NVS18 - The Paradox of Being Retired
Aahhhh, retirement. I’m coming up on 6 years of it now. You might well imagine the joys of being able to do what YOU want to do – no “must-dos” and loads of free time.
But yet somehow it surely doesn’t feel that way! MOST days in fact (of late anyway) I’m feeling stressed about all I HAVE to get done that day, and how far behind I am in accomplishing the list. I read something once that said (something like) “the number of chores expands to fill the time available to accomplish them”. So maybe that’s it. Maybe I am fooling myself just to feel meaningfully occupied.
What are your thoughts on this?
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I retired early and took time to unwind. Then got bored and took a part time job doing my hobby. That then became my job full of pressure. WHY DID I RETIRE?
Round and round you go!
I am busier now that Cowboy retired than I was when he was working. I don't like it. Years ago, I did my chores for the day and had time to sew. Now I rarely have me time. I told him he is way too high maintenance.
Hugs!!
ps. BJ is right. NOTHING absolutely has to be done today. Make time for yourself.
Surely, retirement stresses both partners.
As an experienced retired person, here is what you haven't learned yet ... nothing, and I mean nothing has to get done that day. Not even laundry, even if you're out of underwear. So stop stressing yourself.
Underwear? It's summer time babe! 😂
Just today (Thursday) I realized that one small maintenance chore I do EVERY Thursday got missed last week. Fortunately, no-harm/no-foul, but still...
Some days I am busier than I expected to be in retirement. But the stress has really gone way down. I still have the same projects on the list to accomplish, but now I don't have to finagle it around my work schedule. Now, I've only been at it for 6 months, but so far, I'm not disappointed. Lol. Downsizing the house is not going as fast as I'd like, but maybe because the deadline I've set for finishing it is further out than other things.
I was wondering, so apparently you've not moved yet.
@CleavageFan4U No...not yet. My daughter wasn't able to handle the idea of leaving so soon. So we are waiting until summer 2027. We've made some progress, but more is needed.
I have several home improvement projects that I keep thinking about and yet not doing anything to move forward - that is a bit of a psychic weight, for sure, haha! The weeds are also out of control in my garden and it's kind of overwhelming to contemplate tackling them.
And then almost two full afternoons this week were taken up with online visa applications for Kenya and Tanzania (first world problems!).
My items are more mundane. Read the newspaper, check FB, check email, camera club stuff, gym, pool - AFF!
Got my new passport just the other day. No Orange Baby picture in it! 😁
What you shared is so true, retirement doesn't feel like it used to for sure. I sure hope things get easier and you get all you want accomplished.
I hope your Thursday continues to treat you well..
Thanks Tmptrzz. I'll survive!
Some days now retired I feel like you do. My guess is that we create things that 'have' to be done to occupy our time, and that we worry more about the small stuff when older. I now slightly worry about the rubbish being collected but when I was working I never gave it a second thought!
I've always set the can out of the curb the night before collection is scheduled. Good thing too, because of late (due to the heat) the trash people have been coming before it's even light out!