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Wily Fox aka Angela wrote:

pacamom wrote:

jf1acai wrote:

jmc wrote: If you subtract my "mean" posts I'm only at 9.

rofllol :rofl

I think he counted wrong. I only remember 4 nice posts and even those were iffy.

and you know what was doubly good about your post? you got to be snarky AND bumped up your posting numbers all in one shot. Brilliant

Ive been called a lot of things, but I don't think I've ever been called snarky. tongue:

that IS a compliment you know... in this context

Yeah! But I used to be #3. I guess I'd better get back to posting more. lol

archer wrote: I'm retired.

jf1acai wrote: Yeah, I am now too, and no longer have as much time for posting here!

Wily Fox aka Angela wrote: amen, brother! truer words never spoken (or written)

How is it you have MORE time when you are working than when you are not? I have NEVER gotten that! I used to work seasonal, and during my off time, free time was gone. I'm baffled.

This may not be the best place for this, but since others seem to have seen the same apparent lack of time after retirement, I will post it here.

I decided to google 'retirement time management', to see what would come up. Of the top hits, the theme seems to be pretty much the same. So far, I like this one the best - http://postworksavvy.com/2011/04/08/lea ... etirement/

I think part of my problem is that I had unrealistic expectations of how much I would be able to do in a day after I retired. And, I hate to admit all the things I had put off doing, because 'I would have lots of time to do that after retirement' - all this stuff now needs to get done!

Also, I find that it is way too easy to get sidetracked by unplanned activities - not that that is necessarily bad, but it can certainly affect what gets accomplished in a day!

If others have suggestions as to how to become more 'productive' in retirement, while still enjoying retirement, please chime in! (this may need to be moved to a new thread, depending on the response).

Make lists. Add to it every time you think of something that needs to be done. include the things you normally do. That way when you actually do get something done you can cross it off the list and see exactly what you have accomplished.

Disclaimer: I haven't done anything I planned to do this summer that is on my list. But I certainly have done a lot that I didn't plan.

When I retired also retired the to do lists. Sure I have things I plan to do, but I do them as time and inclination allow. It takes several cups of coffee in the morning to clear my mind, and I make decisions on what that day will hold based on what feels right. After years of running my own business, of being at the beck and call of clients and deadlines, and of course kids schedules and activities......I just don't do that to myself anymore. If I start a project, and decide to set it aside and do something that interests me more on any given day, that is what I do. Some times we drop everything and spend some time with the kids if their schedule allows, we have been known to take off on a trip on very short notice....or discuss over coffee starting a major home project and start that very day. If we go on the road we loosly map out what we plan to do....then let circumstances dictate where we stay and how long........a lot of times it depends on how well the fish are biting!

I know there are people who manage their retirement years like they have always managed their lives.....with plans and schedules and promises and deadlines and future commitments. Neither of us seem inclined to do that, so a free form kind of life works well for us. This last year tought me that tomorrow is never a sure thing, so if you want to do something today.....just do it.

That's pretty much the way I imagine retirement for me- stop with all the time management crap, stop keeping schedules, do what strikes your fancy and if the next day you feel like doing somthing else- then do it.

That's the way to reduce anxiety to near zero- and that's how I imagine retirement. So if my work does not kill me first- then that's the way I want to retire. Forget about how much you can get done in a day- do as much as you want and call it good.

Your time belongs to you now- not your employer, not your clients, not your creditors- so enjoy! I wish my father could grasp this concept- he might live longer.