How to Create Structure in Retirement (And Find Meaning Again). One of the biggest challenges in retired life is creating structure now that the framework of a worklife has gone.
One of the hidden challenges of retirement is not lack of time but how to shape that time and how to use it.
In two previous blogs we discussed decision making in retirement:
https://www.64plus.com.au/blog/2026/3/4/making-decisions-about-your-retirement
Then we added a second set of reflections on the topic in:
In the second article we discussed:
· Structure
· Deadlines
· Choice
Now let’s go further. Retirement offers a wonderful gift: the gift of time, perhaps 10,000 days! Let’s unpack the trio above, in the context of time:
· Structure carries with it a lovely idea called “pace”. In retirement you set the pace. How busy do you want to be? I coined the acronym BINAM = Busy Is Not Always Meaningful, which will guide you to meaningful activities that generate the pace you desire.
· Deadlines are good in retirement (not too many) as they can set a mini-framework for a day or a week and allow you the pleasure of achieving desirable output (maybe learning a new tune on your ukelele)
· You feel like you are the master of your choices. Isn’t that great?
As I said in the previous article, finding your meaning and purpose is not simple, but there is help.
If these ideas resonate you may want to explore them in a conversation:
https://www.64plus.com.au/contact
Finally, you may find this older blog on motivation useful:
https://www.64plus.com.au/blog/2024/12/20/hki6r0l3h1xqlufzba9dqjs4ihfxwu
This blog is part of a series on decision making in retirement.
Dr Jon Glass Retirement Specialist and Coach.