What to do with all your time?

Sarahspangles

Bravepants said:

Sarahspangles said:

Time4T_Accounts said:

Bravepants said:

eastcorkram said:

I've now been retired for 11 weeks. So far, I've power washed the wheelie bins, and descaled the kettle. 

7. Reading - progressing through the Jack Reacher novels, just discovered Hamish MacBeth, which I get from the library. Got the entire collection of HG Wells novels for 99p for my Kobo. Manged to plough through the Stephen King Dark Tower series, The Witcher series, started on Tolkien's The Silmarillion (but struggling) and I still miss Terry Pratchett.  

If you like Terry Pratchett  - much missed - have you tried Jasper Fforde (particularly the Thursday Next series)?  

I’m up to Discworld Book 38, I’m saving the last three for retirement in case it’s too emotional. GNU Terry.

I started reading Pterry in about 1991 while at Uni. A friend put me on to him. Since then it seems his Discworld was a constant presence in my life, like the Queen! GNU Terry indeed.

I’d ’saved them’ for when I needed some escapist fiction, I knew they’d be good as friends enjoyed them. Since losing my Dad, I’ve ‘read’ them via Audible at a rate of two or three a month in publication order, and also gone back and re-listened to the sub-series in sequence. The Penguin recordings are wonderful - Peter Serafinowicz is Death and Bill Nighy the Footnotes throughout, Jon Culshaw performs the City Watch readings (Vimes is somewhere between Sean Bean and Warren Clarke) and Indira Varma the Witches and Tiffany Aching books. Just wonderful.

Talking of exercise, I’ve seen those ‘Walk to Mordor’ challenges online and I’m thinking of doing something like that while listening to the Andy Serkis Hobbit and Lord of the Rings books.

bjorn_toby_wilde

SarahB16 said:

What I am really looking forward to in retirement is having the time to do considerably more exercise.  I really wish I could do more exercise and have thought this for a while... but with working full time and having caring responsibilities finding the time is not easy.  

The exercise I would be doing is to prevent falling and being able to get up if you have fallen as well as exercise that I simply enjoy too.  

I've known this for a while but today whilst on a very long train journey for work I couldn't help but overhear three older women (but not that old perhaps about c.70 years) discuss whether they take showers or a bath and how they actually get out of the bath.  One of the women said she turns round so she is on her knees in the bath and then stands up.  They all said they like baths but showers are just so much easier.   

There are so many things like that that you really don't think about when you are younger but can do something about it.  It really would be good to know what other things we can do when younger that is investing in the health and mobility of ourselves for when we are older.  I don't know if a thread has every been created looking at our future health and what we can do now to improve it but if not I know I would like to see one as I think it's relevant on here.  

Another example is (and sorry for the oversharing) incontinence.  A friend of a friend is a carer for older people and said so many people when they are older and they stand up wet themselves.  She said it's really common.  Again, things that we just don't think about when younger.  

So what will I do when I retire... I will try not to wait until I retire to invest as much as I can into doing the exercise I need to do so that I can hopefully lead a long and healthy life with good mobility.  

+1 for the Yoga. It’s an excellent way to keep your flexibility. I walk and cycle a lot but I was always poor at remembering to stretch afterwards.  Yoga’s great to prevent stiff legs and back.  Classes are a great way to get out and meet others but you can easily do it at home by following a YouTube video.

You’re right about incontinence being tricky to talk about.  It’s something that many people suffer with needlessly. I worked with Urology and Gynaecology for many years and there are so many measures people can take and treatments available. Typically though people suffer for years in silence before doing anything about it.

Tena are doing their best with their TV ads to convince everyone that it’s a normal part of ageing. It’s absolutely not and anyone with a problem should be seeing their doctor first, not spending their money on containment products.

pterri

Moonwolf said:

Sarahspangles said:

I joined the gym 18 months ago, OH then signed up “to keep me company” but found he loves particular classes. Mon-Fri this week he’ll have done three Pilates classes, two yoga, one circuit and three long cycle rides with friends of 3 to 5 hours. The yoga is all I will have done, I need to manage his expectations that I am going to match this from day one of retirement!

