One of the questions I am asked on a fairly regular basis is what a typical day of my life looks like. I guess after nearly 22 years of retirement, I surely must have the perfect schedule figured out.
The email answer I usually give is there are no typical days. Except for beginning each morning with breakfast and the newspaper, checking for new blog comments and e-mails, there is no set routine. I have made a determined effort over the last several years to not have my calendar look like it did when I was working.
True, I have a to-do list of things I must or want to accomplish each day: things like empting the trash and rolling out the can, refilling a prescription, finishing a post, a reminder about an upcoming haircut, time to water the pots...the basic stuff of a day. I have been a list maker all my life. Retirement didn't change that. But my prompts don't say when I must some of these things. That happens when it happens.I have tried a more structured approach: painting from 10-10:30, take out trash at 1:00 and so forth. However, I'd rarely follow the times listed.
Eventually, I realized there was no reason for the tasks to be completed at a certain time of the day so I just dropped that silliness completely.
There is one area, though, that I can't quite get a comfortable feel for: when to get up in the morning. I guess it is part of my personality but I have always believed that the "early bird gets the worm."
There is one area, though, that I can't quite get a comfortable feel for: when to get up in the morning. I guess it is part of my personality but I have always believed that the "early bird gets the worm."
Over the years, both before and after retirement, I have tried getting up at various times. My body quickly tells me it isn't happy with some of my choices. For a while the alarm went off at 5:00 am. By mid morning I was ready for a nap, which kind of defeated the purpose. I experimented with 5:30 and 6:00 am with similar results.
I had always heard that older folks need less sleep. I have an acquaintance who wakes up at 4:00 in the morning and spends a few hours on the computer or reading. Another fellow can't sleep past 5:00.
I had always heard that older folks need less sleep. I have an acquaintance who wakes up at 4:00 in the morning and spends a few hours on the computer or reading. Another fellow can't sleep past 5:00.
I, on the other hand, am finding I am sleeping later. Being awakened by the alarm before 6 O'clock seems like the middle of the night. Recently, Betty and I have been getting up sometime between 6:45 and 7:00 if there is no morning appointment.
We are waking up quite naturally - no alarm needed.. At this time of the year the sky gets light by 5, but good curtains do their job.
I am very much aware of the ticking clock (poor pun) of my mortality. By going to bed shortly after 10 and staying comfortably under the covers until almost 7, am I turning into a sludge? Am I missing valuable time each day because I am not up with the sun? Should I follow the old bromide that I can sleep when I'm dead?
Steve Pavlina is a superb blogger, writer, and self development teacher. Among his thousands of interesting articles are several on becoming an early riser. Clearly he is of the "get up before the sun" contingent. He links success in life with being an early riser.
Two posts of his that I have re-read several times over the years are How to Become an Early Riser Part 1 and How to Become an Early Riser Part 2. He provides specific steps that anyone can take to gain control over the time one's day begins.
I am very much aware of the ticking clock (poor pun) of my mortality. By going to bed shortly after 10 and staying comfortably under the covers until almost 7, am I turning into a sludge? Am I missing valuable time each day because I am not up with the sun? Should I follow the old bromide that I can sleep when I'm dead?
Steve Pavlina is a superb blogger, writer, and self development teacher. Among his thousands of interesting articles are several on becoming an early riser. Clearly he is of the "get up before the sun" contingent. He links success in life with being an early riser.
Two posts of his that I have re-read several times over the years are How to Become an Early Riser Part 1 and How to Become an Early Riser Part 2. He provides specific steps that anyone can take to gain control over the time one's day begins.
I read these, feel guilty, and try again to adjust the start of my day. Each time I cannot pull it off. As he suggests, I go to bed when I am tired but can't master the getting up early part.
So, my question to you is simple: when do you wake up on a normal morning? Are you the type that hits the ground running even before the birds are awake?
So, my question to you is simple: when do you wake up on a normal morning? Are you the type that hits the ground running even before the birds are awake?
