There have been a lot of changes in my life since I retired a few months ago. The majority of those changes have been within me – changes in attitude, changes in personality, changes in relationships.
One of the relationships that has changed most drastically is my relationship with time. Time is still a significant, relevant part of my life. I still have clocks in my house and, as much as my daily regular schedule has changed, it has changed to a new regular schedule.
The thing is, before retirement time was one of my main sources of stress and frustration. Hours in a classroom lasted longer than days during summer break. Nine months of pregnancy lasted forever! Years of infants, toddlers, tots, and teens were over way too soon. A week at the office was interminable. A weekend home was never long enough. The terrible years were endless and the good ones flew by. There was no consistently to time – ever – and I never had time when I needed it most!
In retirement, time flows easily and smoothly. I never feel suspended in time, nor do I feel pressured to do more than time allows. Time passes – the hours, the days, the weeks, the months – regularly and consistently and reassuringly. Regardless of all that is or is not happening, time passes. No longer a sources of stress or frustration, time is now a comforting measure of life.
Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie 
The most enjoyable change of “time” I have since retirement is “bedtime”. I can now stay up as late as I want. it’s great
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I always go to bed at 10 and meditate for an hour or so. My husband thinks it is too funny😂. He reminds me every night that I can stay up as long as I want.
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Amen, sister! I so relate…..
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This post resonates with me. Being retired is pure joy, and I feel my life is my own. I can do with my time what I want or need. I think there is some wisdom is the current trends to save like crazy and retire early. Thanks for a nice reflection. Enjoy your day!
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Thank you, Betty! I love retirement as well. I think young people should be taught to manage time better, sooner. Too often, time seems to manage us when we are younger.
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So true. I love being able to get up in the morning and know that I can do whatever I want that day. I can choose to be busy and accomplish a list – or I can simply sit with my coffee and enjoy a good book.
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And if you don’t finish, no biggy! 😂
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Thank you for your post. This is something I struggled with when I first retired. I have slowly learned to relax and not let time dictate when I need to do something. I now have a choice.
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It takes a while but we should enjoy all of the benefits of retirement. I think loosening time’s control of us is definitely a major benefit! 😉
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I used to be a time freak when I was working. I was always conscious of time and tried to make the most efficient use of it. Meeting that went overtime, people that were late, and being late myself drove me crazy. It seemed like I wasted a lot of time making sure that I was on time. I vowed when I retired to not set an alarm unless absolutely necessary. My view of time has changed and it has been liberating. I still keep a schedule but it is my schedule.
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Exactly, Steve! That is how I feel. I worked in a construction office, handling the accounting and commercial product sales and project management. There was never enough time in a day and no option other than getting it done on time, regardless! I don’t think I ever let anyone else down but I put myself through hell in the process. Seriously foolish now that I have the time to think about it. 😂
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I have found this true too and enjoy getting up without an alarm clock.
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