topic Re: Retirement & aging in Community Chat

Retirement & aging

151949 — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 16:14:36 GMT

Out for a boat ride yesterday with some other retirees we were discussing how difficult it is to keep track of the day of the week, let alone the date when you are retired. We also noted how difficult it is to remember the season when you live in Florida and it is always summer. My hair stylist says her clients are always forgetting their appointments so she sends a text the morning of the appt so they show up.

When you are retired and these things happen to you - it is reassuring to know they are happening to others as well. I have gotten into the habit of checking my calender every morning while I have my coffee.

Re: Retirement & aging

qualitygal — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 16:20:38 GMT

Stagger your appointments of where you need to be, and then that helps with having to be somewhere. Too many days run together. List something each day to help.

Re: Retirement & aging

2blonde — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 16:22:11 GMT

I knew there was a reason why I'm still working!

Re: Retirement & aging

VaBelle35 — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 16:22:59 GMT

I can totally see this! I am on vacation right now, and I have no idea what day it is. I have to keep looking at my phone.

I am an avid calendar person, so I have all kinds of appointments on my phone to remind me what is coming up 2 weeks, 1 week, 4 days, 48 hours, 24 hours, 12 hours and 2 hours.

Re: Retirement & aging

Havarti — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 16:43:55 GMT

I volunteer with seniors and have come to realize that even the most astute often lose track of what day it is. I have come to the conclusion that a working week is so structured that the activities specific to each day tell us subconsciously what day it is. What worker or parent doesn’t know the feel of Monday morning or Friday afternoon. During the week there are triggers such as garbage day, maybe a meeting at work that is held weekly on the same day at the same time, there are kid’s activities/practices, religious activities that occur on a set schedule, favorite TV shows that come on weekly, etc. All these consistently repetitive patterns in the course of each week set our inner clocks to set our sense of timing. When the kids are grown & gone and we are retired many (if not most) of those patterns disappear. By the time someone makes it into senior living environment even things like garbage day are irrelevant. Days become the same and they run into weeks that are the same. Big events are doctor’s appointments and the results of medical tests are like getting your SAT/ACT scores – news to be celebrated & shared because they may dictate your very future.

I watch staff at senior centers asking questions of the residents like “do you know what day it is?” and I think those young workers are in the cycle of life where the pattern of the days/weeks are clearly defined. They think if someone can’t answer those questions they must have memory issues. I don’t think that is necessarily true.

Re: Retirement & aging

Trinity11 — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 16:47:06 GMT

That's interesting. I have calendars in a lot of rooms in my house which may be why I never forget what day it is.

Re: Retirement & aging

chrystaltree — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 16:48:30 GMT

....must be a FL thing....

Re: Retirement & aging

StylishLady — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 16:51:47 GMT

As DH jokes, our week is 6 Saturdays and a Sunday. Sunday is dress up, church, and no cook day. As far as seasons go here, there are two. Season and off season. Season means snowbirds and extra traffic, crowded restaurants, beaches, and stores. Not complaining, just observing.

Re: Retirement & aging

tansy — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 16:57:51 GMT

Husband and I were trying to decide if it was Wednesday or Thursday when we were getting up this morning

I do keep a detailed calendar now to keep track of appointments and such.

Re: Retirement & aging

Jasmine19 — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 17:05:01 GMT

I don't think this issue is related to aging as much as it is to going out and doing things. I have become somewhat of a homebody since I retired so I don't have as many "markers" as I used to. A year ago I would think,"Monday is the day I have lunch with Mary, I went to Macy's last Friday, Thursday I'm going to a meeting", etc. If you don't go out much the days do kind of run into each other.

Re: Retirement & aging

Bri21 — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 17:12:52 GMT

Didn't the OP have a thread not that long ago about how busy she was every day - a different outing planned for each day of the week except Saturday?

Maybe it was somebody else?