Or, do you enjoy a slow start that puts a premium on lingering in bed as long as you dare? Have you found a way to adjust your schedule that works for you?
Even if every single comment is from someone who has checked the Internet, jogged 5 miles, and read three chapters of War and Peace before the sun comes up, I am not likely to try the early bird route again. All of us have a unique way to make the most of our days.
Even if every single comment is from someone who has checked the Internet, jogged 5 miles, and read three chapters of War and Peace before the sun comes up, I am not likely to try the early bird route again. All of us have a unique way to make the most of our days.
Even so, I love to read how others use their time and make the most of their retirement journey.
So, tell us!
So, tell us!
I'm an early to bed, early to rise kind of girl. Without an alarm, I'll generally wake up in the vicinity of 5:30. But, I do usually settle down around 8:00 p.m. to read for an hour, and hit the hay at 9:00 p.m. I've always been a morning person, but I started getting up at 5:00 when our kids were young and I was the at home parent. Having that (one and only) quiet time at the start of my day made a huge difference in my attitude and ability to handle the day. I wonder if there's any genetic component involved. My parents were early risers; as a kid, I just thought that's what parents did. But my brother, also retired, is always up around 5:00, so who knows? Interestingly, when Alan and I were dating, I was in banking and worked 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. He was a second shift computer operator, and didn't get off until 11:00 p.m. Dating was a bit complicated at times. Thank heaven he got into programming and switched to the day shift when we got married. And, for the record, he usually sleeps later than I do. He, like you, Bob, figures that early rising in retirement is, indeed, for the birds.
ReplyDeleteWe will awake at 6:30 if the cleaning people are coming that morning, or one of us has an early doctor appointment. Otherwise , 6:45-7:00 works. Of course, at this time of year it begins to get light just after 4:30, which does nudge Betty to an earlier wake-up time.
DeleteI will be truthful: today, Sunday we didn't rouse ourselves until almost 7:30. It felt sinful and delightful.
I've been retired for almost 13 years and I'm an early riser. Bedtime is 10:00 p.m. and I'm usually up by 5:30 or 6:00. Here in New England the daylight varies greatly with the seasons and I've noticed my sleeping and waking times are somewhat affected by that (but not much). My entire working career was in public education (teacher, principal, district administrator) so I was always at work early. Students start arriving at schools sometimes as early as 7:00 a.m. and principals are usually one of the first at work. As a result, my fairly early bedtimes and waking times are deeply embedded. I like it that way. After 10:00 p.m. I'm "zoned out" and of no use anyway. Today is Sunday and it is 6:15 a.m. I've been up for 30 minutes already just sitting in the living room, watching the birds, reading blogs, and commenting here! I love this quiet time of the morning. My wife is still asleep--she usually sleeps later, until around 7:00. Actually, I sometimes think that I would like to sleep a little later (like my wife) but it never seems to work for me. So, for now, I'll continue with my 5:30ish a.m. wake up time.
ReplyDeleteLike Mary noted above, a lifetime of habit doesn't stop just because your work does! Obviously, it works for you, though not your spouse. To each his own.
DeleteI just thought of one time when we do arise before 6:30. When woe are babysitting our daughter's dog, she gets a morning walk. In the summer time, when overnight lows usually don't dip munch below 85, we take her out before the sidewalks burn her feet and we get woozy from the heat. At night, that means dog-walking around 9 or 9:30. Heat adjustments are required.
I wake sometime between 430-0630. I've had an alarm since kindergarten. I've not had an alarm since the 1st day of retirement unless there is an early plane to catch. There is still an alarm M-F as hubster continues to work as he enjoys it. 0600 or 0630 and it is rare that I am still asleep.
ReplyDeleteI do 'hit the ground running' and by that I mean, when I awaken, I am fully awake and ready to embrace the day. However, I start my day leisurely with coffee and a book. I read until 0700 be that 2 hours or 10 minutes.
