A Retirement Answer

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I was out with friends, and we were laughing at ourselves. We had expected to do many things when we retired, but we found the days disappearing without many accomplishments. Thinking about it a bit more, I realized I had done a lot that day. I put the clothes in the washing machine before walking a mile, and the laundry was done when I had showered and eaten breakfast. Before getting in their car at 11:15, I had read the devotion for the day, worked five different puzzles on line, read and replied to email and blog posts, filled two humidifiers, and put the clean clothes away. Why was I not that productive all the time?

For me the answer includes deadlines and habits. The first deadline of the day was leaving for work on time. Habits made everything go smoothly. I knew how much time it took to drive to the village to walk. No thought was involved in showering and dressing. Breakfast was the cushion. I ate leisurely or quickly, depending on variations of habits. In those days I washed my hair every day, but I don’t need to now.

I still have many of the same habits, but I let my mind wander. I can look down at my soapy arm and wonder for a second what is next. Well, if it’s the right arm, the left is next. Sometimes I get lost while brushing my teeth. Noticing where the brush is, I know what is next, because I always do them in the same order. It’s outside upper right, lower right, without changing the handle, inside upper left, and lower left. Change direction of brush to outside upper right, lower right, then inside upper left and lower left. If I had to think through that every morning, I’d never get a thing done! Paying attention is the key to speed. I rarely need speed these days.

After getting to work, there were routines and habits that kept things going smoothly, for the most part. The same was true for the evening. Now, though, anything goes! I wander through my days at a leisurely pace. If I had flowers, I might stop to smell them, but I’m more likely to get involved in writing and chatting on line. If I haven’t dawdled, I play the piano and sing a little. That is a bit taxing though, because my mind has to make up the notes the eyes can’t see. Meal prep is easy – anything goes. I never whine and say, “I don’t like that.”

The choice is mine, whether to push through a chore or amble through it. I COULD be efficient if I chose to be, because I still have some deadlines and most of my habits.

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Published by Anne Mehrling

I'm a retiree who loves to write about life in the mountains of North Carolina.

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31 thoughts on “A Retirement Answer”

  3. Pete and I have discovered one of the things that fill so much of a retired person’s time: doctor’s appointments. And of course the volunteer commitments seem to expand to fill the time available. I sometimes find myself asking, “How did I ever find the time for a full time job?”

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  5. One person’s “efficient” is another person’s “slash and burn” these days. IMO, you are efficient every day, and especially in the things that matter most: taking care of your mental and physical health, your family and friends, and strangers when the occasion arises, bringing joy to others and your kindness, sense of humor and appreciation. You have faced difficult things, and still manage to do it with a smile on your face and concern for those around you. Taking a genuine loving interest in other human beings is long-term efficiency as far as being an effective human being yourself. You got that, and more! I say hat’s off to you, Anne. I would pick you for my dream team any day.

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  6. It does take time to become accustomed to retirement and the gift of time. Sometimes we have so much time and choice it makes us slow. But then, we earned this time and adjusting to a different timeframe can be a joy.

    Sound like you have achieved that mindful passage of time, Anne. And I also get lost brushing my teeth as my mind wanders.

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  8. This is a very thoughtful post. Routines keep us functional without the necessity of overthinking. I have a normal routine and if I stick to it, nothing is forgotten. I’ve been having trouble incorporating hearing aids into it. I come out of the bathroom without them. Then I go back in. The other thing about retirement is that everything takes longer because my energy isn’t what it used to be. Some days are very productive and some, maybe I need a nap!

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    1. Do you keep your hearing aids in the bathroom? I might have, but there are so many things that you are not supposed to keep in the bathroom, like medications. My hearing aids live on the bedside table when they aren’t in my ears.

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  9. My more-regimented self was when I worked and took the bus. Sometimes as I go rushing out the door when I make plans to go somewhere, rather than just an amble to the Park and back, I wonder how I did it … now I wash my face, brush my teeth, get dressed and go out. No make-up, no contact lenses, no fussing with my hair – most times it is bunched up under a hat in Winter or in a bun in the warmer months. In Summer I used to hand-water all the plants, pull a few weeks and get the bus around 7:30 – 7:45 to ensure if the bus didn’t come, I’d catch the next one and not be late for work. In the Winter, I’d shovel the walks and driveway and run the car before venturing off to work, even earlier as buses were often no-shows. Luckily I only walked a block to the bus stop. What happened to my regimen? No need for speed anymore I guess. 🙂

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      1. Yes, we could and I believe it is all about having a regimen that you really didn’t stray from. Now, the alarm goes off and I lollygag around getting up. I do better in Summer as I want to be out before it gets too hot.

        (Oh, by the way … I went out Thursday for a walk along the water, the first long walk this year. The UV index was “1” … I saw that only because I was looking for how windy it was. So, it never occurred to me to wear a sunhat. Came home with a pink forehead. Smart Linda, after preaching to Anne about sun-protection clothing.)

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          1. I have that issue too. I am online for too many hours and even though I tell myself I want to be off at 10:00 p.m. to read for a little while, it never happens … lack of regimen in the p.m. too.

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        2. I haven’t used an alarm clock since my last daughter graduated high school. I am still usually up before dawn but just allow myself to wake up naturally. Love being my own boss. 🙂

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          2. That is admirable Ruth as waking up naturally without an alarm is healthier for your body – that incessant noise first thing in the morning is no joy! During working on site, the alarm went off and I bounded out of bed as I had an agenda (and took the bus). Now I have three small alarm clocks, all battery operated, going off within a half hour of one another because, unlike my working days, I want to get up early, especially in Summer, but without a set regimen most days, I often snuggle down and close my eyes. I can fall asleep even with the alarm noise and it is not a wind-up alarm, so it will keep peeping. That’s why I have it on the dresser, not on a bedside stand.

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  11. Excellent perspective Anne! I find that if I don’t have a goal in mind, I can dawdle terribly any more. The start of my day sets the stage. If I don’t do my morning routine….well….:)

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  12. I think you are doing wonderful in your retirement. Your description of your morning had you accomplishing more than most people! And it’s great that you retain habits, routine, and structure. Good for you, Anne. I’m not too far behind you, and I hope I manage as well as you do when I get there! 🙂

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  13. Hear, hear! The ways in which you define productivity change as you do. When I say I’m doing ‘nothing’ I’m actually doing things… just not based entirely on previous habits or routines.

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