Routine During Retirement

Congratulations! You’ve made it to retirement! Now what do you do? I used to think that when I finally retired, I’d sit and do nothing all day. Boy, was I wrong! There isn’t enough time for me to do all the things I like to. It definitely took some adjustments to help make the transition to this milestone as smooth as possible. Without our previous job title, we might feel lost, useless, and a bit anxious about the unpredictable nature of our future. But we knew that this inevitable stage in our lives was coming. Approaching retirement positively in our golden years can be amazing. The choices for keeping busy these days are endless. William Jennings Byron once said, “This thing is not a matter of chance, it’s a matter of choice. It’s not a thing to be achieved.”
Reaching retirement, if we are lucky, is a privilege. Obviously, not everyone gets to enjoy this third chapter of their lives in which they get to spend the rest of their lives doing what they love. The fun activities in the “new” routine don’t necessarily need to be expensive, but they do require a structured routine. It helps us psychologically, mentally, emotionally, and physically. One tip is to wake up every day with a sense of purpose and intention. When we are productive, we thrive; we feel fulfilled.
Start by making a list of simple, short-term activities that could be completed in 5-10 minutes. Small daily goals such as praying, meditating, going for a walk, exercising, cooking, learning a new language or a new skill, writing in a journal, gardening, painting, dreaming, and relaxing can help us feel fulfilled early in the day. It feels good when we check them of our list. But do not lose sight of your big dreams and long-term goals. Sure, they take longer to achieve, but they give us hope and something to look forward to.
Long term goals could be taking the big vacation on your bucket list, publishing your book, or volunteering to a good cause; goals that contribute to our personal growth. My transition was easier since I started to do these activities when I was semi-retired over the last few years. It helped me ease into this time when I have so much more time on my hands. With good time- management, I keep myself inspired, busy, and feeling fulfilled. I love losing myself in my favorite activities. I hope you, too, will learn to embrace and enjoy your new lifestyle. If you learn to navigate your ship, you’ll be in control of your destiny. I wish you smooth sailing.
Naomi Young is an educator of Jewish studies and a Bar/ Bat mitzvah tutor in Santa Clarita for 38 years. She’s also a published writer and an artist. Contact her at naomiyoung7@yahoo.com Visit her art website at www.naomiyoung.com