I swore when I retired I would have an empty calendar. This stage of my life is MINE! I do what I want when I want and if I want. Annual healthcare appointments are a given and I started exercise classes at a nearby gym which I swore I would never do. But, I've found that I need to pay someone to make me do it and it's working because I detest wasting money. $40 month and I've released 19# and gained back a great deal of balance that has declined with rotting knees ;-) but my replacements are fantastic and I love love love them! So when I'm in town, I go to class 5d/week! At 62, I'm the baby in the class but that's OK as I really don't want to take classes filled with 25-40y olds!
Some nights I'm in bed at 8 and some at 12 d/t activities. 95% of the time it's 9pm. And I know that routine does make a difference as going to bed super late wreaks my sleep and I will awaken after just 4-5 hours. (I did just that Friday night).
I believe that nature gives us what we need so I advise people to listen to their bodies rather than watch a clock. As a healthcare provider and a student of Native American Medicine I practice what I've studied. Maybe someday I'll get good at heeding all of it not just bits 🙃
Even though our wakeup times are different from yours, we feel no need to rush into the day, either. Breakfast with the morning paper and conversation can take anywhere from 40 minutes to 2 hours with the Sunday paper. It is time well spent together.
DeleteYes, I believe we all have an internal clock that will tell us how much sleep we need. As I noted, my experiments with various schedules always default back to what my body needs. At least for now, 8+ hours a night is best.
Sounds like I’m the exception. I’ve never been able to go to bed early. Typically, I’m up until 11:30 or later. I like getting up around 7:30 but it’s often closer to 8:00. The best thing about retirement for me is no alarm and sleeping past 5:30. I avoid morning appointments or make them no earlier than 10:00. Let the working people go to the dentist at 7:00 am!! I sometimes feel I need to be more productive in the mornings but I also enjoy the slower pace. Guess I’m more of a night owl than an early bird!!
ReplyDeleteLinda, you're not an exception. I also don't go to bed early, but I'm not a night owl. Millions of people are similar to you and I.
DeleteWhat is the definition of someone who is not n nigh owl or an early riser, and "lazy" isn't a choice! I am most productive from about 9 am until early afternoon. That's when things that must get done are taken care of. Otherwise, my day depends on my energy and interests. There is a nice flow.
DeleteLinda, you sound like me! I love the late nights, reading in bed on my Kindle. The deliciousness of sleep after midnight.
DeleteAfter much experimenting, I've found that being in bed seven and a half hours is a "sweet spot" for me for the best sleep quality and enjoyment of life. Consequently, I adjust my bedtime/wakeup times accordingly, keeping in mind that the earlier I go to bed the greater the likelihood that I can wake up early enough to sip tea, do meditation, inspirational reading, and paint in the morning. Generally, I go to bed at 11:30 PM and get out of bed at 7AM.
ReplyDeleteBecause I love watching professional basketball on tv, I stay up later during the heart of the NBA season from December to June due to the fact that I live in the eastern time zone but games on the west coast aren't over until 12;00AM, eastern standard time. That's when I go to bed the latest at 12:30AM and wake up the latest at 8:00AM.
Extensive international travel has pushed me to be flexible in dealing with many things such as wakeup time. Generally, the tour manager will mandate two 4:30AM wakeup calls. That is no big deal to me because flexibility is one of my core values. However, some folks are so shocked, upset and exasperated at the thought of waking up that early that they vow they will never go on another foreign tour.
My daughter works in incentive travel and that means long days and crazy schedules. It is not unusual for her to scheduled on a 6AM plane out of Phoenix heading east. That means up around 2:30, an Uber pickup at 3:30-4, and a very long day.
DeleteWe will have to leave the house at 6am on our trip to Paris in August. American changed our flight time to two hours earlier. I am not looking forward to that 24 hours day, but such is life.
I’m recently retired and enjoy getting up when I feel like it. I had to get up early for many years due to work and don’t want to feel rushed in the mornings. My husband is still working but I actually tend to wake up before him, typically somewhere between 630 and 730, a bit later in the winter when it’s dark. We try to be in bed with lights out by 11. I think you should do what works for you and not worry about what productivity writers have to say. I typically have been waking up and enjoying a leisurely hour in bed especially if I wake before my husband. I check email and spend time idly reading news and social media before getting up for breakfast. I have increased my exercise by walking and doing fitness videos and I just am considering going to a fitness class too, so I’m hopefully not too idle.
