Just retired and bored

HoneyNut said:
You could try embracing the boredom for a bit. I remember a parenting book I read once that said that it was important to let kids have unscheduled time because when they got bored they would develop valuable self-resources to discover/invent projects to do and get the reward of accomplishing their own goals (or something like that, been many years since I read the book).
I haven't retired yet so I have no insight from my own experience but I can tell you what my mom did. For the first few years of retirement my parents traveled, mostly in USA but a few times to Europe. They made themselves a goal of visiting my brother's company's remote salespeople while they traveled around.
Then after they settled down my mom developed some engrossing hobbies: she researched family genealogy and made charts and some cool binders of old-timey pictures of our ancestors with little biographies of their lives, she became the volunteer genealogy web site manager for a county in Nebraska (which she later found burdensome and took a few years before she got someone else to take it over), and she got a microfiche machine and all the old newspapers microfiche from the little town she grew up in and then she researched and wrote up the '50 years ago this week' column for the town's newspaper for many years until her death. It was very gratifying to me after my mom died to read all the appreciative comments of people who had enjoyed her column.

Last year I watched some lectures about retirement and apparently the happiest retirees move to places where there are other seniors to do things with. And also that having several engrossing hobbies was common for happy retirees.

About your doctor's med, that does sound like something to be cautious about. In my experience doctors will prescribe anti-depressants for EVERYTHING, I imagine they must not get in trouble for prescribing them and maybe it makes them feel like they are doing something. But for me, when for example my thyroid level was getting lower and lower, even tho my doctors knew I had Hashimoto's, they kept convincing me I needed to try various anti-depressants, and OMG it was awful to have presumably excess amounts of brain chemicals caused by taking anti-depressants when I didn't have depression.
But, if they are prescribing anti-anxiety med then that stuff can be useful, briefly anyway. Walking, sunlight, and some meditation techniques are supposedly proven to be very effective for improving lots of things.
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Did they at least try to do something about your Hashimoto's in addition to prescribing antidepressants, HoneyNut? Were you put on L-Thyroxine or were they just watching it?
 

Dancing_Queen said:
Did they at least try to do something about your Hashimoto's in addition to prescribing antidepressants, HoneyNut? Were you put on L-Thyroxine or were they just watching it?
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They just kept telling me I was in the normal range until I finally wasn't, and then they finally prescribed L-Thyroxine at a sufficient dose to move the number (I think TSH) way way back down (from 5 to 1.2 I think). I'm not sure but I believe that the upper number of the normal range has since been lowered so that people don't have to get so bad off before they get a prescription.
 
HoneyNut said:
They just kept telling me I was in the normal range until I finally wasn't, and then they finally prescribed L-Thyroxine at a sufficient dose to move the number (I think TSH) way way back down (from 5 to 1.2 I think). I'm not sure but I believe that the upper number of the normal range has since been lowered so that people don't have to get so bad off before they get a prescription.
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I know it's watched until the numbers show the necessity of medication. You can find the current levels here:

"What is a normal thyroid (hormone) level?"

https://www.uclahealth.org/endocrine-center/normal-thyroid-hormone-levels
 

Chris21E said:
Hello,
Just pretend one is not retired, and all the things you wanted to achieve. Before age gets to us. The goal is to stay well.

I refuse anything not needed from doctors, they usually want us to be nice go away, or use up our insurance.

Having goals and hobbies helps. Try for a fun job might be an option. Just live your best life
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I've just volunteered for hospice and to visit patients in their home. It may be a bit depressing, but it ill be a service. I've also volunteered for receptionist at a medical center. That may actually work better, since I would be seeing people all day. I just panicked with all the empty hours. I should have known and planned, but didn't. I thought that I'd be delighted to read books and take an occasional walk on the beach. Wow was I wrong.
 