Re: Retirement & aging

Buck-i-Nana — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 17:23:50 GMT

I think it's rather amusing myself. So many older folks (as demonstrated on this very forum) are disdainful of cellphones and smartphones, and yet, if they had one, they wouldn't "forget" what day of the week it is or miss and appointment!

Even before retiring, working a very demanding job that required all kinds of meetings and training sessions and deadlines I scheduled everything in my calendar with reminders set for 24 hours ahead and another alarm set to go off 5 minutes before I would need to leave to make the appointment on time.

I still get up at the same time every day. I still set my appointments in my calendar and that calendar automatically syncs between my laptop and my phone. I don't have as many appointments these days. Another great thing about my cellphone - when I get up in the morning and pick up my phone from my nightstand, it automatically wakes up and shows me the date, day and time.

Re: Retirement & aging

SaRina — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 17:25:54 GMT

@Havarti wrote:
I volunteer with seniors and have come to realize that even the most astute often lose track of what day it is. I have come to the conclusion that a working week is so structured that the activities specific to each day tell us subconsciously what day it is. What worker or parent doesn’t know the feel of Monday morning or Friday afternoon. During the week there are triggers such as garbage day, maybe a meeting at work that is held weekly on the same day at the same time, there are kid’s activities/practices, religious activities that occur on a set schedule, favorite TV shows that come on weekly, etc. All these consistently repetitive patterns in the course of each week set our inner clocks to set our sense of timing. When the kids are grown & gone and we are retired many (if not most) of those patterns disappear. By the time someone makes it into senior living environment even things like garbage day are irrelevant. Days become the same and they run into weeks that are the same. Big events are doctor’s appointments and the results of medical tests are like getting your SAT/ACT scores – news to be celebrated & shared because they may dictate your very future.

I watch staff at senior centers asking questions of the residents like “do you know what day it is?” and I think those young workers are in the cycle of life where the pattern of the days/weeks are clearly defined. They think if someone can’t answer those questions they must have memory issues. I don’t think that is necessarily true.

@This is so true @Havarti. In fact, I have been to psychoneurological evaluations with more than one family member and this is always the first question asked. I have said to the doctor that I don't think it's a fair question because anyone who is not on a strict daily schedule (like being on vacation or retired) will have difficulty answering.

Re: Retirement & aging

Zhills — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 18:03:38 GMT

I have a clock in my kitchen that has days of the week instead of numbers!

Re: Retirement & aging

Desertdi — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 18:17:36 GMT

I think it's because we live in a 24/7 world nowadays. Before I retired, my work week was Fri thru Mon......overnights. My "weekend" was Tues, Weds & Thurs............

Re: Retirement & aging

abbeythe 8th — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 18:27:39 GMT

Sometimes when I wake up in the morning I have to think to myself what day of the week it is. The good news is I always remember.

Since I retired I have never missed an appointment. All doctors' offices and my hair salon call 2 days in advance to remind you. I keep a pocket calendar with all my appointments.

Re: Retirement & aging

Moonchilde — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 18:34:34 GMT

I definitely forget the day and date sometimes. Thank heaven for my iPhone - which I also use as a watch, since I stopped needing to wear one ;-)

Re: Retirement & aging

hckynut — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 18:36:57 GMT

@151949

Exactly right about days of the week and dates after retirement. Every day to me is a new day, what ever name goes with it.

Living here in the Midwest, hard not to know what season is upon us. I have never had trouble with appointments or meetings. I have always been a stickler for knowing when I have scheduled something with others. And I am also one that believes in punctuality for everything I have on my docket.

Retired in 1991 and have never regretted my decision.

hckynut(john)

Re: Retirement & aging

QVCkitty1 — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 18:37:18 GMT

you know, unless I have an appointment, plans, or it is trash day, who cares what day it is.? It's not like you will go the whole day without knowing. My favorite quote from Downton Abbey is the dowager countess asking, " what is a weekend ? "

Re: Retirement & aging

jlkz — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 18:39:17 GMT

I've often said that if I skip one day's pills, I am in trouble:

I won't know what day of the week it is !!!!!! Lol