Without a job to go to, my morning rituals have changed

Everyone has a morning ritual. I love to sit quietly at the kitchen table and read the newspaper while drinking strong coffee that has been excellently prepared by my husband. He evensets out the cups and spoons! It is something I look forward to on a daily basis. After coffee we take the dog for a leisurely walk, then I go exercise. When I return I can get on with the chores for the day. Even menial tasks such as tossing in a load of laundry give me pleasure because I am not under a time crunch.  My morning ritual is one thing that has really changed for the better since I’ve stopped working.

Work Rush Gives Way to Morning Peace

When I was working, I was always rushing. It didn’t matter that I got up at 5:30am or that I had two full hours to prepare to leave the house, it was never enough. I was always watching the clock.  Then there was the long cross-town commute for a minimum of 45 minutes to an hour in rush hour traffic. By the time I would get to work I needed 20 minutes to decompress before I began my morning workday duties (and there were plenty of tasks to complete before the first patients arrived). I never stopped rushing. I was like the Eveready Bunny, going, going and going. Mornings were a blur! 

Since I’ve stopped working, I’ve come to appreciate mornings more than any other part of the day. I love to listen to the silence of the house, no TV, radio, music or talking. I love to sit calmly typing at the computer while the dog is gently snoozing under my chair.  I can enjoy the freedom of not having to answer the phone and making calls only when it’s convenient for me. My current morning rituals bring me a sense of peace and contentment that no paycheck can replace. 

Categories: Retirement, Career Management & Transition, Work Life Balance, Things You Need to Know