HoneyNut said:
You could try embracing the boredom for a bit. I remember a parenting book I read once that said that it was important to let kids have unscheduled time because when they got bored they would develop valuable self-resources to discover/invent projects to do and get the reward of accomplishing their own goals (or something like that, been many years since I read the book).
I haven't retired yet so I have no insight from my own experience but I can tell you what my mom did. For the first few years of retirement my parents traveled, mostly in USA but a few times to Europe. They made themselves a goal of visiting my brother's company's remote salespeople while they traveled around.
Then after they settled down my mom developed some engrossing hobbies: she researched family genealogy and made charts and some cool binders of old-timey pictures of our ancestors with little biographies of their lives, she became the volunteer genealogy web site manager for a county in Nebraska (which she later found burdensome and took a few years before she got someone else to take it over), and she got a microfiche machine and all the old newspapers microfiche from the little town she grew up in and then she researched and wrote up the '50 years ago this week' column for the town's newspaper for many years until her death. It was very gratifying to me after my mom died to read all the appreciative comments of people who had enjoyed her column.

Last year I watched some lectures about retirement and apparently the happiest retirees move to places where there are other seniors to do things with. And also that having several engrossing hobbies was common for happy retirees.

About your doctor's med, that does sound like something to be cautious about. In my experience doctors will prescribe anti-depressants for EVERYTHING, I imagine they must not get in trouble for prescribing them and maybe it makes them feel like they are doing something. But for me, when for example my thyroid level was getting lower and lower, even tho my doctors knew I had Hashimoto's, they kept convincing me I needed to try various anti-depressants, and OMG it was awful to have presumably excess amounts of brain chemicals caused by taking anti-depressants when I didn't have depression.
But, if they are prescribing anti-anxiety med then that stuff can be useful, briefly anyway. Walking, sunlight, and some meditation techniques are supposedly proven to be very effective for improving lots of things.
Click to expand...
I started on anti-anxiety meds two days ago. It seems to be helping a bit. We are walking every day-- more than in my entire life. The doctor prescribed by antidepressant, but it totally took away my appetite. I could afford to lose some weight but this was frightening. I'm still a bit panicked, but not as bad as a few days ago. Now it's time for the morning walk.
 
Welcome Al....retirement is what ever you choose it to be. There are no "empty hours". You can be as busy as you want or sleep when you want, as much or as often as you want (but not couch potato). You are your own boss now.

Remember that anxiety is about the Future. Depression is about the Past. Live in the Present. Make the Present a beautiful thing.

At sunrise...go out on the beach everyday. Look out to the horizon. Close your eyes and deeply breathe in the the fresh air. Hold it in as long as you can. Then blow out the old air. Meditate (or pray). Wait. Listen. Feel the warm sun, the sea breeze on your face.

Take a nap if you want...because you can. Get plenty of sleep and drink lots of cool pure spring mountain water. Eat kale, spinach, salmon, and an apple often (or a berry banana smoothie with the spinach and kale blended in with Oatly "milk"). Take Vitamin B12 or a B-complex.

Your time is all yours to do whatever you want to do. Walk...but do it comfortably. Enjoy it...2 or 3x a day

Make a bucket list. New things or old things you enjoyed and want to do again but never had the time. Make plans weekly so you have something to look forward to everyday. Find people and things that make you laugh often. Avoid drama, news, and negativity. You have choices. Accept retirement as a gift to be enjoyed, a reward for a lifetime of work. It's not the end...this is the beginning.

Listen to Beach music...let me know if you want my playlist...it's a fun listen.

Oh, and Welcome to the SF forum! Come on in. The water's fine...:LOL:
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Lara said:
Welcome Al....retirement is what ever you choose it to be. There are no "empty hours". You can be as busy as you want or sleep when you want, as much or as often as you want (but not couch potato). You are your own boss now.

Remember that anxiety is about the Future. Depression is about the Past. Live in the Present. Make the Present a beautiful thing.

At sunrise...go out on the beach everyday. Look out to the horizon. Close your eyes and deeply breathe in the the fresh air. Hold it in as long as you can. Then blow out the old air. Meditate (or pray). Wait. Listen. Feel the warm sun, the sea breeze on your face.

Take a nap if you want...because you can. Get plenty of sleep and drink lots of cool pure spring mountain water. Eat kale, spinach, salmon, and an apple often (or a berry banana smoothie with the spinach and kale blended in with Oatly "milk"). Take Vitamin B12 or a B-complex.

