Up All Night

by Cathy
(Spring, TX USA)

I recently retired at the end of 2018 after 46 years of employment.

I was very active before I retired. I worked out each weekday and was very busy from 5 am to 9 pm. I no longer want to work out, get dressed or do much anything. I don't seem to want to do anything.

I never used to watch TV, but now that seems like all I want to do. It seems like I have no drive anymore.

Why do I want to stay up all night and sleep all day?

Comments for Up All Night

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Change
by: Loyce

Often, Work fills a void and when work is over, the void confronts us with The need to contribute, participate belong and Be Needed.

We all need to Choose how we will constructively fill our voids which can cause depression when ignored.
Retirement Blues
by: Sherry

It is difficult some days for me, but not always. When I don't have anything special to do I go for a walk outside in my neighborhood or sometimes go to a nearby park; this always makes me feel better.

I enjoy being outside in the fresh air, hearing the birds, seeing what is going on outside and sometimes greet others and sometimes they will talk to you. The fresh air makes me feel better all around. If the weather is not good to be outdoors go to a mall and walk.

There are mall walkers that go there everyday just walk, sometimes I do this myself when the weather is poor. You are not the only one feeling sad and lonely with nothing special to do. Here where I live a movie theatre has special senior price on Tuesday afternoons.

We don't always have someone else to do things with, married or single. I am single and live alone and make the best of my days. I have to motivate myself and sometimes it is difficult, but once I have motivated myself I am on my way to feeling better.

There is lots to do. When you think of something just get busy. You can do it and you will feel better and also when you think of things to do write them down so you can go through your list when you don't know what you want to do that day and you can choose something to do maybe something you forgot about.

I try to be grateful for something everyday and this helps me to be happy!
Linda is 100% correct
by: Terri/Milwaukee

I found myself agreeing with everything Linda commented about. It is true. Some of us became our job so much and identified with it so intently that we lost ourselves.

Now when we retire we don’t know how to figure out what we really want to do because for years we just got up and had someplace to be. We never asked ourselves what we really want.

It took me a couple years to find my balance which meant a part time job that gives me a ton of flexibility and something I love to do.

Allow yourself days or even weeks of permitting yourself to do nothing, be in your pj’s, watch those shows. It’s only wrong if you think it’s wrong. You’ve earned it. My Mom used to say "I did nothing all day!" And I would say "Mom, that sounds like my dream day!"

Life is about finding your balance. If it was easy to find, we wouldn’t have anything to talk about. Live in the moment, be easier on ourselves. If it doesn’t feel right in your gut, try something else, move on.
Lazy Days
by: Georgia

I have been retired almost 5 years and I still have days like this, where you can't get motivated to do much of anything.

What I have learned is: let it happen , unless it becomes a daily thing.

First and foremost, don't turn on the TV until a designated time later in the day. You soon yourself right off of you do. Get up, get moving, force yourself to do this. Keep a calendar of future things to do, i.e go to library on Tuesday, take yourself and maybe a friend out to lunch or breakfast on Thursday, help out at the Humane Society on
Saturday, join a committee at church or join a church if you don't already go.

As I said, I have lazy days, and that's ok but I always try to remember that this one life, this wonderful life is NOT a dress rehearsal, it's the real thing.

And again, TURN OFF THAT TV!
Listen to Podcasts
by: Elizabeth/Spokane

Instead of watching the dribble on TV (as well as downright brain-numbing misinformation), why not get on your Internet to find podcasts?

The medical and health podcasts are years ahead of today's same-o health care. There are so many interesting videos on You Tube. Things that will catch your interest and awaken you to the transitions we are going through on our planet today.

You can even watch tv and movies on the Internet, as well as play games. I highly recommend checking it out.
Me, too
by: Doris

I, too, do the same thing. I go to bed late and wake up around 3:00 a.m. with these panic attacks. Grab my pillow and head to the sofa where I watch television. Never, ever had trouble sleeping my entire life. Watching tv has consumed my life and I hate it.

Was too busy my entire life to become a couch potato and I never thought I would be like this. Three years now and it has not improved. It is actually getting worse because I feel like I am wasting time.

I have always had a deep passion just for living and thought I would be doing more now than just existing. I hate retirement. It’s great to look back and say do not define your life by your job, but that is not a solution.

All I see are ads on how to prepare yourself financially for retirement, but nowhere do I see anything to help retirees through this hurdle.

It is not about a job - it is about having a purpose in your life, whatever that is - job, family, etc. Self-motivation is extremely difficult.
Up All Night
by: Anonymous

I retired in 2016 after working for 46 years. My husband passed away in 2011. I too had to make a lot of adjustments. I went through a transition period. Living in New England the Winters are harder for me because I cannot get out of the house and exercise. I go to the town library and take out a few books several times a month. I go to yoga classes. (Sometimes I have to force myself to get out of the house.)

I really enjoy not making the long commute to my job in snow storms. Hey, sometimes I stay in my pjs or comfy clothes.

You live in TX. Maybe if you tried to get out and take a walk, it would help. Give yourself a break. If things do not change, talk to your doctor.
Motivation
by: AbbyZ

Almost 2 years now since I retired from teaching. it was definitely an adjustment as I worked for over 35 years. Raising our family, and enjoying a wonderful career, was a blessing.

To combat depression and lack of a social network, I decided to volunteer a few hours a week, giving me a purpose to get dressed, put on a little makeup and do a good service to others.

Retirement can allow the opportunity to do things perhaps was put on the back burner. It's rediscovering who you are.

Good luck and enjoy the years ahead!
Maybe you're depressed
by: Michael B. Venice Florida

I've been through this. You might be depressed. Talk to your doctor. If there are no medical issues, he can recommend a mental health professional you can speak with to help you. But, make sure you reach out and get the help that you need.
Me Too
by: Linda/Nevada

I, too am going through similar stages of retirement. I sleep a lot and sometimes I live in my pajamas. My problem seems to be lack of motivation to do things I would like to do. I always prided myself on being self disciplined but now that I do not answer to anyone for my actions, I don't feel the need to do anything constructive.

Several decades ago, a counselor told me that we should never allow our job to be the center of our life. She said that we should view our job as just a means of earning money to provide the basic needs to live. I am now seeing the truth behind this counselor's advice.

So many of the people that contribute postings to this blog have a common denominator. The job they no longer have. I also remember reading somewhere that people who did not have their goals or dreams fulfilled, find retirement very difficult. This is the case with me. I think a lot about the jobs I wanted but never got to explore because of my financial obligations as a single parent. It is just not realistic for me to think that I can pursue these careers that I wished I could have had. Life must go on.

I am currently reading a book about self awareness and finding happiness. As I read it, I am realizing that a job was nothing more than just a paycheck and not the key to me finding serenity and peace in my life.

When we were younger, raising children, working and trying to get ahead, it was a lot of work. Most of us plowed through those difficult years and successfully came through it. Retirement is another chapter of hard work, perseverance, and goal setting. We are just trading one battle for another.

Godspeed to all of us who are trying to make our retirement meaningful.

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