I mentioned in my last post that I’ve been rolling around the whole concept of retirement in my bean; what it looks like for me, how best to enter into the last trimester of life, how to make the most of it. In staying in the retirement vein, I read in my new book How to Retire and Not Die that a retiree should have 3 tasks they accomplish each day. I think the idea is to make a list as you’re getting your coffee and coming to life, and then try your best to accomplish those 3 Things before the end of the day. Think along the lines of wanting to feel like every day is a success. How can I know if I’ve had a successful day if I don’t have any plans to do anything? Knowing we accomplished something valuable, however small, can help us deem the day as good and well-lived.
Having 3 Things to complete each day can also help stop the days from blurring together. I’m reading that for some who retire, time, and not knowing what to do with it, can become a real problem. Depression can set in when we transition from our daily work identity and pace to, well, empty days. Without work to measure life against, our days can slip into insignificance and uselessness. If you’re like me, and pray hard you are not, you’ll notice that sometimes the less we do, the less we want to do – as we slowly slide deeper and deeper into the chair, becoming more horizontal with every minute. Pretty soon it’s 6PM and nothing’s been done; no shower, no chores, no projects – nothing. Physics is not on our side: a body at rest and all that Newton jazz. There’s only so many Instagram reels we can send before we get mushbrain. Yes, it’s a thing. Look it up.
Sidebar: I wonder where the term Couch Potato comes from and why it’s a potato.
Note to self: Look up Couch Potato etymology and know the answer. Cue the cool party trivia drop.
Where was I?
Ah.
Our list 3 Things for the day should be tasks outside of the standard day’s fare. So, for me, Wake Up and Have Coffee wouldn’t be on my list (Yay me!) Neither would Enjoy a Fine Martini (Gin, Of Course) At The End Of The Day. Those 2 things are more or less something I do every day. So probably Work Out or Make Bed Art wouldn’t be on my list either.
I mean, who can go through a day without either, right?
Heyyyy, what if I listed Work Out While Drinking a Martini (Gin Of Course)?
Could be a whole new bar scene, yes?
…Hmm.
As we can see, AI has some…unique ideas of it’s own.
Wrong tree, ChatGPT.
Anyways. Back to reality.
It’s not so much that our 3 Things need to all be major undertakings, but I do think the 3 Things per day list is supposed move us outside of our norm. Things that are intrinsically part of our day don’t really require much thought or effort or growth, and they bring no real extra value-added to life.
I’m pretty sure that our 3 Things don’t always need to be 100% completed by the end of the day either, depending on how the tasks are worded. So like, Get Information on Bed Making Art Classes in the Area could be one of my 3, or Pick 3 Potential New Books to Read could be one, too. Since most complex undertakings are completed in stages, each stage could be a smaller daily task. Although Exercise would be, for me, not something on my list that would move me enough, Add 30 Cardio so I could lose 4 lbs in 2 weeks and get back to my ideal weight of 190 might be.
The book also talked about creating each day’s list from various categories. Some categories might be Social, Physical, Spiritual, Financial, Mental, Domestic, Relational, etc. So Monday might look like Reach Out To Jen, Add 30 Cardio, and Restart Coast Guard Pension Account Tracker. Tuesday might be Read New Book And Take Notes for 30, Clean Both Bathrooms, and Make New Pork Recipe. Wednesday: Gut Shed and Reorganize And Be Careful Rachel Doesn’t Catch You Throwing Stuff Away, Wash/Vacuum Truck, 45 Cardio and Chest. Even if I don’t get one or more complete, I can carry them over.
I also don’t think every day day needs to be preplanned to the last minute. It might be fun, though, if someone asks me, “So, how was your day?,” to list out some cool things I started, added, continued, learned, finished, made progress on, etc.
And, if having a list of 3 Things is a good plan for retirement, maybe it’d be a good idea to start now while working full time so a solid life-rhythm is established by the time change comes.
Of course, full time work will limit bandwidth and margin, but still, how fun to know life is growing in ways besides professional work.
At this point in my life, I think I’ve done all the career-ladder climbing I care to do. I could also start smaller, say 1 or 2 Things per day.
For tomorrow (Sunday), my 3 Things list is Start College Paper, Rake Front, Complete Data Report. I wrote them on my home office white board. Add my usual Sunday routine of first service, gassing both vehicles for the week, and doing laundry, that should make for a full, well-lived day. And if I don’t get them all done, I can carry over or schedule them for later in the week / month.
Anyways, just something that might be fun. I like the idea of being proactive to time and life. I also like the idea of stretching, growing, and being challenged (I’m not so good at following recipes – more is always better), while also sticking to the things that I just love, like raking the yard and being in the sun and cleaning the shed or garage.
Who knows. I might even get crazy:
Find Small Acoustic Drum Set for Less Than $200
Post Article For Florida Rental Next Jan
Start Redo of Basement Floor
Get Bid for New Shower
Learn About Garbage Disposal Installation
Buy Flower Seeds
Text Friend Who Bought Me The Book And Offer Coffee
Learn 2 New Dance Moves
Look Into Starting Business Called Bed Maker Mark
And well, the list is endless.
Middle Age Mark 