Create New Structures and Routines
Managing the Early Days - Part 4
This carries on from last week and the week before. You might want to start there first.
I’ve already mentioned the loss of structure and routine as one of the Four Horsemen. Having a job gives you a default day-to-day routine, so when you retire, it’s easy to feel adrift—especially if you're someone who appreciates structure like I do. (Some people love the wide-open freedom of retirement and are probably rolling their eyes right now.)
Of course, even without a job you will have some structure based on existing non-work commitments. The key is to build upon this scaffolding to create new routines and make space for activities you enjoy and find fulfilling.
It helps to think across different time horizons: daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly. Do you have enough stuff lined up in each of those horizons? Plans? Things to look forward to?
Here’s what my schedule looks like on each of those horizons:
Daily
Aside from the obvious—showering, dressing, eating, etc—I don’t have a rigid daily schedule. But I do try to keep a couple of consistent habits: I wake up and go to bed at the same time, and I aim to get some exercise in each morning.
Although maybe I should have a more rigid schedule, based on this “ideal day” that my daughter planned for me:
If you’re figuring out your own daily schedule, here are a couple of ideas:
Consider blocking out time for specific activities, like the gym, reading, or family time. I’d especially recommend setting a consistent time for daily exercise. It reinforces the habit, and helps start the day out on the right foot. Lately, I’ve been all about the Minimum Effective Dose workout.
Build in regular social connections—maybe a coffee with friends or a weekly bike ride. It sounds simple, but without being deliberate about it, these things can fall through the cracks. I’ll have a lot more to say about this soon.
Instead of living by a daily to-do list, think in broader categories instead, such as ‘social’, ‘exercise’, or ‘home improvement.’ Then, focus on doing at least one thing from each category. This helps ensure balance and a sense of accomplishment and helps avoid some of the mosquito tasks that might otherwise fill your day. I’ve read about others using categories like “Something productive, something fun, something educational,” or “Learn, Reflect, Sweat.”
When I was working, I’d list my "Most Important Task" on my calendar as an all-day meeting. In retirement, you can adapt this idea by asking yourself, "What do I want the highlight of my day to be?" or "What does my perfect day look like today?" It might sound trite, but I’ve found it helpful.
Weekly
My weekly rhythm is more predictable than my day-to-day. Monday is Date Night. I have kids’ activities on a Wednesday (fencing, Rangers). Every Friday morning, I do my Weekly Review and often go riding with Jimmy. Sundays is for tennis and house cleaning. I have a mate who goes for a kebab every Tuesday lunchtime. You get the idea.
Monthly
Every month I have a handful of recurring events, including mentoring a former colleague, going out for Taco Tuesday with the kids, a catch-up with local Dads, and hosting our Homebrew Club.
Quarterly
I don’t have many quarterly routines, but I do co-host the Wellington Startup Collective for local founders and review my finances every quarter.
Yearly
Zooming out to the yearly view, there are some definite patterns. The kids’ school holidays, annual events that I attend (e.g. Beervana) and host (e.g. my annual poetry soirée - more on this soon), and traditions with friends (e.g. tennis with K+B, boys’ weekend with M+S, New Year’s with local families from my neighbourhood).
Finally, I find it helpful to use a Year at a Glance template to remind myself of what’s coming up, and help me spot gaps. If I see an empty stretch, I know it’s time to plan a new adventure or ritual to look forward to.