In retirement year 1, it seemed like a good idea to do a lot of relaxing in summer, when the weather’s great and I want to be out doing fun things. And that still makes sense! It also seemed logical to plan for a lot of indoor tasks in winter, since I’m inside at home a lot. Last winter, that meant a fair amount of freelancing, online classes, and at least some decluttering work.
This year, though, I’m not so sure. As I get farther away from my life of full-time work, I feel more in tune with the natural rhythms of the seasons and my body. And the depth of winter – with the year’s shortest, darkest days and brisk howling winds – seems like it may be a better time to do more of what the natural world does around me: ratchet down. It’s a shift from a life of modern American “productivity” to an entirely different focus.
And that’s making winter easier to tolerate.
I wrote last year about hating winter less. I wondered if I’d feel the same this year, and the answer so far is yes. (I know it’s still technically autumn, but it’s already quite cold and dark!)
For many of us who are fortunate to live in a place that’s at peace and are blessed with enough resources for food, shelter, and heat, the challenges of winter can be largely emotional. The darkness. Carb cravings. The extra preparation before doing anything outside. The difficulty of mustering up enough energy to do things that either you need or want to do.
I see now that a full-time job made it all more difficult. In spring or summer, I might be frustrated to miss out on big chunks of a beautiful day, but I also had more energy and light leftover after work to enjoy those seasons. In winter, not so much. There was nothing left over.
Post-retirement, however, I can structure many of my days around what makes sense at this time of year. I often ease into my days with a cup of hot tea, some meditation, and even sitting under a “fake sunlight” lamp on short days with little sunlight.
And, I can usually get myself outside for awhile when the sun is brightest – something that was often hard to squeeze in when I was working, since meetings had to take priority. That time outdoors in sunshine can be a big help, especially if you live in a place where the sun sets at 4:11 pm and car headlights can snap on before 3:30. Even when the sun is out, it’s often weak. Being able to take advantage of the strongest hour or two is truly a blessing!
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not sorry about the career I had. I’m glad I can look back on things that, in my own small niche of the world, I can be proud of. I do wish I could have figured out better work-life balance while I was working, but that probably would have required a personality transplant 😅.
Now, though, I’m finally ready for more down time. Not all downtime. But more.
Which means I’m learning to quash the little voice that still occasionally crops up to ask: What have you accomplished today? Shouldn’t you be doing more?
No. No I should not.
I spent decades working to “do more.” Now I’m in a new phase of my life. I’d like to better enjoy the fruits of all that labor.
It’s time for something different.
So, I’m taking this month off from paid freelancing work. I’m finally mulling a couple of house projects I may be ready to tackle next year . . . but not for awhile. Instead, I’m working on some hobby coding projects. Taking walks. Going to the gym. Answering holiday cards. Making homemade soups. Blogging, both here and my little neighborhood site. Going to the Winslow Homer exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts with my husband - on a weekday. Planning other trips into Boston to meet with friends when it’s not too cold.
And working on not feeling the slightest bit guilty about being “unproductive.”
You can follow My Next Chapter by email newsletter or RSS feed. Blog content © Sharon Machlis.