Retirement: Where Are Those Extra Hours?

Ok, I know all those of you that are not yet retired think that when you retire you will have eight extra hours available to you each and every week day. 

I'm here to tell you it's not true.

Here's how the math works in retirement:  8 (hours you used to work) minus 0 (hours you work now) = 2. That's right, you heard me.  When you retire, all you wind up with is 2 extra hours a day.

First, let's start with the morning routine.  When I worked, I got up at 6 am, read my email and then worked out for an hour.  Then I showered, drank my coffee in the car as I drove to work, and ate my breakfast at my desk.  By lunchtime, I had worked out, showered, eaten breakfast, AND put in four hours of work.  (Well, at least I was physically at my desk for four hours.  You know what I mean by "work.")

Post retirement:  I definitely don't get up at 6 am, heck, the sun's not even up, why would I open my eyes in the dark?  More like 8:00 . . . or so.  I check email, drink a cup of coffee, then another one while I scan the headlines and read a few blog posts.  Eventually, I get in a workout and a shower.  And now it's lunchtime.

Net morning math:  no extra hours.  In the time that I would have been at work for four hours, I have accomplished roughly the same personal tasks I would have if I were still working, although at a MUCH slower pace.

Now, on to lunch.  When I worked, I usually met a friend for a quick lunch.  I would hurry back to the office so I wasn't gone too much longer than an hour.  Now, I drive to meet a friend for lunch, I never hurry, and usually lunch is about two hours.  On the way back, I might return some library books, or swing by the grocery store.

So, I'm home by about 2:30 and I've still done roughly the same thing as I would have done while working,  Well, except the actual working part.

Since the budget now requires me to clean my own house and do my own gardening, I try to squeeze in an hour or so when I get home.  By the time I'm done and all cleaned up, it's 4 o'clock.  I would have been home in two hours if I were still working (and did I mention, the cleaning and the gardening would have been done BY SOMEONE ELSE?)

That's right, two hours left to do all those things I thought I would be spending my days on in retirement, reading, blogging, knitting, or maybe even cooking dinner.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining.  I love the slow pace of my new life.  I just want to warn those of you that are thinking about all those zillions of things you will do when you retire.  You really only have two more hours a day than you did when you were working.

Consider yourself warned.

Related Posts:

The Truth About Retirement

Sunday Evening Blues

Retirement Self-Esteem

Comments

[Sara]

Oh So True....

Now add into that...the required afternoon nap, the post-nap espresso and soduku time, the getting ready to go to a party (that's the December schedule) and your pooped out and ready for bed!

Honestly, I don't see how people have time to work at all.

[jennifer youngblood]

I really enjoyed this post. :) Sometimes I wonder why I don't get more done on my "vacation days" and I think I could apply a similar framework.

[Retired Syd]

I like the email comment that I got from a reader named Dennis that maybe it's not inefficiency but SAVORING.

[Steve @ brip blap]

Hah! That's completely amusing. Since I finished my last consulting project I've been home - "problogging" - and the almost complete lack of free time in my non-working days is staggering. Between kids and chores and stuff I never got to before I am running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Mini-retirements like I'm doing are not easy, at all!