These are just my recent thoughts.
Do you have the feeling at times that you are too busy, or WAY too busy?
Have you already graduated from your career and have most of the day’s hours at your disposal?
Have you heard a retired person say “I’m so busy that I have no idea how I had time to work?”
I can relate to these three questions. But I have to wonder do I just think I’m busy because now in retirement I’m used to doing so little actual requirements of work. With less requirements and without the daily/hourly grinding schedule is a structure required?
Is the fact that there is something you have to do, or should do, that is causing this feeling of “I’m too busy to do that” or is it “I don’t want to do that.” Maybe you don’t want to because you feel the power of fully owning your own schedule/tasks/duties and don’t like external requirements.
None of these feelings are bad.
I noticed how I switch from asking you to referencing “I” and bounce back and forth. Am I asking myself these questions, yes. Am I asking others these questions, yes? Am I just thinking through my keyboard, yes. Am I strange, yes. So, four for four so far.
Priorities
There is no reason at this freedom stage in your life that you shouldn’t feel as though your desires shouldn’t (or cannot) come first—especially with balance to requirements.
I mentioned in a presentation the idea of having some time to be selfish. Most of our lives we are driven to deliver for others. Maybe for our greater good, but definitely external requirements.
Maybe this is just a better way of revisiting what are your priorities. What do you want your life to be? Do we (ever) take enough time to focus on what we want to be and strive towards that? Do we stop and take the time to think about what we really enjoy doing? The real question: do we actually take action to put those visions and ideals into action? To be what we want to be?
Now is a perfect time (even if you’re still working “for the man,” or as I often did women) to take some time for yourself. Do something you love, especially if you are Too Busy.
Procrastinatorium
This was going to be a future post (from my “don’t forget list) but it seems to fit here.
Do you love the feeling of getting stuff done?
What about feeling as it you have too much stuff to do, too much stuff you want to do, too much stuff you want to learn about, or too many places you want to see and visit?
Do you ever feel like you just aren’t making the huge progress you feel you should?
I’m NOT talking about Purpose. I don’t have any “in my life I want to be the grand…” thoughts. I just thinking, should there be more accomplished in a day?
“I did three things today” is so real.
When you have all the time in the week for yourself, do you end up not optimizing this time? Do you waste time? Can you actually waste time, or will time pass no matter what you as a person choose to do?
JD Roth once said, “If something takes two hours to do, in retirement it may take two weeks.” That is such a spot-on statement for many people. “I’ll do that later.” “I’ll get to that later.” “I don’t want to do that now.” There’s probably nobody holding you accountable. This is so nice! But it’s also very nice to get stuff done.
Maybe this is just another hidden reason that retirement is hard.
It may be hard to align your desires and actions, oh, and the expectations of others. For decades and decades, other people have been telling you what to do and when it’s due. That sucks if you’re an independent person.
Why this post?
I post twice a month. Not a demanding schedule, but still, there’s some structure to it.
We were in Australia and New Zealand for almost 6 weeks on a cruise with the slackers and arriving home Dec 20th I new I had (should) post a second of the month. I have plenty of ideas in the list. I have plenty of thoughts half-cocked and ready, but still, I needed something completed and up on the interweb to meet my arbitrary deadline.
This is what came together when I felt too busy.
Final thought: FI and RE and freedom are invaluable. I was lucky to start saving at the beginning (thanks dad) and continue on to put us in this position. I somehow met the most amazing woman who accepted my spending plan (and me for some unknown reason) and together we built this amazing third act of life.
I hope you (or I) are never “too busy” to live the best life you can envision—and even dream about. Roger Whitney says “Dream big” and start your plan for there. That may be the foundation of the best goal ever.
*** Nothing in this article is to be construed as financial advice. I am not a financial planner, nor do I pretend to be. You should always consult your own professional when seeking advice. This post is not a piece of literary mastery, just a random thought I had.