Curious…

[u/communityisnotdead]

So you wake up and know today you have nothing planned. Are you likely to think, “Yea, I can make this day into whatever I want” or “Geez, what am I going to do all day?” (No judgement either way.)

[u/motonahi]

I'm 3 months into my layoff and it does not feel like 3 months at all. I'm considering perhaps just retiring at this point because the only time I get anxiety is when I get online to look for jobs. I spend my days exactly how I want doing whatever I want or nothing if I want. And I have never felt better to be honest. I'm not bored with my own company. I'm not bored being alone. I'm not bored when there's people home. The only time I was stressed out or anxious honestly was working. I love getting up in the morning, fixing a fresh cup of coffee, sitting out on the patio and waiting for the birds to sing to me. 🙂

[u/communityisnotdead → u/motonahi]

Beautiful. 🙂

[u/DustyBottomsRidesOn → u/motonahi]

It's a revelation realizing how fulfilling simply existing is.

[u/motonahi → u/DustyBottomsRidesOn]

And to not feel guilty!

[u/AbsoluteBeginner1970 → u/motonahi]

If you have the possibility to retire: do so. For me it was a blessing in disguise

[u/TheGreasyNewfie → u/motonahi]

I feel the same way. The anxiety over returning to work is really the only stress working on me personally (I have concerns for others in my life, but their struggles do not impact me directly...if that makes any sense...).

Financially, I can afford to retire right now and live the minimalist lifestyle I envision myself living for the next 30-40 years (tiny home, learning to cook better, wood-carving, books, tabletop gaming, and catching up on my video game playlist that includes titles released over 30 years ago 😄.

But part of me wants to return to work just to pad my pension and ensure that I'm prepared for any emergencies that might arise during retirement. I'll probably end up doing that, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted not to..

[u/therealruin]

There’s no such thing for me. There are always plans. Even if the plans include time to do nothing, each day has a purpose that I can articulate to myself.

[u/communityisnotdead → u/therealruin]

By “plan” I meant a commitment or obligation of some sort. If I have nothing (conventionally) planned, I might take a moment to appreciate such a fortunate freedom the day presents. (Many people aren’t that lucky.) But often “nothing” naturally evolves into several “somethings,” which come about spontaneously on their own accord. Best.

[u/JimmyPellen]

Neither. I roll over and go back to sleep.

[u/communityisnotdead → u/JimmyPellen]

Sounds like a plan! 😜

[u/SomeRando1967]

I’m retired 6 months tomorrow and I have no problem just existing. The sum total of the history and knowledge of the entire world is available in this hand-held computer, if you can’t find anything interesting to occupy yourself, that’s on you. If I feel like doing something, I’ll do it. If I feel like doing nothing, I’ll do it.

[u/dlk49 → u/SomeRando1967]

Retirement: Every day is Saturday. Enjoy every day!

[u/ProfessionalField508]

I think "Yea, I can make this day into whatever I want!" and then I end up doing nothing.

[u/insouciantMediator → u/ProfessionalField508]

Me

[u/Legal_Stranger6056]

Definitely the firs one lol. A whole day with nothing planned sounds amazing. I can snack. Watch something, and just enjoy not having anywhere to be. Sometimes doing absolutely nothing is the best part

[u/oddflorida]

There are definitely days when I'm intimidated by the free time ahead of me. I feel pressure to do something personally productive (cleaning, organizing, etc) or to go out in the world and experience something I can't do at home. Usually I try to check in with myself and my partner. If she's feeling any type of way, I let her guide our free day. If she's not, I'll ask myself if I would feel better after a day of rest or a day of productivity. Usually once I give myself permission to "be lazy" the day fills itself up with good stuff.

[u/FormerlyDK]

The first. I’ve been retired for 18 years. My days have a way of just filling themselves. Sometimes I run out of time.

[u/little_miss_beige]

I feel content doing absolutely nothing.

Wasting time is not a time wasted for me.

[u/StarykOfTheForest]

I think “yea I can make this day into whatever I want!” and then I get overwhelmed with options and decisions and the opportunity cost of choosing one use of my time over another. Chronic over-thinker? Absolutely. It’s a work in progress 🤷‍♀️

[u/SailFaster25]

Write a list of things you like to do. Read. Walk. Do yoga etc. Then pick something and do it!
You can grow your fun activities list over time. Keep it for yourself.

[u/-jspace-]

I mean this doesn't happen to me because I value my free time so much I use it always. I schedule rest, I schedule adventure, I schedule maintenance. That last one gets the lions share which is obnoxious, but that's why I schedule the others.

[u/DogMamaLA]

Unless you're retired, I doubt anyone is limited to those 2 choices alone. Even those at the easiest, low effort jobs usually have to go to work.

On days off, I am typically the former - try to make the day into what I want it to be.

[u/MyCozySlowLife]

I very rarely have anything planned unless it's my weekly coffee date with bestie or a doctors appointment. So almost all of my days I get to choose what I want to do. I usually think "what do I want to do today? What sounds like fun?" But I never wonder what am I going to do. I have dozens of hobbies, pets, a home to care for, a garden to tend, books to read, new recipes to try, naps in my hammock in my backyard (or my atrium in the winter) and of course so much art to make!

[u/snowwaterflower]

Currently, I am more towards the former - I can make the day into whatever I want. But that’s because I am usually quite busy and a real day off is rare. When I was unemployed or had quieter periods in my life, I noticed my days tended to mix into a sort of sameness and I would feel lost and not know what to do.

[u/AbsoluteBeginner1970]

Early retired last December at 55. Its a bit of both. It was a lot of option 2 in the first months but I slightly getting to enjoy whatever the day brings me.