Time is Precious. How Do You Choose to Spend It?

Many of us who are retired or semi-retired have extra time on our hands. And if life is serene and secure—you can pay the bills, spend time with family, and are relatively healthy, this is the time, months, weeks, days and hours, to do what you want to do…and when.  

This time is a judgment-free zone. The only other person we might be beholden to is a partner/spouse who doesn’t object to our time away or our preoccupation. And perhaps, they’ll opt to join in if it’s a pastime that can handle a pair. 

You may have developed a new interest before retirement, but now you can explore it in depth. It can become a form of work, usually without a paycheck, time clock, or boss watching over your shoulder. You call the shots. The point is that how we spend our time as we age, especially when we’re retired, becomes a way to stay mentally and physically involved and engaged with other people. 

There are countless ways to enjoy this valuable time. We know people who play golf six days a week and would play seven if they could find a course open. We know those who are equally passionate about pickleball, biking, yoga, and Pilates. Or some folks watch the latest newly released movies in theaters, series on TV or rewatch favorites dozens of times. 

Some friends and acquaintances are in book clubs and juggle two or three books at a time and do research to participate with others, even taking charge of lunches, teas and dinners that reflect the content or period of the books. We see gorgeous, thriving gardens of those who have honed their gardening chops and are experts at knowing which plants to use in what kinds of soil and climates, how to arrange them and how to keep them alive despite hungry deer and other animals sharing their ‘hood. 

Then there are card players who have mastered Canasta, Mah Jong, and bridge, and get together at least weekly, and may even compete in tournaments. There are those with wunderlust who have travel lists they tick off that may include visiting all seven continents, every state in the nation, all the national parks in our country, the 10 best beaches,  the major league baseball stadiums, all three tennis competitions or all the places they hear others traveling to or which get touted on TV or in glossy magazines—think Thailand and Italy from White Locus or Portugal, Japan, Scandinavia, South Africa, Turkey, Holland. Egypt, Easter Island. 

Let’s not forget those who are devoted grandparents and have gone back to regular, weekly babysitting, carpooling and more so their offspring can more easily handle demanding careers. There are the bakers who are eager to try every new dessert cookbook and recipe and sometimes with a new angle—gluten-, sugar-. nut- or lactose-free in the same way that Julie Powell tried all of Julia Child’s recipes from Mastering the Art of French Cooking and documented them in a journal. How about photographers, artists and craftspeople who use their creative urge to explore their talent through a lens, paintbrush, potter’s wheel, or knitting needles. 

And isn’t everyone you know working on a novel, writing a blog or newsletter on Substack or a screenplay or at least contemplating doing so? Of course, there are legions of volunteers who spend their time helping others in innumerable ways (see blog that ran last week on Volunteering, Sept. 26, 2025). At the same time, some we know are thrilled to have mostly empty calendars where they thrive on rising late, reading a newspaper or book with their favorite cup of coffee or tea, going for a walk, catching up with friends by telephone, email or text and letting each day unfold and offer a surprise. They may rinse and repeat the same routine the next day. We say good for them if that’s a schedule they relish. 

The key we find that helps us decide what we’re doing or planning to do with our time so it’s pleasurable is that we’re the CEO of our own lives. We don’t need approval from a parent, friend, or grown child, even if the choice or amount of time we spend may seem excessive or obsessive to them. We also don’t need to excel except for ourselves, though, yes, some of us have inner critics who push ourselves to walk those extra steps, finish crossword puzzles in record time or hit a hole-in-one at a new, challenging golf course. 

Sadly, time is not a commodity we can get back. It’s a dwindling resource we now view as a luxury that our younger selves often didn’t have access to or appreciate. We take the position of applauding anyone lucky enough to find an interest or interests to fill their time. If not, we say, don’t stress. You’ve made a different decision, but it’s yours to make.