Time is on your side

Thanks to some incredible medical breakthroughs and medicine, we are living longer healthier lives.   Granted, retirement life can be quite busy but there will be times when you might wonder what to do.  Either way, the lyrics to the song by Earth, Wind and Fire sort of sum it up to some extent.

“Time Is On Your Side”  by Earth, Wind and Fire

Time is on your side
No more need in running
No more need to hide
No more need to cry

Life is what you find
Wondering on the other side
No more need to sigh
No more need to lie
Make it what you can
No more need in wasting
Love’s around the bend
No more time to lend

Hope the best to be
Just to make you see
Love’s around the bend
No more time to lend
Now it’s up to you
It’s all up in your head
What are you going to do
Bring yourself true

It’s time to make that list of the things you would “love” to do.  Perhaps a trip to Europe, a Caribbean cruise, reading more books or even writing a book.  Whatever you choose, for once in your hectic life, you actually have the time to enjoy it.

Volunteering

 I know volunteering isn’t for everyone but if you have a soft spot for anything charitable where you can give some of your time back to a great cause, it can be very rewarding.  I have discovered another type of volunteering that my wife and I do quite frequently.  That would be helping our children with their “Do it Yourself” projects.  Whether it be painting, staining, finishing a basement or helping them to move from one place to another.  It takes time and energy that will always be appreciated.

Downshifting

Keeping in mind how precious little time you have when you are working full time, the need to downshift during retirement is both satisfying and healthier.  I’m not saying by any means that you need to turn into a couch potato. You need to take the time to spread out the activities in your life to a more manageable pace and trade off stress time for leisure time.  Time is on your side.

Exercising

Having sat behind a desk during my whole career, the need to exercise was paramount. Thankfully, I did participate in a variety of sports activities during my working career. However, you soon realize that you can’t play hockey, basketball, softball, golf and volleyball for ever.  So I downshifted to playing golf and walking 5-10 kilometers a day, weather permitting.  As a result, I have managed to keep my weight, blood pressure and overall sense of well being at a truly enjoyable level.  I can’t stress enough how important this time is in your retirement.

Time is on your side, you just have to use it ever so wisely.

 

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