Do you still set goals? (physically, community, retired, years)

[Tuck's Dad]

Since retiring, I haven't been nearly as goal oriented as I was while working. I have enjoyed not "driving" myself, but sort of pleasantly drifting through the year. Unfortunately, I am also not doing some of the things I looked forward to, and hoped to do during retirement, and am concerned if I don't set some goals, I just won't "get around to" doing a lot of things I want to do, before I truly can't physically do them.

This year, I think I am going back to goal setting, however the goals will be quite different than when I was working. I have a daughter and a son who have both asked I write some stories from my youth for their children. I have two motorcycle trips I have wanted to take for years, and in four years of retirement, still have not taken them. Books that remain unread while the TV remains on. Those type of things are not getting done because I am not planning for and doing them - a comfortable routine has replaced "getting things done!"

Anybody else sort of "drifting" in retirement? Are you getting done those things you wanted to do in retirement, and if so are you goal setting, or how are you following through?

I am not complaining about being retired, it is quite pleasant, but I feel I am wasting a lifetime's opportunity by not being proactive about doing things I never had time for before I retired.

[jim9251]

Do you still set goals?

Nope, my time is mine. I don't feel like I am required to be productive for the collective.

[TMSRetired]

Yes, I set goals. Some are tangible while others are intangible. Some are short term (within a year) and others long term with short term goal posts. I also don't try to have too many goals so I can focus on them yet be able to have days where I let the wind take me to wherever without feeling guilty.

I've been lucky and have resisted the urge to turn on the TV. I know too many that have done that and 1 hour turns into 2 hours turns into 3 hours and so on.

[brightdoglover]

I never set goals while working except to get into work and slog on.

Never was a type A personality. I guess it's a goal to work on health and vigor (ongoing) and get to some of the more outdoor activities in this beautiful area. I guess I don't think of that as goals but as a good use of time and energy. I did most of the things I wanted to while working and whatever its flaws, my working was productive in general (night RN in a big psychiatric hospital). I still want to be a plus in my community but not for money. No goals, no. Maybe a concept by which to proceed.

[NewbieHere]

Yes, I still have, I don’t see why not. Clean up my garage is one, it has been 4 years now, but last boxed 15 years ago. It’s down to 3/8 of the way. My husband and I are more eager to get down to zero so he can park his sport car, I mean future sport car.
I set financial goals every year and gardening goal. Weight goal. But they are loosely set goals, not hard and fast.

[newcomputer]

I have small goals..... waking up in the morning LOL that's a joke


but really, a five year plan for the yard which requires me to get things planted NOW.


I've already dealt with a large brush pile on the back of my property and been to the nursery to pick out trees. Next step is to tell them to come plant them. I will do that SOON.


I finally made my will and final arrangements after talking about it for at least 10 years.


Most things have to do with the house I bought about 5 years after I retired. Before that, I was sort of drifting. I found retirement to be safe and sometimes boring.... and yes, I was watching too much tv. I needed the rest but I wouldn't want to spend the remainder of my life that way.


I don't hold myself to a strict routine but I am aware that I no longer have all the time in the world.


Do write for your children. My mother did this and it means a lot to me and my kids. I took a computer class and got online for the first time when I retired. I got interested in geneology and matched my mother's manuscript to people and places. One of my boys was able to find a house she had lived in as a child on a trip west.

[TwoByFour]

I set goals, mostly to avoid just frittering away my time. I know from experience I feel better if I am accomplishing things, so I keep a short list of things to get done in the short term and long term. A lot of it is around traveling and places I want to see.

[Unicorn hunter]

Most of my goals seem to revolve around this house I bought six months ago....need to rework the laundry room to include a 1/2 bath, want to rebuild the garage that was torn down, and put in an above ground pool....these things should keep me busy for a couple of years! Once my 16-year-old cat passes away, plan to do more traveling, before I get too old! More short-term goals are the usual around getting into a regular exercising routine, losing weight, etc. I think I actually have more goals now than when working...I never had the time or energy for much beyond dealing with working and commuting.

[pikabike]

Yes, I still set some goals. Unlike during earlier phases of my life, though, they are entirely of MY choosing, and I give them much more flexibility of schedule. These goals tend to be invisible to others who look solely for “metrics” rather than longterm qualities such as depth of knowledge.

Of course, there are numerous very small mundane goals, things that I don’t think twice about.

[BellaDL]

Originally Posted by NewbieHere

Clean up my garbage is one, it has been 4 years now, but last boxed 15 years ago. It’s down to 3/8 of the way

I know you meant garage and not garbage but my nose got wrinkled when I first read the sentence ;-)

Back to the OP question. I don't set goals but do have my mental list of tasks and set my objectives.

It's much easier to get things done when you break your 'goals' or projects into small tasks and set your objectives/timeline, just one step at a time.