Faffing about in Older Age!

Casdon I recognise that revision technique only too well! It also worked for essay deadlines I found.

I agree that traits become more pronounced - my Mum has always dithered and been anxious but now is so much so that it drives me to distraction. I put a lot of energy into not turning into my mother!

I have a Committee meeting this afternoon and just typing this makes my blood pressure rise because I know I will spend 2 hours with a couple of prize faffers.

Oh Lord, that took me back to my Clerk to the Governors days, when a committee meeting that should have been over in 15 minutes could be stretched to a couple of hours by the faffers, especially when the Chair was a faffer too. I must admit the worst offenders were the oldest members.

But yes, I agree about the questions on Facebook. It’s usually the young ‘uns on our local site asking about things they could so easily find out for themselves.

Perhaps we older retirees do seem to ‘faff’ about certain things, and now we have more time, everyday routine at home replaces the work routines we had.

As for the bright young things on MN and similar, it always seems to be the younger members of society posting on Facebook etc, , asking ‘’which bin is it tomorrow?” “What time is the service bus on Saturday?” “Are any takeaways open tonight, I just fancy a Chinese?” …and so on.

Just look it up on your phone.

Ah yes! I have started faffing! I am a DIY geek and up to now that has kept me busy. Just fitted a new garden gate and allotment keeps me busy. I'm faffing about a porch roof I've got to change. I'm late 70's now and loosing confidence fast! Oh, well must keep going 'til I drop.

I’m 57 and have the Radio Times - delivered.
And also I’m bored with cooking.
So there’s no hope for me 😂

Used to be indecisive, but can’t decide now!

Couldn’t resist!
The old ones are the best.

I don’t consider myself a faffer. I’d rather research a purchase on the internet first, rather than dither about in stores. I think I’m a bit of a ‘grab the bull by the horns’ sort of person.
My hypochondria friend who gets worse as the weeks pass, describes herself as a ‘complete Fanny’ which really does sum her up.

Guilty on one count, I have become indecisive, I even irritate myself when I can't make up my mind. Completely out of character for me I always made snap decisions until recently.

scribbles😂

Witzend

Nor me, dithering and faffing make me want to scream!
I’ve known non-elderly people do it too, though - it’s not confined to older-age.

Yeah, DP drives me crazy with faffing, and not exactly old either.

Faffers-about drive me crazy! I do know a few and a couple of them are old friends who have faffed since childhood so I don't think it is necessarily age-related. (How do we stay friends, I wonder? I guess it's because we're all very tolerant folk!)

We've all encountered them: they shamble through the supermarket till, fussily stowing their items into an assortment of bags then spend several minutes rummaging in pockets and handbags for their wallet. Just as they've found it and you breathe a sigh of relief, they produce a sheaf of vouchers and coupons to be sorted through before they can pay up and go. They do it on the bus, too - stand in line at the stop for 10 minutes gazing into space until the bus arrives then board and start looking for their pass/fare/return ticket in a dozen pockets and/or bags.
My maternal grandmother was a Grade A faffer and yes, she did also obsess about strange things such as the bins, meal times, TV schedules, the neighbours and other peoples' weight....

I have to say meal times bother me a bit because my DH is diabetic and needs to eat on time. My DD doesn't decide what to eat in the evening until about 7pm whereas I plan what we are going to eat when I wake up.

AGAA4

I am indecisive. More so as I've got older but I don't worry or faff about food or bins. Routines are non existent since I retired. I do things when I feel like or when they have to be done.

I’m indecisive so tend to faff but I think I’d be better if I could just do things when the mood/need takes me, My H I’m pleased to say deals with the bins but despite him having grumbled about how his parents used to have mealtime routines, he’s forever asking what and when we’re having for the next meal. Again, I would just rather eat when I’m hungry

I think traits you’ve always had get more dominant as you get older, so if you were a faffer as a child, you will be more of one by the time you’re eighty. I’m a mental effort procrastinator, the type who always delayed exam revision until 5am on the day of the exam, meanwhile you could have eaten your dinner off the floor in my bedroom and every cupboard was sorted to within an inch of its life. I’m even worse now, I’ve had to learn self management strategies to cope - but I’m not a faffer in getting ready or other aspects of day to day life. Patience is another example, people who were always impatient often get very intolerant as they age. I also wonder about anxiety.

My mum always had the TV and Radio times.

It was no skin off anyone else's nose, I'm sure.

I don't do well with ditherers. At 76, I make a list of things to do but apart from that I get on with things pretty much as well as I always have. I have a Committee meeting this afternoon and just typing this makes my blood pressure rise because I know I will spend 2 hours with a couple of prize faffers.

Another non-faffer. If doubtful on bins, say after being on holiday, I just check it on the Council website. Food, as I have done for the last 60 years, weekly plan, weekly visit the supermarket and adjust as necessary. Radio Times? what's that?

My DH puts the bins in and out for our 95 year old neighbour. She phoned me one day to say that my DH should put her garden bin an inch or so further back on her drive. She also rang one day in tears as the bin men hadn't emptied her food bin. Still she is 95!

I know about 3 people, late 80s who went into faffing.
I have already told a few people, I am not able to guarantee what I will be like then, if I get there.

Most people, including younger ones, like to make sure their bins are put out on the right day because they don't want to have to store rubbish, surely?

I am indecisive. More so as I've got older but I don't worry or faff about food or bins. Routines are non existent since I retired. I do things when I feel like or when they have to be done.

I dont know about "faffing" but I am a planner and an organizer so I have a "to do" list every day which I try to get through. However I dont worry too much if some minor tasks are left at the bottom. I tend to block things off into different compartments of my life and not allow them to overflow. My nephew says I have very male attitudes.

I read threads about people who have an obsession with bins, like my former NDN. She had a mania with bins, drains and rubbish. Possibly because she had dementia coming on for years.

I find the big bins too heavy and clumsy to manage even when empty. So my nephew puts them out for me but only once they are rammed full, which takes weeks. I recycle as much paper and cardboard as possible so my bins take ages to fill. After the bin men have emptied them they generally stay there until nephew brings them back in on his next visit. I have better things to do than mess about with bins.

I'm not a faffer and never have been but I do have slight trouble with arthritis in my hands which may give the impression of faffing I suppose. I'm still working (unsociable and long hours) and am widowed so meal times don't factor into my life and bins just get put out. Haven't bought the Radio Times for years.

I don't worry about food- whatever is in the fridge and cupboard, I'm willing to experiment, and I eat when I feel like it. I'm never sure which bin is going out this week, but as mine are never full it doesn't really matter. They go out eventually. Haven't seen a Radio Times for years. Maybe those posting on Mumsnet just know the wrong older people. The rest of us are too busy with other things to "Faff"!!

Not a faffer ... just relaxed and take life as it comes