Your time is all yours to do whatever you want to do. Walk...but do it comfortably. Enjoy it...2 or 3x a day

Make a bucket list. New things or old things you enjoyed and want to do again but never had the time. Make plans weekly so you have something to look forward to everyday. Find people and things that make you laugh often. Avoid drama, news, and negativity. You have choices. Accept retirement as a gift to be enjoyed, a reward for a lifetime of work. It's not the end...this is the beginning.

Listen to Beach music...let me know if you want my playlist...it's a fun listen.

Oh, and Welcome to the SF forum! Come on in. The water's fine...:LOL:
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I loved your response. A part of my problem is that I'm still geared to the the office. I still feel like I need go somewhere and sit at a desk. The other day, I went to volunteer at the Chamber of Commerce Annex. I spent all day there and one person came in. He was another senior, wanting to volunteer. My next attempt is to volunteer as a receptionist at hospice. I really enjoy helping people and interacting with people. So maybe that is the ideal post... maybe.
 
oldpanightowl said:
Welcome Daytona Al.
I retired about fifteen years ago. I worked hard all of my life. For me having the time to do absolutely nothing if I choose is sublime. These days/nights I pretty much do what I want to do when I want to do it. Within reason of course. Well most of the time. I try to do at least one thing productive each day. Sometime that is a major undertaking and other times it is as simple as waking up breathing. Things can be as complicated or as simple as I make them. I enjoy having that choice tremendously.

There are so may things to do with the free time available to me now. Here are a few. Astronomy, fishing, hunting (mostly with a camera), gardening, hiking, birding, photography and playing guitar. Studying about things that stimulate my mind such as history, geography, religions, archeology even quantum physics. I could go on and on. Leather craft, wood carving, sculpture, metallurgy, toy making. Another one is thought. "Thinking is the best way to travel" (Mike Pinder). I think I quoted that correctly. For me the main thing is to do something even if it is just taking a nap. Having a nap and dreaming can be wonderful. Now that I can do it when I feel like it. With work I was always doing what was expected of me by someone else. Retirement is a new world and I plan on enjoying it while I can. Good luck to you in all your endeavors.
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A departed friend once told me that in Retirement every day is Saturday. The problem is I only relaxed on Saturday. I hated the days that I had to go to work but loved Saturday. Now I miss those days that I hated... having to do something. This is a real paradigm shift... and I hate the word paradigm shift.
 
Hi Al, I found it really hard to suddenly stop the daily routine of getting ready for work, I tried a few things to get involved with people, but after a while, I gave them away. I’m a strange one Al, I grew to enjoy my own company and stopped running around like a headless chook trying to make friends, I don’t care anymore, I’m now happy in my own skin. Having family helps a lot and they are my main priority now.
 
mellowyellow said:
Hi Al, I found it really hard to suddenly stop the daily routine of getting ready for work, I tried a few things to get involved with people, but after a while, I gave them away. I’m a strange one Al, I grew to enjoy my own company and stopped running around like a headless chook trying to make friends, I don’t care anymore, I’m now happy in my own skin. Having family helps a lot and they are my main priority now.
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I only have my wife, which is a challenge. She has lots of family in a different country, so she is on the phone all the time. I'm glad because it keeps her going. I've usually been happy in my on skin, but facing a day with just meals and a book is tough. OF COURSE, we go to the beach and the stores. Maybe it's just the idea of having nothing to do that is panicking me. I'm hoping to enjoy my own company soon like you do. I interviewed today to volunteer as a receptionist as hospice. That should get me out with the public, but it really seems kind of boring. Anyway I can't start for a couple of weeks until after my prostate surgery...which probably is contributing to my anxiety. I go Friday for tests and then have a robotic removal on the 21st. I guess that would bum anybody out.

BTY, do you live in a house or a condo. We're beginning to think that Condo living was not the best choice for us. We have a beautiful Atlantic View but I feel a bit like I'm in prison.
 
