Time management is part of life and just because you retire doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention to using your time wisely. Having no job to arrive at on time and spend eight hours each day there is a blessing at times. Time is our most precious resource. It is the most valuable thing we have. It is perishable, it is irreplaceable, and it cannot be saved. It can only be reallocated from activities of lower value to activities of higher value.
However, without the routine, you can start losing track of time and opportunities. A schedule is different than a routine. Lose the daily routine but hold onto some structure and a plan. This will help assure you are making time to see people you care about as well as spending time doing things you enjoy. Without some structure in your life, time slips away, and you’ll suddenly realize it’s been a year since you touched your hobby, volunteered or seen that relative you love.
Time management refers to how you schedule and organize your time for different activities. There are many different tools, and techniques to help you get more done in less time. In fact, the very act of taking a moment to think about your time before you spend it will begin to improve your personal time management and increase productivity immediately.
Six Retirement Time Management Tips
Keep a schedule
Don’t fall into the trap of a routine. Set your priorities and goals on a calendar each month and make sure you are achieving them in a timely manner that suits your retirement lifestyle.
Organize your schedule
On a weekly or daily basis and not by the hour. That way you know you do something socially once a week, invest time in your hobby once a week, and mark the time you want to volunteer too.
Keep some flexibility
With your schedule because you don’t want to get overloaded or feel like you have a strict routine to stick with during your retirement.
Embrace being not busy
It’s a different lifestyle, and you get to slow down and learn to enjoy free time. Try not to fall into the trap of filling time just for something to do.
Find your rhythm
Do what works for you and when it works best for you. If you’re a night owl, now that you’re retired, you can embrace it. Follow your body’s natural rhythm in your retirement whenever possible.
Media
Will quickly eat away at your time. We often do not realize the amount of the time we spend with a little bit of time surfing the web, checking social media, listening to a podcast, or watching our favorite television shows. Be knowledgeable about how much time you spend on these activities and decide if that’s where you want to be spending your valuable time.
Make the decision ahead of time to manage your time during retirement. Realize that things will change and you’ll need to make adjustments along the way. Take a season off here and there to renew and rest. Embrace the flexibility that retirement provides for your lifestyle.
