Anyone retired? What do you all do with your day?

Pre covid found plenty do do. Went on holiday 3 times a year, went to the cinema weekly went to theatre, concerts, music events, food fairs, Socialised with friends, went to restaurants, pubs, parks exhibitions, museum's. Attended a few excercise classes went swimming, read did some tapestry. In fact had to plan to stay in to catch up with chores

I keep busy and my days are full but I would rather be at work if I had a choice.

I write. I love to lose myself in all kinds of characters. It keeps my brain active. I've nothing published but who knows what might be? Here's a 100 word story I wrote that won an on-line contest. It's written in the voice of a pet dog during lock-down.

Loveless Lockdown

This could not have happened at a worse time!

After months and months of self-grooming, flirtatious glances, seductive barks; just when her cute little tail was beginning to wag in my direction… you put me on a lead!

And can someone please explain how I’m supposed to get past first base with my Pomeranian princess, when you have us walking 6ft apart?

There’s even talk of closing the park… I am beyond despair!

Will our paws ever meet? Our canine hearts beat as one?

Or am I to be condemned to a loveless lockdown?

Forever pondering what might have been…

I always tell people to volunteer with the National Trust. Find your nearest NT house and get along there (once this pandemic is over). You learn a lot, you meet like-minded friends, you meet regularly one or more days a week and do as much or as little as you want, and you also get to meet and chat to lots of visitors and become an expert on the property which is lovely.
While my NT property has been closed I have met weekly to walk in the countryside with a couple of friends I volunteered with. Social distancing of course. It's been wonderful.

Lots and lots of swimming/aqua aerobics. In an outdoor pool!

I've been retired since 2004, it's wonderful. In 2006 I met Mr. Granny and we've been married for 11 years; I acquired two grown-up stepchildren and their partners, and over the years 4 lovely grandchildren have arrived. I keep in touch with friends (now meeting them for lovely lunches), I read lots, I love to cook and enjoy pottering in the garden. Most of all I like spending time with my DH, and we used to go out and about quite a lot - we love the theatre and live concerts - so looking forward to being able to do that again. It will be great when we can re-start our U3A sessions too, I am missing my Tai Chi and Art Discussion.

I've never been bored during my retirement years, like so many others I don't know how I found time to go to work.

I'm in a different situation to a lot of people in this group, I live with my daughter (41), three DCG (17, 13, 11) and now my son (44) who has had to come home from the USA unexpectedly. My day comprises tackling the never ending laundry and dirty dishes generated by them all, cleaning and hoovering (my DGD help with this), the garden (which seems to have fallen to me by default), shopping, cooking meals and putting the rubbish out (DGS is supposed to be doing that but fails epically) In between all that I am trying to support my son as DIL (in the USA) is divorcing him, he came home with only a bag of clothing and a list of medical needs as long as your arm which had gone untreated there because of the cost, so trying to support him to get re-established here with a bank, sorted out with a GP, eyesight test, dentist and making a claim for universal credit etc takes up time too. In the gaps I am still researching my family tree and the charity I am involved with locally has just opened back up so busy with that too. I have undone DIY jobs I was going to do until son arrived back here with only 48 hours notice - need to get them sorted out soon really. As my eldest DGD says, Nan, we need a buff man (whatever that is) to help us with all this!! I think I just need to clone myself

I find having an ongoing project good. I decided to update my house from top to bottom, room by room, at my own speed. Two years now. I do this totally at my own pace but am currently really in the thick of it because of C19. White gloss paint is the order of the day. Very therapeutic. Have the wallpaper already in and am currently researching a comfy recliner chair (all recommendations or otherwise gratefully received, please). In general, I thoroughly enjoy retirement. Not at the moment, of course, because of the limitations on my favourite pastimes of lunching and theatre. Huh! Mind you, I didn't jump on the bandwagon until I was seventy four so my experience is limited.

I have been retired for 14 yrs. Like others DH and I have a routine. We get up about 8, shower and dress, Check on ingredients for dinner. If it is fine a walk, or gardening We have a very large garden . Lunch around 12:30 and watch the news. Then out again if the weather holds up. Not good days, Housework, which we share. DH likes genealogy, aeroplanes and learning to use his new computer. We both read a lot also. I also knit, and enjoy trying new recipes. I draw a lot also. We also visit our DH who lives close by, and keep in contact with DS and family by zoom, phone and email.
Most days are busy. Best way really. We try to do some form of excercise everyday. Television in the evening only.

I retired in November. Love it. Covid came along and put paid to some things but not all. I go out walking most days, joined an online welsh learning course which I love, got out hte cook books and now cook from scratch again, already seen a difference in food budget. Socially distance meet up with friends and family. Lake district holiday in 2 weeks time ( fingers crossed). I count my blessings every day that I could retire and have time to do what I want to do. Husband not retired but having to work from home so we enjoy plenty of coffee times.

Since giving up work at the end of April, I have begun walking most mornings, bought a cycle and am relearning how to ride it, and have more time to keep an eye on Mum who is becoming more and more fragile.

I have learned how to crochet using YouTube, and made a crochet blanket, four baby blankets, sewn six Christmas presents plus a dolls cradle for my DGD plus many other items.

Oh, and I have just finished writing up the story of my maternal grandparents.

There are not enough hours in the day to do everything I would wish - and I am loving it!

