Let Me Check My Calendar

 

Do you remember reading way back in one of my initial posts, that one of the many pieces of advice I picked up from a retirement seminar was the importance of establishing a daily, post-retirement schedule. 

On the surface, this seemed like an eminently practical piece of advice, especially for me.  Even before I retired, I knew that I simply do not do well in unscheduled time.  It’s something I have always know about myself. 

Never mind having to work with a weekly production schedule while I was gainfully employed.  Even on vacation, I’m one of those annoying people who cannot simply sit on the beach and snooze.  I’m the one with the guide book who is researching museums, galleries, theatres, walking tours and all the other sites and attractions a particular vacation destination has to offer. 

I’m that annoying person who arranges her vacation day into three blocks of time - an activity in the morning (beginning at 10 a.m. - when the museums and/or galleries open their doors), a lunch break, an afternoon activity, a dinner break, and usually a theater performance in the evening – basically every vacation I ever took to London, New York or Edinburgh.

But practical advice or not, isn’t liberating yourself from a “work schedule”, from the daily grind, from the rat race, etc., the prime reason absolutely everyone gives for wanting to retire? 

To finally be free to do what you want, whenever you want?

So on second thought, actually working to re-establish and maintain a “schedule” once I retired seemed to be a little counter-intuitive.

Well, I am now into my second summer of retirement and have stumbled over yet another one of those ironies of retirement.

The Calendar.

Capital “T”, capital “C”.

The Calendar.

To my eternal shock and chagrin, I have discovered that the one essential thing I need to survive early retirement is believe it or not, a calendar.  An actual pen and paper calendar!  (Come to tea lunch next month and I’ll show it to you!)

Thanks to my insistence on a comprehensive and detailed “Retirement List” and my dogged pursuit of as many “personal growth opportunities” as possible, my days are now actually more regimented and organized than they ever were when I was working for a living.*

And I think I know how it happened ....

For much of our working lives, our daily “schedule” is managed and maintained by others.  Managers, colleagues, project load, etc., dictated to us when and where we had to be on an almost hourly basis.  You may have actually written an appointment or meeting into your calendar or day timer, but the need for the appointment or the meeting was probably not initially your idea.

And let’s not forget that if you actually wanted to get paid for working for this living, it is human resources and payroll who control the actual beginning and end to your work day …. as well as your actual payday!

It doesn’t take long once you have retired, however, to realize that now you, and only you, are in charge of organizing your own life. 

You are now captain of your own ship!

And it is truly the most annoying thing in the universe to be captain of your own ship!

If you have a spouse or school-aged children, some of your daily retirement routine will automatically be scheduled for you.

Unfortunately, I have neither spouse nor children, so the onus for organizing my days falls to me and me alone.  And I am a pain in the *** to keep organized and moving forward!

As much as I like the “freedom” that retirement has brought, knowing that on a daily basis I can go anywhere I want, any time I want – using a calendar to aid in re-establishing a structure to my days has proven to be, well …. useful!

Knowing that you have something scheduled for the day ahead gets you out of bed and off of the couch and ultimately keeps you in contact with the human race.

You will find there is actually a certain amount of comfort in knowing where you are supposed to be and what you are supposed to be doing on a daily basis – even if it’s only doing the laundry or grocery shopping. 

And working your way through a daily schedule actually gives you a sense of accomplishment, especially if you are able to cross something off your Retirement List. 

Bet you’d thought I forgotten about The List!

Never forget about The List!

‘Cause it’s that List that is going to help you to re-establish a structure and order to your post-retirement life!

 
 
*Just because I have a calendar, doesn't mean I'm managing to keep myself out of trouble.  Sorry again Linda, Howard!