goodtogo
Confused about dryer sheets
I was a deputy sheriff just shy of 30 years. Took quite a while to decompress. Still have some PTSD but it is what it is. Happy to be alive, healthy and active!
Perhaps some day. Thank you.I am sorry for your situation. A lack of security would stress most people.
I guess you have looked into w*rking, and it just isn't feasible? Maybe you have posted about this before, but if you have not, maybe you should start a thread. There are a lot of smart people around here who may be able to help.
I think you've got this!Thank you everyone. I am fortunate that I had several hobbies before retirement, so I have things to do. I am pondering the question of whether what I planned to do in my retirement is really what I wanted.
I am not an adventurous person, so I didn't have big plans. I do a lot of very simply crochet patterns. I had various plans like trying some intermediate level crochet patterns. Right now I do feel up to the challenge.
I may feel like it later. I might not. I think I will just take it easy for awhile and decide later.
Just give myself permission to not do much.
+100 on the crochet...I alternate between simple patterns and challenging ones...gotta use up those scraps! The scrap afghans end up being some of my best outside some seriously challenging kits I have by Jane Crowfoot. I have five projects going and hope to finish them all before I start probably one of my most challenging-an afghan based on a Roman Bath...all different squares when put together have the layout of a Roman Bath...I'm excited but nervous....I found the rhythmic use of the hook is soothing and helps relieve stress...add exercise and some reading. I do travel a bit, too, but always bring some crochet to work on....Thank you everyone. I am fortunate that I had several hobbies before retirement, so I have things to do. I am pondering the question of whether what I planned to do in my retirement is really what I wanted.
I am not an adventurous person, so I didn't have big plans. I do a lot of very simply crochet patterns. I had various plans like trying some intermediate level crochet patterns. Right now I do feel up to the challenge.
I may feel like it later. I might not. I think I will just take it easy for awhile and decide later.
Just give myself permission to not do much.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I went through something similar after leaving a high-stress job. For me, the decompression wasn’t automatic—it took time and intention. What helped most was getting into a steady routine that included simple things like walks, journaling, and saying “no” without guilt. It wasn’t about fixing anything, just giving my mind room to breathe. It’s okay if it doesn’t feel like therapy-worthy stress—it still takes a toll, and rest is a real kind of work too.I hope this is the right place to talk about mental and emotional health.
I have heard people talk about it often taking around six month to unwind and recover after their job.
My last couple months at work were very stressful, but before that I was also dealing with "normal" workplace stress and burnout.
Is this something that just happens naturally? Are there things you can do to help the process along? Or is it mostly just relaxing and doing fun stuff?
It doesn't really seem like a therapy kind of thing. Stressful things make me stressed. It isn't an issue to work through.
Couldn't have said it better. Feels good not worrying about the retirement police anymore.When I first retired, I kept myself busy with a variety of chores, deferred maintenance on the house, lawn, garden, etc. But after six years, I have finally perfected the art of doing nothing much.
I am fortunate that I had several hobbies before retirement, so I have things to do. I am pondering the question of whether what I planned to do in my retirement is really what I wanted.
Just give myself permission to not do much.
I retired end of December, 55.25 years old. Most friends say I'm too young to retire but I just wanted to get away from all the stresses of work, still have lots of stress from my elderly mother living with me since my Dad passed away a few years back.
Same here. Retired, then 7 months later was too restless and came back as a 1099 2 weeks per month.My entry into FIRE is well documented here. In short, the transition was difficult not because I couldn't handle retirement, but rather the loss of professional identity. I chose to return to work as a semi-retired. This became therapeutic for me, and continues to be. I work 6-8 days per month. I'm 1099 as an independent contractor in a GI clinic. This allows me to pick my own days and if I want to take time off, I do. Last month I put 8k miles on my 4runner touring the US. I love to car camp (overland)off grid, haha...crazy. I even work in a different state so I camp on the beach enroute home. Best thing, the DW allows me to be crazy me. She calls me homeless despite being FI.
Retirement is what you make it. It's not cookie cutter. Find your niche and go for it.
Thanks for sharing your experiences after retirement. It just shows that we are all different in how we adjust.It looks like I'm a Lone Ranger on here. After nearly 11 years, I still can't say I'm settled in. I retired at 54, mostly due to burn out, imposter syndrome, and in hindsight...WAY too much of an obsession with Mr. Money Mustache....PLUS the fact that in my tech career (software product marketing), aging in place doesn't happen. At the time, most of my colleagues were mid-30s max.
I can't say I've really found a purpose or meaning to fill my days in all these years. I got a certificate in high performance coaching (Brendon Burchard) but then got somewhat nauseated by the style and approach of successful coaches in that arena. And early on, I did a bit of product marketing consulting. The one saving grace, and it's a HUGE one. I literally saved my wife's life because I was by her side when she had a subarachnoid hemorrhage. There is no question she wouldn't have made it if I weren't there. Other than very minor memory loss, she has suffered no long term consequences. Amazing!
Yes, I work out every day. Yes, I meditate a few days per week. Yes, I do the food shopping, 90% of the cooking, run the finances and pay the bills. But still....
(Oh, and I'm incredibly grateful for what I and we DO have, which is quite a lot.)
Just what I needed to read right now. I am dwelling on injustices and it’s taking up valuable rent in my head. I think once retired we have more time to think but feel we have less time on this earth and injustices become more apparent and hurtful.For me, it is about having discipline with my thoughts. I can either dwell on all the injustices and wrongs I have suffered (real or imaginary) or I can remember the positive things or live in the moment or think about the future. It takes discipline for me. I like to replay events in my head. I also like to plan for possible scenarios that may occur. Too much of this, and I go crazy and get stressed.
You will decompress at your own rate. You can speed it along by not dwelling on the past, forgiving others, and moving on.
Yeah... my last project was about 450 million. We finished 3 months early and $30 million under budget. I got a customized RTIC Cooler!Took a few months post retirement to overcome the immediate “what’s the effing issue now” stress reaction when the phone rings.
No one ever called me at work to say … the project is running smoothly, under budget and ahead of schedule.