I've spent quite a bit of time this weekend reconsidering a volunteer commitment I just started. I can't quite bring myself to spend the time required to prepare for a meeting about it on Wednesday but I care about the cause. I think I'm going to have to back out gracefully.
That has led me to wondering how do I have to and want to spend my time now that I have officially stopped working at my consulting business.
The "have to" list is pretty easy: (Please note that my Hubby still works full time and does a lot too but I'm picking up more than I did when I worked full time)
- Laundry, grocery shopping, dinner preparation, house cleaning
- Part of the pruning, raking, weeding, etc. required to maintain our too large property
- Dog care
- Manage finances including paying bills
- Most of the travel planning as needed
The "want to" list is harder:
- I volunteer one day a week with additional time required periodically
- I read - a lot
- I want to exercise more and join a gym - this requires a schedule LOL
I don't know what else I want to do.
I'm thinking though that blocking out time for activities is the way to go - perhaps 2 hour blocks during the day on weekdays.
I am very curious how others handle this - please start a conversation.
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I keep the mornings for the to do stuff around the house, exercising, getting stuff ready for dinner, and all the flotsam of life. I keep my afternoons free (my volunteering is generally half a day). My afternoons are spent volunteering, sewing, and on other personal interests such as writing. Old habits die hard, and after dinner is my down time at hme.
ReplyDeleteI schedule one out of the house day time activity each week (quiltgroup, book group and so on), plus go to occasional lunches. I have two evening meetings a month.
Thanks for sharing your approach!
DeleteI am very careful not to get over committed. I volunteer in my grandsons classroom and that is pure fun! I try to do errands and household chores in the morning leaving my afternoons for creative pursuits (and playing with my grandsons!).
ReplyDeleteHaving grandsons must be great! No grandchildren in our lives yet but hopefully some day there will be.
DeleteI live in a 55+ community and do the opposite. My mornings are structured with exercise and club house activities. The afternoon is for errands and household chores. In the evening I have dinner with my husband, do email, blogs etc, tv, music and reading. I will soon add one afternoon or evenening a week volunteer teaching at a local library.
ReplyDeleteI think your schedule is more appropriate for me as I'm definitely a morning person. I'd love to live in a community that had activities.
Deletejuhli, I meant to add as far as WHAT to do, that can take some searching. I did know that I wanted to sew and travel in retirement, but many of the other things came out of "well Ill try this and see if I like it or not"
DeleteI find that now that I'm retired, I've become selfish/protective of my time. I'd like to volunteer but haven't found anything in the small community where I live that I can commit to. I do most of what you do, but also ride horses 2 days a week-a lifelong passion I had to put on hold while raising kids and working. I think it just takes time to figure out what to do with the free time. So for now I'll just go with the flow!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love horses and took riding lessons for a while before some physical problems made me stop.
DeleteThis is good for me to ponder...I am all over the map with my schedule and I need to get more centered and focused. I think it being summer isn't helping too much. : )
ReplyDeleteHave you thought about learning a foreign language?
I'm all over the map too and feeling scattered a bit. I have thought about learning a foreign language but I've not been successful at that in the past.
Delete