Set Your Own Pace

After moving at my own pace in the warmth and sun of the FL. Keys for 10 days I’m back in NJ - but still moving at my own pace.

A big advantage of being retired is that you can finally set your own pace after so many years of being on the clock and under someone else’s watch. Now you have the ability to move at your pace and to change it up. If you thrive at a frenetic pace, go for it, but if you are like me, you prefer the slower pace afforded by not having to be somewhere or do something at a certain time. There will always be appointments and obligations but now you have the ability to schedule most of them around your life instead of around work.

Since it’s still winter, snow shoveling comes to mind as a great example of moving at your own pace. When it snowed on work days I would either have to shovel early in the morning to get to the office or shovel between meetings if the building was closed. Worst case, I’d have to shovel when I got home before I could even get my car in the driveway. Now I can go at my own pace since I don’t need to be anywhere when it snows. In the last storm I slept in, had a nice breakfast and then got myself out to clear the snow. While I prefer to do it all in a single shot to avoid putting all those layers on more than once, now, when there’s a big storm I can slow down and get rid of the snow in phases with breaks in between. Full disclosure, my wife has yet to see me do this – and I hope we don’t have any snow storms big enough to give me the opportunity!

Same goes for everyday life. Now you can make your own schedule, move at the speed you want to, and do what you feel like doing. If you are like me and do a daily workout, you don’t have to be locked into a time each day. That comes in handy during colder weather when by waiting until afternoon I can often ride outside instead of being stuck in my basement on the stationary bike. For me it’s a lot more fun to be outside even on a cold sunny day and I tend to put in more time on the bike too. When I’m feeling strong, a faster-paced ride is in order. On other days, I slow it down and just focus on getting some good cardio. My pace matches my mood and energy level, but no matter what I enjoy the exercise.

Feel like volunteering or working part time to keep busy, give back, and maybe make some spending money? Now you can set the schedule. If you enjoy a high energy environment, latch onto something that provides it, like working with kids or animals. Want something that moves at a slower pace, there are plenty of options out there. The key is that now you get to pick what you do, when, and how. That in itself will make whatever it is you do more satisfying.

I’ve written before about how I approach creating blog posts. I don’t schedule writing time. Instead, when the muse hits, I write, at my own pace. Sometimes a post comes easily and I can bang it out quickly and sometimes it takes a few tries. For those occasions, I’ll write until I hit a dead end, then I’ll walk away to let my brain rest. When I’m ready, I dive back in. Writing this way, at my own pace, keeps it from becoming a chore and often results in more than one post being created at a time.

In this ever-faster-paced world you have the power to set your own pace. It doesn’t matter what your pace is or what others think of it as long as it works for you. Use that power to live your best life.

www.RetiredandInspiredat55.com 3-7-2022