Obeying the rules.

For the first few years after I retired I could not watch tele in the evening unless I was also knitting something at the same time. Just sitting watching made me feel as I was lazy.
Must say that has gone these days, as less knitting required for family, and problems with hands make it more difficult.

One of the great joys of retirement (mine was just before my 70th birthday), was NOT having to use the alarm clock. Found my normal body clock wakes me between 7.30 -8.00 each morning.

One rule, that I inherited from my Dad is NEVER to go to bed with that evenings dirty crockery still in kitchen.

Apart from that do not think I have many rules. Few years back one of my g.children found that I had put in my diary the day I was planning each week to do my washing. This story still causes much hilarity in the family. But I do like, as far as possible, to stick to one day each week for that chore.

I can remember as a child that we were never allowed to watch programmes on ITV for some reason (never found out why ) apart from Stars on Sunday !
That was until my mum went back to work part time and all her colleagues watched Coronation Street and Emmerdale!
I must admit that most of the "rules" my mum set down (always making sure you have a clean hanky, never wearing brown shoes or having a brown handbag if you are wearing anything black and never eating dinner on your lap, always at the table and always having a roast dinner on a Sunday) have pretty much been broken within a few weeks of her dying!
Apart from that I found over time that trying to stick to many self imposed rules meant that I just ended up more stressed than I needed to be!

Never used to watch tv before 5pm-ish, but have become more relaxed about that now.
Pre-dinner sherry at 6pm, glass of wine with dinner. May have a drink after dinner at weekends.
No housework after lunch, afternoons are for relaxing. No housework at weekends.
Groom cats and give them a treat at bedtime. They come and sit in front of me at 10.30 every evening and tell me what time it is!
New self-imposed rule - have shower and get dressed before my morning cup of tea, otherwise I would be in my dressing-gown and unwashed all day and have done nothing, except be on here!

Oh no BlueSapphire how can you possibly wash and dress before that first cup of tea/coffee?? I can’t function until I’ve had two coffees in my dressing gown, while checking social media!

Reading this has made me realise my other 'rules'. No pyjamas at the breakfast table, always dressed. Never eat off laps, always at a table, it is just the kitchen table, not stiff linen and best silver, but I find it uncomfortable and indigestible to eat off my lap. The only exception is when we indulge in cheese and biscuits with a glass of wine on a Sunday evening perhaps. Bed always made before I leave the house. But, no specific day for housework, all done on an as need basis. Oh, and no alarm, just wake up when I have had sufficient sleep.

I’m obviously a free spirit.
No. Rules. At. All.
?

My DH wants his evening meal at 5.30, just as his mum did, doesn't like mugs or glasses being put away straight away from the dish washer - they have to dry off. He also determines that we have two night free from alcohol - as his mother did!! Often wonder who I married!!!

I think it is just a question of not letting too many standards slip as we grow older. "That way madness lies! "

I don’t think of rules, just do as was always done, never do washing , ironing , vacuuming on a Sunday , never eat breakfast in a dressing gown, nightclothes are for the bed
not the sofa. Wouldn’t play card or dice games on a Sunday.

My only slight rule is that I try to remember, when I walk into a room, to improve 5 things in it. For me, it's usually picking up clutter.

It does tend to keep the place tidyish tho. Doesn't work when I'm at home in the UK. Between DD & DGS, it'd need 20 improvements everyone.

I don't eat red meat on Fridays, usually it's fish, a hangover from my catholic childhood.

I don't like eating in my dressing gown, but it's ok to drink coffee

Always remember to take something upstairs when I go, we live in a 3 storey house, and similarly remember to bring anything that may be required down.

Have more nights in the week free of alcohol than the other way round.

Tidy house, put things away, make beds, hate dirty dishes, cups and general debris lying around! Although if my grandchildren have been over all day, sometimes I don't tidy any of the stuff they pull out until the following day.

I've always been " self-disciplined " about certain things and have adhered to a few.
I found it difficult in adjusting after I retired years ago about getting up early and short of buying an alarm clock to keep the momentum going I learned over the years that there was no longer any rush to move myself.

However, I won't lie-in, ever, as once awake I'm up. So that mode remains with me.
I won't eat beyond 6pm then there's nothing to disturb a good sleep being as it takes 3 hours or so in which food is digested.

Then because of medication ( warfarin ) I won't drink alcohol, not that I was a big drinker but enjoyed wine with dinners and a snifter of Famous Grouse with a drop of ginger.

Cleanliness of my person comes before getting the hoover out etc. I have a horror of being smelly. My place isn't dirty, just untidy at times.

Not into many sweet things and prefer to sit with a bag of mixed nuts and an apple. Unlike when I was working and would eat a choc. eclair a foot long after thick prawn sandwiches on lunch break----and never put a pound on !

Remain independent---which fortunately I have and not to rely on others. Blame my mum for that as she used to say, " if you want something doing, do it yourself ". Within reason I might add.

Normally up and out, this virus has been frustrating to me more than anything else as I haven't bothered with outdoor pursuits---walking along the prom to keep the joints supple. Instead I've done more sitting than has been good for me and can feel it when I visit the local shops.

What I haven't mastered is stopping smoking. I tell myself it's a coping mechanism and can also think and work things out better. I imagine that habit will fizzle out before long anyway as I don't smoke many. I also excuse myself by family problems weighing me down.

To me it's better than hurtling to the GP for tablets which could have adverse effects on what I already take, plus the fact that I also like to be in control of myself and not zonked out by some chemical cosh. I'm very much on the ball and a bit like a monkey on a stick at times, never really relaxed, but this is me, always prepared for the unexpected

Yes I realise too life is full of rules although now being retired are self-imposed so feel more like routines than rules.
I'm usually in bed by 10pm, awake at 6am, having tea in bed watching the news(this is the golden rule) then up and dressed about 8 am.
I have three meals a day, breakfast at 9ish, lunch at 1pm and dinner at 6pm, the main meal usually in the evening except Sunday.
I don't have snacks between meals.
Punctuality is very important (left over from work days) so am always on time or even early!
I always change into comfy indoor pants when home.
Like other posters have said, I dislike eating or drinking coffee etc when outside unless in a restaurant.
During g the day I like to listen to the radio and watch tv in the pm after 6, it feels a waste of time unless it's a special program.
I don't want to carry on as the list seems to be getting longer, but I'm sure there are plenty more if I think about it!