To Enjoy Retirement, Cut Back on Enjoyment

I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but sometimes too much of a good thing makes the good thing not as good anymore.  You've heard of the phenomenon, a lottery winner is much happier right after they win the lottery, but a couple of years later, they become used to their newfound riches and return to whatever level of happiness they enjoyed before winning the lottery.

In retirement, instead of winning money, you win time.  I admit I've grown accustomed to all the extra time I have in retirement.  At first it was such a novelty.  But over the past couple of years, I've started to take my good fortune for granted.  Nothing like a little elective scarcity (a part-time job) to remind you to appreciate the luxury of time.  I tackled the topic of Hedonic Adaptation in my U.S. News post yesterday. 

Related Posts:

Is Being Content Preventing You From Being Happy in Retirement?

Zombie Retirement

How Do You Fantasize About Your Future When You're Living in it?

 

This is a post from Retirement:  A Full-Time Job

Comments

[Barb]

Interesting....I think it depens on how much you direct that spare time. I also think it depends on how much you had structure in your work life (and how much you liked that structure). I fill my time, but I dont have structure per se. I work when I want and dont when I want, and I still go to bed and get up as I please. That would drive some people crazy, I realize.

[fred doe]

many people i know who retired around the same time i did went right out and got a part time jobs. with out a one they left or got fired:) from those jobs in 3 months time or less. the ones who held off a year or so then got part time jobs have faired better. so there might be some logic to your approach. i think it's a attitude thing. you don't mind certain things when you know you have a alternatives.

[Bob]

You always find a unique way to say what many of us experience. "Elective scarcity" is a perfect term for the phenomenon of a retiree who chooses to add some work to his schedule.

I have worked seasonal part time (about 30 hours a month from Oct-April) for the past few years. I look forward to the days I work and really appreciate the days when I don't.

That is exactly your point!