What routines have you changed due to aging?

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Oldpawn

New Member
For me it has been how often I change sheets, vacuum, clean the refrigerator, etc., and I have found no harm in reducing these routines. It makes me believe that we have all been sold by advertisers for cleaning products that we will get sick and die if we don’t live a sterile life. Afterall, a great deal of the world has no routines like ours.
 

My major routine change has been retiring a year ago at 62 ... still trying to work out what to do to fulfil the rest of my life, now that I don't have to work an 11 hour day. Health issues are a bind, but still a year on.. and I'm now thinking, I could possibly live another 40 years , unlikely I know but what to do I don't know...
 
Oldpawn,I agree with you. I don't feel the need to do housework chores every week ,like I use to do.When my furniture looks like it hasn't been dusted in awhile,then its time for a major cleaning project. I usually wait for a rainy day to wash the kitchen/bathroom floors
Hollydolly,yes its a major change when you retire,takes awhile to figure out what you want to do with your time. In my situation when I was working,on my 2 days off ,I spent my mornings volunteering at a local 'soup kitchen' did that for 6 yrs,other in business office at my church. I'm still volunteering there 2-3 mornings/wk.I've been given various weekly projects to do,find it very rewarding.
I know you'll find your 'niche' in what you want to do Sue
 

Holly, once I retired, I found that life has a way of filling in the vacuum for you. Many people (including me) have said they are busier after retirement than they ever were when they worked. The difference is, of course, that you can choose which activities to pursue, and which to drop.
 
My rut gets deeper and I become more attached to my daily routines. I have less desire to have my routine interrupted by going out to socialize, vacation, etc...

I have noticed that I buy less of almost everything and what I buy seems to last longer.

I have more trouble multitasking, I need to do one thing at a time and concentrate.

In general, I notice my world becoming smaller and much simpler as I get deeper into retirement.
 
It seems like when I was still working, the house got dirtier. Remember...for five days a week, I wasn't even there! I cleaned on the weekends.

Now? I clean when the spirit moves me with one exception. I hate to dust. I mean really hate it. Now I don't dust until there's so much dust that it even accumulates on the TV screen. It's hard for dust to accumulate on a flat-screen TV; therefore, dusting gets done every, um, every now and then.
 
GeorgiaXplant said:
It seems like when I was still working, the house got dirtier. Remember...for five days a week, I wasn't even there! I cleaned on the weekends.

Now? I clean when the spirit moves me with one exception. I hate to dust. I mean really hate it. Now I don't dust until there's so much dust that it even accumulates on the TV screen. It's hard for dust to accumulate on a flat-screen TV; therefore, dusting gets done every, um, every now and then.
Click to expand...

I couldn't resist! :playful::eek:nthego:

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I have rearranged my closets and cabinets so the things I use more often are within easy reach. When I was younger I put a lot of kitchen items in my basement storage room that I didn't use on a regular basis. Such as angel food pans,meat slicer, jars etc. I didn't mind going up and down to retrieve these items, Recently I got rid of many things that I never used from both areas and brought up those items that were left.
When I worked I did a lot of chores in the evening, even baked. Now the most I do is go outside when it is cool and take care of the garden.

I still clean the house every Thursday. I don't know why I chose that day. Vacuum every other week unless company comes which is rare these days. Now I will get involved in a project when I'm in the mood, not wait for the weekend.
 
I don't clean as much as I used to because I now live alone in a small condo. So I vacuum when the mood strikes me. Last week my young grandsons said they had cat hair all over their black socks, so I now vacuum before they come and try to brush my cat more often. And, yes, when company is coming, I always vacuum the living room! :rolleyes:
 
Well, my wife is totally delighted that I retired at 62. Actually, it was more like I couldn't find a job that I really, really wanted, so applied for my SS Early Retirement at 62. While wife is at work, I do our laundry weekly, vacuum every other week, load/run/unload dishwasher weekly, dust every other week, change bed linens weekly and run a few errands weekly. IOW, I'm now Molly Maid. Wife loves it and it doesn't bother me at all. I don't ever sleep in during the week. I get up when she gets up to get ready for work. But, on weekends, if we have nothing going on, I will let her sleep in...….but I will still be up at 7AM.

Since retiring, I really have no problem finding anything to do at home. I rather enjoy being able to close the shades and sit down for a very short nap or just relax. Am able to watch Gunsmoke and sometimes Bonanza during the week.
 
Well, you ladies make me feel better...about my waning schedule of housecleaning . I kept at it until arthritis worsened , now it is way down on the priority list :)

Gotta do some laundry today...and I dread that anymore...once done, much of it these days stays in the drier , as opposed to being put away properly.

Just find that I don't sweat the details any longer .
 
I used to do laundry 3-4 times a week when I was working. Now, Monday is laundry day. If it takes all day, well....it takes all day. What else do I have to do on Mondays?

I also don't run over to the mall when I'm bored, just to go to the mall and look around. I go weeks without going to the mall and then when I do go, it's usually because it's raining and the little 'uns have cabin fever. We go play in the play area and then have lunch at the food court. Voila! I'm the greatest pseudo-grandma in the world and it only costs a little gas and a couple of Happy Meals.

Instead of driving aimlessly around to several spots like I used to, I usually now plot out my day so that I can make one big circle and get everything done in one trip.
 
I'm sensing a theme, here. :D I also have slowed down on the house cleaning since I retired. Somehow it just doesn't seem as time-critical as it used to. So things get done on an as-needed basis and "need" is subjective. I spend a lot more time just piddling, reading, sitting out in the sunshine, watching old movies, etc.

I have also practically given up shopping. I used to love going to the mall and trying on new clothes, shoes, etc. Now if someone suggests it I get whiney. I jus' don't wanna go. I'm doing a lot more shopping online, including groceries.

I'm turning into quite the successful recluse and it suits me just fine.
 
I've become really reclusive. Last year I was still cooking for working grandson, packing lunches, meeting girlfriends for lunch once or twice a month; cleaned more.

Grandson moved out for a life of is own and I feel it a lot. Due to prescriptions I now need to copay for and some vet bills, I don't go to lunch anymore.

Grandson used to vacuum for me and take out the trash. Now I vacuum maybe once a month! I do keep up with dusting, bathroom, dishes, etc. but not as well as before, especially dusting. I don't know....just don't feel like it.
 

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