I gave up road cycling after a couple of near misses and being put on anti-coagulants, just feels too risky now.  Just one example of how health can hit you.

I still road and parkrun and use the rowing machine at the gym.  I also do a few weights but I will look for a yoga or pilates class when I retire as I have to do something about my hips, my working weight for squats is the same as my chest press as I don't have the mobility.

Me of the many reasons I want to retire early is to enjoy my new found love of cycling while I can. 57, good health, I can do 100km without much difficulty (if not very hilly) and want to do more including tours. Inexpensive as well. I’ve got a slight well managed BP issue so yes, need to keep on top of fitness. My dad lived to 83, was an ex heavy smoker until his 40s, over weight and never saw him excercise. Hopefully my much healthier lifestyle will give me a few more years or at least the same years but fitter. 

MallyGirl

Exercise when I want, not when I can fit it in, is very much part of my plan. We have always walked - holidays tend to be Lake District/Cornwall - and still have 1 big dog but it is challenging to fit more in with a full time job. I took up running in my early fifties. After pulling my back last January the physio recommended Pilates and I have done a class a week since then. Then I damaged a knee and haven't been able to run since August. I am finally getting more mobile and have added a second Pilates class but I would happily do more if I had the time. I hope to be running again soon.
A year of limited activity has had a shocking effect on my mobility/flexibility and once it gets sorted I never want to be in this state again.

german_keeper

I have signed up for Trek26 with my sister and brother in law at the end of May. It is a 26 mile walk in aid of Alzheimers Society and we have chosen the Ullswater one. I have done a lot of walking since I retired, often walk with a mate in the morning and wife in the afternoon. But preparing for this has made me broaden my horizons a bit and instead of doing fairly easy local walks we have been going further afield and doing some hillier ones.

There are loads of different walks under Trek 26 and we are making a weekend of it in an AirBNB. I can see us signing up every year and trying different ones. Preparation should keep us busy and also see a lot more of our Great British countryside.

bjorn_toby_wilde

pterri said:

Moonwolf said:

Sarahspangles said:

I joined the gym 18 months ago, OH then signed up “to keep me company” but found he loves particular classes. Mon-Fri this week he’ll have done three Pilates classes, two yoga, one circuit and three long cycle rides with friends of 3 to 5 hours. The yoga is all I will have done, I need to manage his expectations that I am going to match this from day one of retirement!

I gave up road cycling after a couple of near misses and being put on anti-coagulants, just feels too risky now.  Just one example of how health can hit you.

I still road and parkrun and use the rowing machine at the gym.  I also do a few weights but I will look for a yoga or pilates class when I retire as I have to do something about my hips, my working weight for squats is the same as my chest press as I don't have the mobility.

Me of the many reasons I want to retire early is to enjoy my new found love of cycling while I can. 57, good health, I can do 100km without much difficulty (if not very hilly) and want to do more including tours. Inexpensive as well. I’ve got a slight well managed BP issue so yes, need to keep on top of fitness. My dad lived to 83, was an ex heavy smoker until his 40s, over weight and never saw him excercise. Hopefully my much healthier lifestyle will give me a few more years or at least the same years but fitter. 

You might like Audax. It’s basically long distance cycling but starts from 50km rides upwards. They’re self guided using a route card or gps and self supported. Basically you ride at your own pace, with friends or on your own.  There are usually cafe stops and food at the end, all organised by volunteers.

Every weekend and some weekdays there are Audaxes to ride all over the country. Take a look at the Audax UK website and you’ll probably find one locally to try. You don’t have to be a member and I find they’re a good way to explore other places. I know every lane near me like the back of my hand so it’s nice to ride somewhere new.

pterri

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

pterri said:

Moonwolf said:

Sarahspangles said:

I joined the gym 18 months ago, OH then signed up “to keep me company” but found he loves particular classes. Mon-Fri this week he’ll have done three Pilates classes, two yoga, one circuit and three long cycle rides with friends of 3 to 5 hours. The yoga is all I will have done, I need to manage his expectations that I am going to match this from day one of retirement!

