Just retired…

Sunsh1ne54

Sea_Shell said:

You'll eventually find your new routine.

Chores and life admin get spread out, not crammed in.  Mañana. 😎

But they still need doing, amongst any new "fun" stuff.

Some couples like to do more things together, some want to pursue separate passtimes.  It helps if you're both on the same page in that respect.

I've found that one can procrastinate oneself into inaction, when you're not on the clock.

Yes, I think I need to allow myself a week or two of sleep 😂 before I start on the new adventures. 

Sunsh1ne54

crv1963 said:

The tiredness is probably you just decompressing. Going from having to be somewhere at a set time, for a set amount of time, to being your own planner. As a species humans like dogs benefit from a routine, some of the "old boys" down my local allotment have set times each day to be there etc.

I retired but immediately returned as covid started, NHS worker so I kept contact and routine at work, when covid stopped I realised that I didn't feel like I wanted to retire just yet. My wife retired a few months later but she also felt after 6 months that she wanted to have structure so returned part time.

On the other hand I have two of my friends, the first stopped work to care for his wife, who sadly died but he found he just didn't want to return to the workplace and he hasn't. He does do voluntary work, takes lots of short breaks, has built a routine, we meet monthly for coffee, he meets other friends monthly for long country walks etc. Is having more contact with his grand children ie takes them to some weekly activities but is very clear with his children he will not be a child minding service!

The second retired at 50. He fills his day with keeping house (his wife retired and returned), walking the dog and weekly meet ups with different friends for cofee/ lunch/ drinks.

Both of my friends are happy to have pulled the plug on the daily work routine, but have replaced it with a routine of their choosing, which seems to be the way to go to me. I went to a retirement course organised at work and we were told one of the hardest things to consider was "What do you with the 8/10/12 hours a day that happened 3/4/5 days a week?". 

Yes I think the tiredness is me decompressing. Interesting how we are all different. I am soooo looking forward to doing what I want, when I want. The tiredness is just stopping me from getting started 😂

Sunsh1ne54

LHW99 said:

The tiredness is just the body reacting to a release of stress. Get plenty of rest for a few weeks, then make a low key timetable - sort of things like walk to the newsagents every morning week 1, have a 30 minute walk everyday and have a cup of coffe one day with a friend, week 2. Add something new each week until the tiredness passes and then start planning the holidays, volunteering, new hobbies, fitness routines etc.

No need to try and smash it all into your day in one go. Hasten slowly as they say.

Yes I like this, I’m trying to rush into the freedom I think.  

Sunsh1ne54

sgx2000 said:

3 months in....
Currently on my 2nd holiday.

I have a dodgy replacement knee. 
So I determined from day one to go walk in the morning and evening to try and strengthen the knee joint.
Rain or shine.

Dont just sit there wondering what to do with you life....
Get up, and do something, anything rather than sit and mope,....

Give yourself something to look forward to.....

Oh I’m not moping, I’m impatient as I’m feeling so tired but reading some of the other replies I think it’s decompressing after a full on job for years. It’s only a few days into retirement and I think my first lesson needs to be patience!  We have 3 breaks planned before Christmas so I’m really looking forward to each of them. 

Sunsh1ne54

kempiejon said:

Some people are defined by their jobs, or the routine of the M-F 9-5 has become so entrenched it leaves a hole in their lives. I remember my old man worked the same place, the same company from when he was 23 until he was made redundant at 62 and the last 20 odd years the same role. He didn't know any different. His first few month at home were awful for him and my mum. He tried to organise her house, offering improvements to her systems, kept getting in the way and he didn't know what to do with himself. The culture shock was impacting both of them negatively. Eventually he took a part time job and spent 3 years easing into all that free time.

If it's hereditary I am not a sufferer.