Now retired from a lifetime of teaching, I started a small business which involves making jewellery and selling my paintings. I'm also doing an online language course.This keeps me sane along with lots of walks and regular meetings with family and friends. There doesn't seem enough time in the day but thats how I like it. Not very domesticated, avoid ironing unless absolutely necessary and hate housework of any kind. I don't have to respond to bells and sit through interminable and irrelevant meetings any more either! I wasn't looking forward to retirement but now I love the freedom to be me!

This was meant for teacher Anne. Sorry if I posted it on the wrong message!

Wow I am exhausted just reading your daily activities.

I found this really interesting how people occupy their time. Certainly gave me a few ideas. I do find that since lockdown all the clubs, groups and social gathering have come to a grinding halt. In fact I feel quite lonely as there seems to be nothing on the calendar to look forward to.

Semi retired, so l work two days a week.
The first free day after, l do the clearing up/bill paying/food shopping etc.
The rest of the week, l let the weather decide.
As a non driver, l go out and about/have friends over if it's dry.
If it's raining, l curl up with a book (l have a vast collection).
On the iffy days, l like painting/decorating/papercraft and other artistic/DIY pursuits.
If you are bored, pick up the phone and ring a friend, or join in any of the local activities.
If you live in a nice area, go walking/cycling/swimming etc.
And if you don't, perhaps you might like to start plotting a move to somewhere nice......

Moved here 5 years ago, joined history soc, WI, drama group etc, covid has stopped a lot but became WI President in November so have been trying to keep it going without meetings (had tea in a box delivered to each member from our cafe so supported local business and this month a locally made mask and card by a local artist whose gallery we met in for our feb meeting), kept the WI book gp I started going through whatsApp though we had a summer break but are meeting at out hall end September to discuss the next book, have invited various individuals round for a cup of tea in the garden, contacted friends who might be lonely etc by various means, gardening, painting (I'm an artist), online courses, I walk 3-5 miles a day along footpaths or beach, now we can see our grandchildren have the boys over three days a week and we have great fun( doubt we'll be able to see them when they get back to school as my husband has been shielding and we don't take risks), growing seeds, general gardening, built a pond, I could go on. I think the rewards of trying to think of other people and how you can help them are well worth it. If you want to do something and it's not happening start it, people will come! I have no time to do half the things I want but that's how I like it!

I look after my little grandson 1 day, work for a charity on 2 days. See my sister and we usually go out for a couple of hours on another day. Thursday and sunday i catch up with housework jobs which haven't been done. I find this plenty and sometimes feel its a bit much! There is so much to do if you look or google whats in your area x

Itsawelshthing I think you are saying you are on the phone too much and wonder what else there is to do. At your age I am not sure how much time you have for volunteering if you work or are at home with a family. If you do have lots of time, type in volunteering local to you and see what is going on. The local WI would welcome younger members but you may find the majority are a little bit older than you. You will find this with many things going on Of course, COVID has so many of us not being able to go to ur normal clubs and so on.

Well I’m thinking of learning to drive ..... my husband always said I didn’t need to , and caused too much fuss if I mentioned it. Now he doesn’t drive anymore, I feel little ‘out-of-the-loop’.... what does anybody think!? Anyone out there who learnt to drive at the grand old age of 69!?!?

I have been retired for almost 25 years.
I love it.
DH and I have a routine.
Work in the mornings (includes shopping when necessary)
Eleveses at ten
Bit more work -usually gardening
Light lunch.
Afternoon at leisure.
We both do puzzles that are in the newspaper .
I do them on the Ipad.
He does jigsaws
I read ,paint write letters or make cards usually.
Never watch afternoon TV unless it is Cricket

If anyone is unable to do what they usually do because of Covid, and doesn't know how to get involved in online things, it might be worth looking at the WEA (google it). They run courses in all sorts of subjects, and are moving online for the duration.

Usually, they have classes in community centres, church halls and the like, so if you choose a class near you, when things go back to normal you will be able to attend in person and will already have 'met' your classmates (good for people who are nervous about joining things).

They are very reasonably priced, and free for people on benefits (including pension credit). They welcome people of all ages and abilities - they are not just for 'oldies'.

I don't work for them or have a vested interest, incidentally . I joined a class when I retired and really enjoyed it, but was surprised at how few people were aware of them, so thought I'd pass it on.

Treat yourself to an iPad if you can. Then you can do all sorts online. Yoga, Pilates, tons of courses. Read the paper and the news. FaceTime friends and family........

My general day is wake up at 6am. Tea in bed and read the paper until 8. Yoga for 15mins Meditation 15mins and a half hour walk.

Make sure I sit down to read half an hour twice a day. (You can get library books ordered and delivered to your iPad).

Cook something nice. Do a jigsaw. Garden for a couple of hours.

My day does really seem to fly by and I learn so much which just leads me off to learn something else. Embrace the Internet !

I do Zoom Pilates 3 to 4 times a week with lots of dog walking on our local beach for plenty of fresh air..Keeping myself flexible and fit in my 60's and onwards is now a priority for me.....

I’m really glad you started this post so thank you. I too need some ideas on what to do. I think it’s great that some people are so busy with groups and crafts and I would really like to be the same but I’m not very pro-active I’m afraid. I suffer from low mood/anxiety which doesn’t help. Good luck and I hope you find some ideas on here. It’s a great group and I love it.