I don't have to do it all this year.

[Happy Homebody]

I retired a few months ago. At the time I had a big list of stuff I wanted to do when I was retired. It is primarily craft projects, games and other hobbies.

Immediately after retiring I just felt exhausted and not up to anything on the list.

A few weeks ago, I started feeling better and started doing a couple things on the list. Then I made a list of things I planned to get done this summer. But now I am walking it back and taking things at a relaxed pace.

I am reminding myself that despite my tendency to overschedule myself and do to much, I actually feel better when I have a more relaxed schedule.

I keep repeating to myself that I have around 20 or 30 years left to do things. I can take it slow and pace stuff.

 

[COcheesehead]

I had lists of things before I retired. Making the lists made me fell better about the decision. Soon after retiring the lists were forgotten and life just evolved and became enjoyable than I first imagined. I should look at those lists again, but why. Life is just dandy right now.

 

[Dtail]

Exactly. You are retired now. One of the great aspects of retirement is that you get to do stuff when you want.
I am a big planner and very detailed, but there are many days where I just let it flow however it goes.

 

[Focus]

I had lists of things before I retired. Making the lists made me fell better about the decision. Soon after retiring the lists were forgotten and life just evolved and became enjoyable than I first imagined. I should look at those lists again, but why. Life is just dandy right now.

Same. Compiling a list of post-retirement activities is often a necessary part of psychologically preparing for retirement. Once you retire and realize you'll have no trouble filling your days, you can toss it aside.

 

[aja8888]

I have lists of things to do so old that the ink disappeared before I got to them.

 

[equakesfan]

I had a "honey do list" of about 70 items when I retired 14 months ago, It's down to 31 items but I've added items to the list. I didn't make a list of things I wanted to do, but maybe I should make such a list.

 

[marko]

When you were working, you only had weekends and a few hours after work to get things done. You had to rush through things.

Now, you've gained a whole lot of extra time. Chill. Enjoy the leisure! Eventually, you'll find your "right" pace and work through those lists within your new time frame.

Also, like many retirees, you may find that your original list changes over time with other things replacing what your work-self thought was important but isn't so much now.

I still keep weekly lists but it's mostly to remind me of appointments.

 

[Car-Guy]

I don't keep a list anymore. I know when things need to be done and mentally schedule it. Sometime the DW will "cut in line" and change my priorities but usually we are in sync. She is the type when she decides it needs to be done "now", you'd think the world depended on it, so I'll adjust my plans rather than see the world end.

 

[Koolau]

I retired a few months ago. At the time I had a big list of stuff I wanted to do when I was retired. It is primarily craft projects, games and other hobbies.

Immediately after retiring I just felt exhausted and not up to anything on the list.

A few weeks ago, I started feeling better and started doing a couple things on the list. Then I made a list of things I planned to get done this summer. But now I am walking it back and taking things at a relaxed pace.

I am reminding myself that despite my tendency to overschedule myself and do to much, I actually feel better when I have a more relaxed schedule.

I keep repeating to myself that I have around 20 or 30 years left to do things. I can take it slow and pace stuff.

I think you are wise to keep repeating that mantra. AND, I would add: "If I don't get it all done, who is gonna care?"

Enjoy your retirement!!

 

[Closet_Gamer]

Congrats on the retirement.

I think a lot of us go thru the shuffling of priorities and (perhaps more so) learning what you really want —indeed who you even are — in the absence of all the work stress.

I know this has been my journey.

 

[Ronstar]

Like others above, I had lists of things to do when I retired. I gradually escaped from the lists, and I haven’t seen them in about 10 years. I still keep dr appointments etc, but otherwise I have no preconceived idea of what I’m going to do when I get up in the morning. Things get done when they get done.

 

[street]

Like others above, I had lists of things to do when I retired. I gradually escaped from the lists, and I haven’t seen them in about 10 years. I still keep dr appointments etc, but otherwise I have no preconceived idea of what I’m going to do when I get up in the morning. Things get done when they get done.

Yep that is me also. The only thing if I have something that absolutely needs to be done, then I have a schedule to get it done.

Those days that I have to do things that need to be done, aren't any fun because I'm not free to do what I want to do. It usually comes down to I never have enough time to get all I wanted to do that day.

 

[Koolau]

Yep that is me also. The only thing if I have something that absolutely needs to be done, then I have a schedule to get it done.