ReplyDeleteI know myself well enough to know I could not adjust well to some of the early times indicated by these comments. I traveled a lot for a living and now enjoy no early or red-eye flights anymore during a typical week.
Deletei have dropped virtually all social media, though I still check this blog, some news apps, and the weather before starting the day with the paper and coffee. The pacing feels right.
I get my best work & thinking done in the morning. Early to bed, early to rise. The usual bedtime is betw 9-10 PM; awake 5-7 AM. Seven hours seems to be the sweet spot for a good night's sleep. The best sleep happens if I'm asleep by 10 PM. There's a loose definition of "up." After 10 yrs of retirement, I'm still relishing the slow mornings. Up to make coffee, return to bed to read & listen to morning radio over a cup of that coffee. Retirement meant that the things I did <8 AM & after 5 PM could now be done between 0800-1700H. There's a loose schedule with what needs to be done first and the wants-to-be-done activities happening at the end of the day. A few weeks ago we were at the woodpile bucking & splitting wood at 7:30 AM. It all depends what needs doing. I only set an alarm when there's an early appt. I didn't retire to punch the clock; I did that while employed. I love this natural schedule.
ReplyDeleteThe alarm setting on my phone doesn't get much work, except to remind me of appointments or a meeting at the library. Like you, my body and I seem to have found a natural schedule. But, I must say, I am somewhat surprised by the comments so far that talk about an early (to me) wakeup time. I am not sure my alarm actually goes to 5 or 5:30 am!
DeleteLike many others who have shared here, I really savor the slow mornings over a cup of coffee. Of course, there are the mundane things you need to do, but there isn't the urgency to get them done (like when we were working). You just do them when you feel like it. I enjoy the "go with the flow" time of retirement. No alarm for me, waking up and hitting the bricks is behind me now. Oh, just looked at the clock, 11:45 am. Time for an omelette and some toast. Enjoy the day :)
ReplyDeleteThirty plus years of being dominated by a clock and a firm schedule: no more, thank you. That said, I am entirely supportive of those whose natural rhythm is different from mine. When someone awakes and goes to bed is entirely their choice. I do draw the line at snoring, however!
DeleteI am a morning person and wake up without an alarm most days at 6am. Typically my wife and I head up to bed at 9:30pm and read for a 1/2 hour or so before lights out. I am an 8 hour a night guy so asleep at 10pm means my eyes pop open at 6am, in my case it's almost simple math. Time I go to sleep + 8 hours = time I wake up. My wife needs another 1 to 1-1/2 more hours of sleep time than I do so she wakes between 7am and 7:30am. Back when I was working I was at my desk for 7:30am so it was all go as soon as I got up--shower shave dressed breakfast and out the door. These days, for that 1-1/2 hours in the morning before my wife wakes, I just kind of quietly mooch around, catching up on the news, trying not to wake her. Starting my day at a relaxed pace.
ReplyDeleteEven as a morning person myself that in no way means that the night owls have the wrong end of the stick. Different people have different internal clocks and if late to bed late to rise works for them go for it!
As for hitting the ground running first thing in the morning that's no longer my lifestyle. I've learned to start getting ready for anything I am going to do about 90 minutes beforehand. My goal is to minimize rushing around like mad in my retirement, those days are over for me (well, mostly). One thing for sure there's a lot less stress in my life now and for me that's a mark of retirement success.
I can't remember the last time I had to rush between tasks or appointments. I simply refuse to schedule things that way. Like you, stress is mostly a memory (except when the A/C failed three weeks ago and temps were already in the 90's).
DeleteWhat about naps, does anyone seem to need them, like I do?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Some people call them power naps. I call them a blessing and am not ashamed of taking one when it will benefit me.
