| Have you already retired, or is retirement | | | | everything on Saturday or in the evenings. Now, I |
| approaching quickly? How do you feel about that? If | | | | can spread it out through the week. |
| you're like many people in our generation, you | | | | 3. I will have more time to plan nutritious menus and |
| probably have a variety of mixed emotions. Maybe | | | | prepare home-cooked meals. We won't be throwing |
| you are leaving a job you dislike, and retirement will | | | | together quick foods or grabbing fast food as often. |
| be a relief. The pressure has gotten to be too much. | | | | 4. I will have more time to plan my grocery shopping |
| Or maybe you truly enjoy your job, but have | | | | so that I'm not spending so much on convenience |
| decided that retiring is the right thing to do. | | | | meals. |
| My situation is the second one. I have taught | | | | 5. I'll have more family time. I'll be there for my |
| elementary school for over thirty years. It was a | | | | husband, my young-adult children, and my elderly |
| difficult decision for me to make, but I know in my | | | | mother. They need me as much now as ever. |
| heart that I've made the correct one. Yet that | | | | 6. Work-related stress will be gone. Deadlines, test |
| doesn't mean that I'll walk out the door this June | | | | scores, meetings, and required training will no longer |
| without a qualm. | | | | be a source of pressure. |
| So I decided to make a list of benefits of being | | | | 7. I'll have time for the things I want to do. I won't |
| retired. I hope that some of these will be helpful to | | | | feel guilty for taking time to read novels or pursue a |
| you. | | | | hobby that I've put on the back burner. |
| 1. I can be a full-time homemaker. I've always felt | | | | Maybe you don't need these reminders. Maybe you |
| pulled between my home and my job. Now, I don't | | | | can't wait to get away from your job. But if you are |
| have to choose. | | | | having difficulty accepting this major life change, I |
| 2. I can keep my housework on a routine schedule. | | | | hope these tips can help. |
| When I work outside the home, I'm trying to do | | | | |