“When you’ve found the best structure and routine for yourself in retirement, you’ll notice a sense of flow and ease in your day-to-day activities. It will feel natural and sustainable, allowing you to thrive in this new phase of life.”— Dr. Joseph F. Coughlin, Director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AgeLab.

One great thing about leaving work behind is the freedom to do what you want. Yet, one of the big challenges of leaving work behind is adjusting to this new freedom. 

Most people need structure and routine in their lives. Structure ensures that we don’t miss something we want to do. And routine ensures that we meet our daily needs without having to think too much about it.  

Creating a satisfying structure and routine when it’s not imposed on you from the outside can take time. Be flexible and patient with yourself as you test out different options.  

Things to look out for 

• It’s common to hear that retired people are REALLY busy. That’s great if you’re spending time on purposeful activity that supports what you want to accomplish and you feel good about it. Not so great if you’re “busy for busy’s” sake, which can be as boring as doing nothing and might suggest you’re distracting yourself from something you don’t want to face. 
• In our Third Act, we finally have the chance to find that elusive life balance between doing and just being. That said, it’s not uncommon for people to overcommit in their zeal to volunteer, get fit, be social – do it all! Burnout can be the result. Leisure and rest are necessary. We do ourselves a disfavour if we don’t give in to the negative space between activities to nap, be bored, and watch the world pass by. 
• Maybe you don’t want your days to be too structured, and the idea of routine feels like an itchy tight sweater. If that’s you, maybe think in terms of daily rhythm instead. During what hours do you sleep best? When are you most energetic? When do you slow down? Pay attention to your body’s rhythms and see what happens. After all, you’re in charge when you retire. 

Finding the perfect balance between doing and just being while landing on just the right activities will take exploration and experimentation, a process that may dictate its own structure. 

What you can do 

• Most people don’t know how much discretionary time they actually have in a day. Figure it out by calculating how much of your day is spent on the basics: sleeping, preparing and eating meals, bathing, grooming and dressing. Then add in other non-negotiable activities: childcare, pet care, grocery shopping, and other self-care routines including fitness. How much time is left for everything else you want to do? 
• Experiment with your sleeping times: early to bed/early to rise or late to bed/late to rise. What suits you better?  
• Pay attention to how you feel during your day to recognize times of high and lower energy. Notice if that changes with the seasons and hours of daylight. Plan activities accordingly. 

If you want to start making new connections while discussing a variety of topics related to a fulfilling retirement, consider joining Next Chapter Dialogues, a new and unique, small group forum for thoughtful people at any stage of the retirement journey. This ongoing, weekly Zoom-based discussion is guided by Marilyn Hintsa. If you’re curious, sign up for a free trial session – information is available on the website. 

Marilyn Hintsa is an accredited Retirement Readiness Coach who works with people that want to continue making a difference in their post career lives. On her own retirement journey since 2019, Marilyn walks her talk: retirement is no reason to stop and go out to pasture, and every reason to now “do life” your way.  She is dedicated to helping her clients navigate one of life’s biggest transitions with confidence and excitement for what comes next. Connect with Marilyn at linkedin.com/in/hintsa/ or book a no obligation Retirement Readiness Chat at www.uleadu.ca.