Choose the right kind of busyness in retirement

“I’m so busy!” You may have noticed that this is one of the most common answers to the question, “How are you?” Our culture glorifies busyness, and that need to fill the days with tasks and activities doesn’t magically disappear after retirement. But choosing the right kind of busyness in retirement can be the difference between thriving or simply surviving. 

Figuring out ways to fill the time void after retirement is an important part of retirement lifestyle planning. But as I shared What I learned in the first year of retirement, not every opportunity that comes along is a good fit. 

There’s nothing wrong with wanting that sense of accomplishment that comes from crossing items off a to do list, and goals are still important in retirement. At this stage of life, though, the gift of time offers freedom to ensure the items on the list are the right ones. 

Three kinds of busyness

In her book, Achievement Addict, Rose Lounsbury identifies three types of busyness:

Busy importance is about proving your worth. It means you pack your calendar and take on more tasks to prove your value to yourself and others. It’s a habit that’s developed during your working life, and it’s not so easy to turn it off after retirement. After all, remaining relevant is one of the top non-financial concerns of pre-retirees and retirees according to research from the Retirement Coaches Association. 

Busy distraction is about avoidance. You keep yourself busy to avoid reflection, difficult conversations, or tasks that make you uncomfortable. Instead of diving into big meaningful projects, you fill your days with chores and other busy work. And then you wonder where the time went and why you’re not making progress on your bigger projects.

Finally, busy fulfilment is the type of busy everyone needs more of. It’s about doing things that light you up and align with your purpose.

After you leave your full-time career behind, you have the luxury of being able to focus your time on activities that give you a sense of fulfilment. Even so, it’s tempting to fall back into the trap of busy importance or busy distraction—especially if your career was an important part of your identity. 

Achieving the right kind of busyness in retirement

So how do you ensure you’re choosing the right kind of busyness in retirement?

It really comes down to being disciplined about what you take on. Here are three steps to set yourself up for more fulfilment in retirement. 

Define your purpose

Taking time to reflect on your purpose is an important first step in deciding the level of busyness that works for you. Doing this also helps you identify tasks and opportunities that align with your purpose and values. Equally importantly, a clear sense of purpose will help you know what to say no to. 

Learn how to get started with defining your purpose in Find meaning and purpose with Ikigai. 

Examine how you spend your days

Next, look at how you spend your time. Ask yourself how well your current activities align with your purpose. 

If you’re still working, consider how you spend your time now, and how it might change when you retire. Are there things you enjoy now that you’ll do more of? Are there things you’ll stop altogether? What new activities will you add to your list?

If you’re already retired, ask yourself if the things you’re doing are things you truly enjoy, or are you just filling your days with busy work?

Adopt an “I get to…” mindset

If you often find yourself saying, “I have to do…” there’s a good chance you’re stuck in busy importance or busy distraction. That kind of mindset creates feelings that were so ingrained in us during our primary careers—stress, time pressure, and obligation. 

To truly create a life of fulfilment, you need to shift your mindset from, “I have to…” to “I get to…” or “I choose to”. This mindset is one of freedom, gratitude, excitement and looking forward. 

Here’s how to shift your mindset to create the right kind of busyness in retirement:

1. When you hear yourself saying, “I have to…”, ask yourself why. Is it just something you’ve always done? Are you doing it to please someone else? Is it something you even want to do?
2. Then, challenge yourself to turn the item into a positive. Instead of “I have to…”, rephrase it as “I get to…”. 
3. If you’re having a hard time turning the task into a positive, consider if it truly belongs on your retirement to do list. If it doesn’t, it might be time to let it go.

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Retirement is an opportunity to fill your days with “I get to…” tasks that align with your purpose and values. But getting there will take a little planning. Following the three steps outlined above will help put you on the right path. 

If you’re ready to get started on creating a plan for a smooth transition to the right kind of busyness in retirement, contact me to learn how I can help you.