DeleteKathy, I'm on odd bird on napping. It seems every 12-14 weeks I have a "sleep weekend". I will sleep 9-10 hours overnight without waking, 2-3h later I will take a nap for 2-3 hours, and then back in bed at 9pm and sleep another 9-10hour night, long nap, and then sleep 8-9hours for another 5 days. It's a weird cycle but it seems to be my body's nature. I have NEVER been a napper unless absolute exhaustion from 16-20h days in the operating room which did occur with some frequency with on-call assignments.
DeleteI am in full support of naps :-)
While I have often wished I could sleep in, I seem to wake up pretty much right at 6AM unless I've had a bout of wakefulness in the middle of the night. Maybe a little later in the darker months, but not much. DH and I have a long time habit of having coffee and chatting in bed in the morning and we both like that start to our day. Our dog knows she has to wait until we've had coffee to go out, which works most days. DH goes to sleep between 9 and 9:30 most nights, and I usually stay up until about 10:30 or so, either watching something or reading.
ReplyDeleteOnce in a while, one of us will have an appointment that requires an early start, but overall, mornings are pretty low key. We both traveled a lot for work and don't miss those early morning drives to the airport at all.
The drives to and from the airport were not fun. Well before services like Uber, paying taxis was just too expensive and and something my clients wouldn't be happy with.
DeleteSo, that meant driving myself to and from the airport. Living back east for some of this time meant frezing cold and snow with the added worry that the car would not start.
No, I don't miss any of that at all.
I'm usually awake and out of bed around 6:30am naturally. Spend a leisure morning with coffee and a book and a little news. My wife sleeps much later and awakes any time from 10am-12pm. To bed at 10pm or so. I awake early no matter where I am, at home, at a hotel or on a cruise ship. I enjoy the mornings and can't sleep in even if I try!
ReplyDeleteOnce your body and mind are in sync, that natural waking up time will happen no matter where you are, as you have proven. To me, that is a very positive sign that you are in balance and things are working as they should.
DeleteI love the slow start to my day and would miss it tremendously if it ever had to change.
In looking back I have asked this questions a few times before over the almost 13 years of this blog. But, I am always fascinated at the varied answers and how folks structure the beginning of their day.
DeleteThis question really makes it clear retirement is unique for all of us, even when and why we start our day.
I have been retired for almost 10 years - my husband for about 13 (he retired at 54). Our nighttime routines are different - my schedule is not dissimilar to yours. I usually have retired around 9:30 and turned off the light after reading around 10. On a good night, which is typical, I am sleeping shortly after. I wake, on my own but with a bit of help from my 2 cats, around 6:30 or so. If I am lucky, it may be closer to 7. I find I really need the 8 hours they recommend. I just feel better, can get through the day with enough energy, if I keep to at least that amount of sleep time. Plus, it is good for you. My husband on the other hand is a night owl, rarely in bed before 2 and usually sleeps until 9:30 or so. I find that really works for me, it gives me a few hours to my own for reading, planning my day/week and getting my emails taken care of. Plus my meditation and journaling. I think this "burden" of feeling constantly productive is something we should be at least trying to leave behind in retirement. I worked hard my whole life - often up by 4:30, 10-11 hour work days were the norm and even weekends (I owned my own company which is nice but still work). I feel that retirement should fulfill some of those dreams we had when the alarm was ringing at 4:30 AM - the dream of sleeping in, slowing down and enjoying the moment!
DeleteHave always been an extremely early riser….ever since the age of four. I spent my early years on the island of Cyprus. I’d get up at 4:00am and go out onto our balcony. If our landlady’s kitchen light was on, I’d make my way down to her flat for coffee. (No judgement please! I was raised in the traditional “Old Europe” style….total autonomy, coffee and wine were part of my everyday.)
ReplyDeleteThe tradition continued when we moved to the English countryside, then on to Canada and finally to the US. Getting up before the crack of dawn is a precious gift you give to yourself. The world is all yours! It’s as if there is not another soul on the planet.