Those days that I have to do things that need to be done, aren't any fun because I'm not free to do what I want to do. It usually comes down to I never have enough time to get all I wanted to do that day.

Sounds like you are a very demanding boss!! You need to take it easy on yourself.

 

[Luvtoride]

Sounds like you are a very demanding boss!! You need to take it easy on yourself.

Don’t take it too “easy on yourself “. At 68 and 67 y.o. my wife and I are prioritizing keeping active with exercise in retirement. Besides filling some of our free time, it has made a difference feeling better and spending less time visiting doctors and dealing with health issues.
We’ve joined a gym that we visit frequently and started playing Pickleball (like half the world) and loving it. Besides the physical aspects it is a great social activity and we’ve met many like minded people our age.
Don’t be too hard on yourself with lists of things to do. Those things will still be there.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

“But what will you DO all day??”

 

[street]

Sounds like you are a very demanding boss!! You need to take it easy on yourself.

LOL!!! Yep I need to mellow some Koolau. Life is busy and I love being busy doing my thing, though. Lol

 

[DrRoy]

The only genuine list that we have had is to visit the US National Parks. At RE in 2017, we had been to 13. Now it is 55 of the 64. 2 more planned this year.

 

[marko]

In my old neighborhood we had a rule, enforced by anyone walking by: With the exception of working on boats, you could only work around the house for two hours a day. Then you had to quit. No excuses!

Otherwise, you'd get an earful at 4pm when everyone would go house to house, drink in hand.

 

[Koolau]

“But what will you DO all day??”

Heh, heh, in 20 years, that's just never been a problem.

 

[imjustawarrior]

I like keeping lists of things to do. It frees up my mind so I can properly goof off. Seriously, writing down my todo tasks really help me stay relaxed.

If I actually feel like I need to do something productive, I can just grab something off the list.

I think it is a matter of setting proper priorities. Doing chores all day is not high on my priority list.

 

[aja8888]

Don’t take it too “easy on yourself “. At 68 and 67 y.o. my wife and I are prioritizing keeping active with exercise in retirement. Besides filling some of our free time, it has made a difference feeling better and spending less time visiting doctors and dealing with health issues.
We’ve joined a gym that we visit frequently and started playing Pickleball (like half the world) and loving it. Besides the physical aspects it is a great social activity and we’ve met many like minded people our age.
Don’t be too hard on yourself with lists of things to do. Those things will still be there.

Being as young as you two are, you are doing the right thing by prioritizing health.

 

[reneeh63]

I've only been 'retired' a few months (technically I'm still using up my PTO) but I like keeping a general list of items in front of me. Tasks/chores I'd like to get done but also fun activities that might require a little planning because they can't be done completely spontaneously.

If I don't have a bit of structure I have the feeling they'll just roll around in my head and never happen though I want to keep it all flexible so it doesn't turn into w*rk! That includes strength training a couple times a week and lots of walking (better yet if I can build the walking into another fun thing).

 

[Happy Homebody]

When I was working, I really didn't have the energy to exercise. Now that I am retired, I have been able to start exercising again.

I don't think I will ever finish everything, because I keep discovering more things all the time. This is comforting because I will never have to worry about running out of thing.

I don't have anything on my list that is a must do. I won't regret on my deathbed that I never got to make a crochet dragon.

 

[caninelover]

I had a list when I FIRE'd in 2022. Not much on it actually materialized, with the exception of getting a puppy. I had goals of wandering around museums on weekdays, taking painting classes, and more.

I find the biggest satisfaction of ER for me is not what I actually do, but having the choice and control of what I do all day, even if it is very little. So, no more lists. I am as busy as I want to be and the activities I do can be scaled back if and when I want. That is just perfect for me.

 

[audreyh1]

I like keeping lists of things to do. It frees up my mind so I can properly goof off. Seriously, writing down my todo tasks really help me stay relaxed.

If I actually feel like I need to do something productive, I can just grab something off the list.

I think it is a matter of setting proper priorities. Doing chores all day is not high on my priority list.

It’s definitely all about priorities. Figuring them out after retirement, once you’ve had a chance to decompress, is very important.

I explored and tried a bunch of things that I thought would be interesting but many fell by the wayside as the important to me ones became clear. Interestingly what I did in my free time while working did not carry over into retirement.

I really relish the time I have just to goof off.