I gave up road cycling after a couple of near misses and being put on anti-coagulants, just feels too risky now.  Just one example of how health can hit you.

I still road and parkrun and use the rowing machine at the gym.  I also do a few weights but I will look for a yoga or pilates class when I retire as I have to do something about my hips, my working weight for squats is the same as my chest press as I don't have the mobility.

Me of the many reasons I want to retire early is to enjoy my new found love of cycling while I can. 57, good health, I can do 100km without much difficulty (if not very hilly) and want to do more including tours. Inexpensive as well. I’ve got a slight well managed BP issue so yes, need to keep on top of fitness. My dad lived to 83, was an ex heavy smoker until his 40s, over weight and never saw him excercise. Hopefully my much healthier lifestyle will give me a few more years or at least the same years but fitter. 

You might like Audax. It’s basically long distance cycling but starts from 50km rides upwards. They’re self guided using a route card or gps and self supported. Basically you ride at your own pace, with friends or on your own.  There are usually cafe stops and food at the end, all organised by volunteers.

Every weekend and some weekdays there are Audaxes to ride all over the country. Take a look at the Audax UK website and you’ll probably find one locally to try. You don’t have to be a member and I find they’re a good way to explore other places. I know every lane near me like the back of my hand so it’s nice to ride somewhere new.

I’ll take a look at that, I’ve done some gravel riding events. Lots of fun

Slinky

Having read this whole thread over the past few days, I haven't seen anybody mention litter picking. It's easy to do either on your own or with an organised group, gets you out in the fresh air, does some good for the environment, and is good exercise. Councils are always short of money now and a lot of places don't have regular cleaning anymore. It may not be our litter, but it is our planet. Be the change you want to see.

MallyGirl

german_keeper said:

I have signed up for Trek26 with my sister and brother in law at the end of May. It is a 26 mile walk in aid of Alzheimers Society and we have chosen the Ullswater one. I have done a lot of walking since I retired, often walk with a mate in the morning and wife in the afternoon. But preparing for this has made me broaden my horizons a bit and instead of doing fairly easy local walks we have been going further afield and doing some hillier ones.

There are loads of different walks under Trek 26 and we are making a weekend of it in an AirBNB. I can see us signing up every year and trying different ones. Preparation should keep us busy and also see a lot more of our Great British countryside.

We did the Ullswater 26 miler for Macmillan last year. It was tough as the weather was dire. I ran a marathon the year before - first and possibly last ever - and I thought that the walk was harder!
For various reasons we didn't do as much training as we would have liked - definitely get plenty of hills practice in. I also recommend walking poles if it is wet as it was quite slippery in places. It was a great experience and well organised for us - I expect yours will be the same.

Sarahspangles

Moonwolf said:

Sarahspangles said:

I joined the gym 18 months ago, OH then signed up “to keep me company” but found he loves particular classes. Mon-Fri this week he’ll have done three Pilates classes, two yoga, one circuit and three long cycle rides with friends of 3 to 5 hours. The yoga is all I will have done, I need to manage his expectations that I am going to match this from day one of retirement!

I gave up road cycling after a couple of near misses and being put on anti-coagulants, just feels too risky now.  Just one example of how health can hit you.

I still road and parkrun and use the rowing machine at the gym.  I also do a few weights but I will look for a yoga or pilates class when I retire as I have to do something about my hips, my working weight for squats is the same as my chest press as I don't have the mobility.

I don’t like OH cycling on the road. He does because he’s reached a level of fitness where he’s outgrown the local groups who pootle on canal towpaths and reclaimed railway lines. Those are my people though! I’m considering whether I should go to the pool/gym every weekday. Or whether it’s acceptable to do a strength session followed by some cardio and then attend a yoga class while ‘glowing’.

The other issue is how much time OH and I should spend doing things together. We both had parents who rarely did their own thing. His weren’t very socially active, whereas mine were but they still went everywhere together.