Now that I’m approaching 70, my waking time is getting even earlier! This morning it was 3:00am. I made coffee, surfed the internet, scrolled reels on Instagram, planned out my garden on graph paper, looked into ordering gooseneck loosestrife…..and read your excellent blog!
P.S. My grown children don’t share my proclivity for the dawn. My son often says, “My mom is nuts. She gets up at the a** crack of dawn!”
My first question i9s, what time do you go to bed?
DeleteThank you for the blog compliment. You may be the earliest Stateside reader I have! With this morning's schedule you accomplished more in the first few hours of the day than many of us during a full 14-16 hour day/ I am impressed.
Ah, my bedtime varies! If I’m out and about I can go to 1:00am; if I’m vegging in front of the tv, it’s usually about 9:30pm. But, the beauty of retirement is that my schedule is my own. My husband and I have a very active social life so we are usually booked most evenings. We figure it out!
DeleteWhew! Hats off to you for your obvious energy level!
DeleteI wake up with the sun and I like a slow start after that. Coffee, journal, news (skim). Then I do whatever was planned for the day. I have tried to stay in bed longer but I get restless. I am usually in bed by 9 and read for a while.
ReplyDeleteThe "in bed by nine and read for awhile" seems to be a rather common situation. My wife likes to scan Facebook for 10 minutes or so after we are in bed by around 10pm, but I find screen time tends to delay my sleep. Occasionally I will read parts of a magazine or something non-electronic.
DeleteI have been night owl for as long as I can remember, and am usually awake past midnight most nights. I get stuff done around the house, and read on my Kindle. The better the book, the harder it is to fall asleep! I typically wake up sometime between 8:30 and 9:00. Brett is a lark, up early every morning. He takes the dog out, makes the coffee, puts away the dishes, and gets his reading done. When we decided to get married I told him the one thing I wouldn’t/couldn’t do was wake up early to make him breakfast before he went to work (he was in the navy then). I am NOT a morning person, and our different internals clocks and schedules have worked for us for 44+ years.
ReplyDeleteFast forward to my new work schedule at Trader Joe’s: either a 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. start to my shift! I’m up at 4:30 a.m. or 5:00. . . without an alarm some mornings. And I love it! Sadly I can’t seem to fall asleep any earlier at night, but since I only work three days a week, I catch up on my days off. I thought my schedule would have me dragging, but I feel great, and enjoy both my early mornings and sleep-ins on my days off.
I wasn't aware you had rejoined the working world. But, with your personality and energy I am not surprised. You would be a hit with TJ's customers.
DeleteShifting from a night owl to a morning schedule can't have been easy. I am happy you were able to make the transition and figured out how to make it work for you and Brett.
Hugs to you both.
Bob, I've never been a morning person. Never took a class before 10am in college or law school. I need around 7 hours a night sleep so I go to bed around midnight and arise between 6-7 am. That pattern has continued in my retirement for the past 8 years. So now I don't book appointments before 9:30am, don't book tee times before 10am, and don't do yard work at anytime! The exception is early morning flights for our travels, which tend to be cheaper and less crowded.
ReplyDeleteI knew during my working years that the earlier the flight the more likely it would be in time.
DeleteOnce during college I took a Monday 8 am class. I was almost never there and received my only D in my educational life. Lesson learned.
For me, one of the great pleasures of retirement is no longer having to get up in the dark. I don't set an alarm (except when I have a rare early morning appointment) and I wake up when it gets light. Since I live in Maine, close to the 45th parallel, where there are big differences between the length of day in the winter and the summer, what time I get up and what time I go to bed varies seasonally. In winter, when the sun rises late, I don't get up until close to 8 a.m., which means I get to bed close to midnight. At this time of year, however, when the sun rises before 5, I am up and out early (and also going to bed hours earlier than I did in January).
ReplyDeleteI lived in Boston and Syracuse for several years. When it got dark at 4:30 on winter afternoons I found it quite depressing. Dark and cold made it harder to get motivated for much of anything.
Delete