  I have all this time to do whatever I want!  I have a list of projects that I saved for retirement, new activities keep presenting themselves, I have had opportunities for travel and have had family visits, and there are my ongoing interests that I want to make time for.  

I often hear about people who return to work because they are bored in retirement.  My problem is the opposite:  I seem to have too many things to occupy my time.  

I have discovered that the result of this is that I have trouble focussing on any one thing.  The most glaring example of this is my commitment to the blog.  I was doing great, posting weekly, until I went on the family holiday to Mexico.  When I got back it seemed there were so many competing priorities and I couldn’t seem to get back to the blog.  

This leads me to some questions.

1. What can you do pre-retirement to make sure you are not bored?

     I would suggest you start making lists:  

• activities you might want to take up (art, music, sports, photography and sorting your photos…the list is endless) 
• projects in the house you have been putting off until you have more time (house repairs, painting, garden work)  
• people you want to see (making time for old friends and family, meeting new people) 
• books you want to read, movies you want to see
• clubs or groups you want to join 
• places you want to visit
• classes you want to take (check out your library, online courses - there are lots of free courses in multitudes of topics)  

Do you see how your time can easily be filled? 

     2.  How do you prioritize your time?

My friends who have been retired for a while say it is best to just go with the flow.  In the first year you will likely want to try a whole bunch of things, but gradually you will be able to zero in on those things that really interest you.  

But for the first year I still need some help!  So I thought back to those times in my work life when I was particularly busy.  It always helped to make to-do lists and rank the items on the list. 

For my retirement list, I ranked the items as 1) urgent or must-do items, 2) items that need to be done but have some flexibility regarding timelines, and 3) things I want to do but are not necessary.   Then I started knocking the #1 and #2 items off the list, while still leaving time each day for a #3. Because every day in retirement should include a few “just because I want to” activities! 

     3.   How do you protect some “me-time”?

As a retiree you suddenly have time.  This is the one thing that has been in short supply for many years.  But if you are not careful, you may find yourself in a position where you still have a short supply of time for yourself.   

There will be things that you must do (regular household chores, medical appointments, and for me, walking my dog).  Then there is that list of things you want to do (see #1).  Finally there is the list of things that others want you to do.  My advice is this:  before agreeing to a request take some time to think about it and consider how it will fit in with your new lifestyle.  Don’t be afraid to say no, or even agree but limit the time you are willing to commit.  

Finally, don’t be too hard on yourself.  This is all new:  making your own schedule, setting your own priorities.   Enjoy this new time of discovery and freedom to structure your new life after work!