Rules for retirement

Going from a structured work day - set hours, set tasks, scheduled meetings, preplanned days off, etc. - to an unstructured life makes me a little a lot nervous. Imposed routines must now become self-created habits.

I've decided to do my best to live by these rules of retirement...

1. Get up everyday no later than 7am. Keep regular sleeping hours.
2. Make the bed everyday.
3. Shower, shave, and put on clean, presentable clothes everyday.
4. Exercise between 60 and 90 minutes everyday. Try as many classes at the Y as possible.
5. Read the newspaper everyday.
6. Leave the house everyday.
7. Work the Jumbles and Isaac Asimov's SuperQuiz everyday.
8. Write for at least two hours everyday. 
9. Eat moderately and healthfully everyday. (Lose weight.)
10. Communicate everyday with at least one other person - in person, by phone, or e-mail.
11. Keep the house picked up and clutter-free everyday.
12. Do a task for one of my volunteer organizations everyday.
13. Read for pleasure everyday.
14. Plan or research some small part of a future trip or event everyday.
15. Never watch more than two hours of television or movies everyday.
16. Nap everyday.
17. Keep the bird feeders filled everyday.
18. Drink some wine and eat some ice cream everyday.
19. Keep up with email everyday.
20. Reflect each day if I made any sort of contribution to the world or just consumed oxygen better used by others.

*Every day I am not travelling or have a daylong activity scheduled.

Most of these "rules" will not be difficult to follow since they are really habits I have had for 40, 50 or even 60 years. It would be hard NOT to read for pleasure everyday. For the most part, these are positive tasks. And should I start breaking my self imposed rules, I will suspect dementia more than laziness or a personality flaw may be the culprit. 

Over the next weeks and months, I expect I will gain confidence in my ability to self-manage my days. And I also hope that I will grow more comfortable spending time relaxing, shedding the guilt that stems from what I perceive as a lack of productivity. I have a good cycling trip to the Netherlands scheduled for early May. It will give some time to reflect and acclimatize to a more self-guided life.

Any retirees out there who have their own set of rules for retirement?

Comments

[Joy]

Thank you for this list. It has inspired me to draw up my own list, as I contemplate retirement in Dec. I feel the need for some sort of structure.
Hope you enjoy each day of retirement!
Joy

[Tim Stahmer]

I made a similar but much shorter list when I made the transition. Your number 1 and 20 are about the only ones I’ve stuck with, plus my goal to spend more time working on my photography. However, I’ve also discovered a freedom to experiment with my life that I didn’t have (or didn’t understand) when I was working on someone else's schedule.

Looking forward to seeing your pictures from The Netherlands. It’s on my short list of places to visit and we will likely be traveling there next spring.

[Kenn Gorman]

<green with envy>

[Floyd Pentliln]

A great list. I can relate to almost every item. I am, however, particularly fond of #18.

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Tim,

You seem to be thriving in retirement. My biggest hurdle is just learning to relax and experiment. I am deliberately not seeking employment for a year. We'll see how that goes!

Thanks for the comment,

Doug

Kenn,

Phooey - enjoy your youth...

Doug

Floyd

Funny, 18 is the one I have no problem keeping either!

Doug

[Pat Hensley]

I couldn't resist coming up with my own list. Thanks for the inspiration! https://successfulteaching.blogspot.com/2019/04/retirement-rules.html