The real national pastime is not baseball. If you go from how Americans actually spend their holiday time, it’s anything slow: watching TV.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Use of American Time SurveyThe American spends about three hours of television watching a day, making it the most popular holiday activity in the country. Between retired people, this number exceeds four hours a day.
“Unfortunately, many people think that they are going to separate in retirement, but they are not. In fact, it’s two times you are two times,” says Robert LauraFounder of Retirement Coach Association.
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This is because even after leaving work, many retired people fall into familiar routine, assuring that they will have longer time later. It is a common psychological prejudice known Future time dull,
But free time in retirement is not unlimited. Clearly see how retired people spend their time, and it connects for about 1,000 hours of meaningful, discretionary time.
When it comes Creation of a complete retirementResearch and experts say how you spend your time, it can be as important as you spend your money. And to reach four million Americans retirement age Every year, the clock is already standing.
What is the “1,000 hour rule” in retirement?
The American Time Use Survey (ATUS) tracks how Americans spend their hours each day. This indicates that the average adult enjoys a holiday of about five hours per day, or about 1,800 hours a year.
But not all high quality of that time. A close view shows that the largest part is spent on passive activities such as watching TV, scrolling online and casual socialization. When you absorb leisure time by low-ex-habits, really discretionary, meaningful time-the way you can spend deliberately hobbies, passion, travel, travel, travel, travel, travel. self service Or learning new skills – about 1,000 hours in a year shrinks.
And this is just an estimate. Issues of unexpected obligations, care or health can also remove it. This is why the “1,000 -hour rule” provides a more realistic framework: it is the amount of time, can expect retired people to control and use with purpose each year.
Of course, that time can be more valuable than money. As authors of one Academic letter Keep it, “There is a valuable object in the time later life, which makes even more by challenging the conditions after retirement.”
When free time becomes a challenge
Many people reduce the hidden damage that come with leaving work.
“You lose more than gaining profit in retirement,” says Laura.
While retired people get time, they can also lose routine, structure, Social relationsA sense of mental stimulation and purpose. As Laura notes, “Golfing, fishing or grandchildren do not replace all those things.” In fact, his Research Shows that 76% of retired people have seen someone struggling with infection, and 51% say it takes more than a year to adjust.
This helps to explain why millions of retired people return to work after going away. As Tea. Rowe PriceAbout half (48%) retired people say they are required for financial reasons, while a uniform share (45%) chose to work for social and emotional benefits.
Psychologists have also found that too much unarmed empty time can actually be reduced well. A study published by American Psychological Association Told that when the goodness grows with more free time, it keeps about two hours per day and when people have more than five discretionary hours per day, the decline begins.
However, other retired people face the opposite problem, says Laura. “Some retired people say they are more busy than ever, but tasks are meaningless. Over time, it makes them feel used instead of helpful.”
Awareness is the first step. Next is making a plan for how you will spend your time in retirement, as if you have planned for your finance.
Making most of your 1,000 hours
Financial experts agree that a retirement plan works best when it is made around the number only.
“When you stop working, you not only lose a salary, but also lose an underlying schedule. That structure has to be replaced with some meaningful,” says the founder of Melissa Car, CFP® and My retirement network,
She works to churn with customers how they want to spend their days. “Once they map an ideal week or month, we can align the financial plan around it. When the time, money and purpose are in the sink, when retirement is actually complete.”
Research returns it. A 2022 study published in Acta psychologist It was found that retired people who continue to prepare for life after work leisure activitiesHigh welfare and lower levels of stress.
All activities do not give equal benefits. A 2020 study identifies three groups – Physical, intellectual and social activities – those who are connected Better mental and physical health Later results in life. Being active, learning new skills and maintaining strong social connections can help retired people to flourish beyond just filling time.
As you use your time as John Valka, CFP® and Principal, you need to be intentional with it Welka wealth managementWhich advises customers to dream five to 10 years ago and budget for experiences like travel. “If they have different money, they are more likely to travel and do not feel guilty about spending it.
Laura also recommends writing what the correct retirement schedule looks. “It helps people feel how much time they need to fill – and how much can start feeling retirement quickly Groundhog Day The landscape if they do not make plans. ,
This is a suitable reference. In the 1993 film, the character of Bill Murray asks famously: “If you were stuck in one place and was exactly what you did every day and nothing you did, what will you do?”
Perhaps there is a desire to avoid giving relief to the same life again and again that two-thirds (66%) of today’s retired people say they say Likes to try new things during your holiday time Vs the things that they have already experienced.
Worker Most often associate retirement With the word “freedom”. How do you spend those 1,000 hours, eventually above you. If a film marathon on TV is the activity of your choice, you can catch Rings owner To broadcast during holidays. And maybe, amidst adventure, you will hear the intelligent reminder of Wizard Gandalaf:
“We have to decide what we have to do with the time that we have been given.”