Me neither! I can’t wait to get my energy back to start all my new adventures and I’m 99% certain that won’t include work! I’ve worked super hard for 43 years, now it’s time to do what I want to, when I want to as much as possible 😊

Sunsh1ne54

Thanks for all the comments, much appreciated   I’ve come to the conclusion my extreme tiredness is decompressing from my job!  (I’ve only been retired a week!) I have no intention of going back to work, I’m thoroughly looking forward to enjoying my retirement, and have lots of plans. I just can’t wait to begin, so I’ll sleep for a week or two and then the fun will begin! 😂🎉🍾🥂🫶

julicorn

kempiejon said:

Some people are defined by their jobs, or the routine of the M-F 9-5 has become so entrenched it leaves a hole in their lives. I remember my old man worked the same place, the same company from when he was 23 until he was made redundant at 62 and the last 20 odd years the same role. He didn't know any different. His first few month at home were awful for him and my mum. He tried to organise her house, offering improvements to her systems, kept getting in the way and he didn't know what to do with himself. The culture shock was impacting both of them negatively. Eventually he took a part time job and spent 3 years easing into all that free time.

If it's hereditary I am not a sufferer.

There's an old German comedy (yes, those exist) film about exactly this scenario called "Papa Ante Portas". It's fantastic. 

jim8888

Sunsh1ne54 said:

Thanks for all the comments, much appreciated   I’ve come to the conclusion my extreme tiredness is decompressing from my job!  (I’ve only been retired a week!) I have no intention of going back to work, I’m thoroughly looking forward to enjoying my retirement, and have lots of plans. I just can’t wait to begin, so I’ll sleep for a week or two and then the fun will begin! 😂🎉🍾🥂🫶

I left a really stressful job when I was younger. At the time I wasn't sleeping well, kept having mild bouts of flu-like symptoms, had permanent back ache and sometimes terribly itchy skin. I recognised that some of this might be stress induced, but I honestly didn't feel mentally that I was stressed out at the time. My body was seriously trying to tell me otherwise and within two weeks of changing jobs, all those symptoms had gone. It was only years later that I put two and two together. I still think it's quite easy to deny the stress that work can put you under, so enjoy your decompression!

Albermarle

Sea_Shell said:

You'll eventually find your new routine.

Chores and life admin get spread out, not crammed in.  Mañana. 😎

But they still need doing, amongst any new "fun" stuff.

Some couples like to do more things together, some want to pursue separate passtimes.  It helps if you're both on the same page in that respect.

I've found that one can procrastinate oneself into inaction, when you're not on the clock.

You are right that it is not all holidays, and/or wondering what to do all day.

Normal life continues. You still need to go to the supermarket, cook and wash up, mow the lawn, do some decorating, help with vulnerable family members, visit relatives and friends, walk the dog, watch the news and of course be on these forums !

One mundane thing I like is that you can to some extent organise your activities around the weather. So if it looks lousy you can postpone any planned outside activities for another day much more easily than if you were working. Presuming you trust the forecast of course !

Sunsh1ne54

jim8888 said:

Sunsh1ne54 said:

Thanks for all the comments, much appreciated   I’ve come to the conclusion my extreme tiredness is decompressing from my job!  (I’ve only been retired a week!) I have no intention of going back to work, I’m thoroughly looking forward to enjoying my retirement, and have lots of plans. I just can’t wait to begin, so I’ll sleep for a week or two and then the fun will begin! 😂🎉🍾🥂🫶

I left a really stressful job when I was younger. At the time I wasn't sleeping well, kept having mild bouts of flu-like symptoms, had permanent back ache and sometimes terribly itchy skin. I recognised that some of this might be stress induced, but I honestly didn't feel mentally that I was stressed out at the time. My body was seriously trying to tell me otherwise and within two weeks of changing jobs, all those symptoms had gone. It was only years later that I put two and two together. I still think it's quite easy to deny the stress that work can put you under, so enjoy your decompression!

You’re right, all the while we’re doing the job we keep going, it’s not until we stop we realise how stressed we probably were! Take care