Hi Al, we live in a modest house in Sydney and your condo sounds great, but having a great view isn’t the answer to everything. Hopefully volunteering at the hospice will change your mood and good luck with the surgery, I know it’s a daunting experience, when I had my two hip replacement ops, I was scared stiff, but now I walk like a teenager.
 
mellowyellow said:
Hi Al, we live in a modest house in Sydney and your condo sounds great, but having a great view isn’t the answer to everything. Hopefully volunteering at the hospice will change your mood and good luck with the surgery, I know it’s a daunting experience, when I had my two hip replacement ops, I was scared stiff, but now I walk like a teenager.
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Thanks Mellow. It's going to be a tough week. But if you made it through, I can also. Are you actually in Australia... Cool.
 
Daytona --

I'm semi-retired. One thing I have found to be interesting, social and enjoyable is bridge. There is a community bridge center in every town (often more than one) and most people who play are "of a certain age." Beginners are always welcome.

Bridge is hard as hell. It takes forever to learn. After three years my partner and I (wife dropped out) are coming in at the bottom of the tournaments we enter, but it is a lot of fun and good for the brain.

It's not for everyone but it's working for me.

PS Please stay fit as this is the key to health and happiness
 
RubyK said:
Daytona Al ~ You are just newly retired. Give yourself time to get used to a new way of life. You will figure it out.
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Ruby you are an angel. This is the best advice anyone has given. I just want an answer overnight and that isn't likely to happen-- particularly since I have surgery next week. I really need to stop panicking and breath a bit...
 
Daytona Al said:
Hello everyone. I'm a new married retiree, who came from a busy job to a condo on the beautiful Atlantic. Nobody told me that the change would be so tough... particularly in the age of COVID. I'd like to hear how some of you have dealt with retirement. Any secrets? Does it get easier as it goes on? Any tips would be welcome. Thanks...
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Just pursue your hobbies and you'll never be bored. For myself, as former athlete/coach, I often go to the nearest high school(s) and watch sports. At other times I do home cooking and at other times read good books. Will also watch old movies and cartoons. Am never bored that way.
 
mellowyellow said:
Welcome Al,
I found boredom a major issue when I retired, that’s why forums like this one plays an important part in my day.
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The team of academics scientists from, Binghampton University in New York, found quitting work and retiring can accelerate cognitive decline and memory loss. They believe it is caused by a lack of mental stimulation that employees experience during the working day.

Retirement is also usually accompanied by a decline in social activities and less interaction with people, which has also been linked to cognitive decline, the researchers say. It is believed social isolation may also lead a person to live an unhealthier lifestyle, which is thought to drive up the risk of the memory-robbing disorder. The cause of dementia remains unknown but evidence is quickly mounting that social interaction, mental stimulation, a healthy diet and exercise can all slash the risk.

There's almost always an amusing raised eyebrow reaction when I'm asked how I am enjoying my retirement and I asnswer, "I'm still in full time employment," and that's over a decade on from the UK's retirement age.
 
horseless carriage said:
The team of academics scientists from, Binghampton University in New York, found quitting work and retiring can accelerate cognitive decline and memory loss. They believe it is caused by a lack of mental stimulation that employees experience during the working day.

Retirement is also usually accompanied by a decline in social activities and less interaction with people, which has also been linked to cognitive decline, the researchers say. It is believed social isolation may also lead a person to live an unhealthier lifestyle, which is thought to drive up the risk of the memory-robbing disorder. The cause of dementia remains unknown but evidence is quickly mounting that social interaction, mental stimulation, a healthy diet and exercise can all slash the risk.

There's almost always an amusing raised eyebrow reaction when I'm asked how I am enjoying my retirement and I asnswer, "I'm still in full time employment," and that's over a decade on from the UK's retirement age.
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It all depends upon what you do in work and what you do in retirement. Some people never work a day in their lives because what they do at work is the same as what they plan to do in retirement; it's what they enjoy. :)
 
Hi @Daytona Al, good to have you join us! I enjoy my retirement very much, deserve the relaxation and don't miss working at all. Always good to retire and stop to smell the roses while we can. :)

full
 
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