Author: HairWeavings Editorial Team

Originally posted at: Caroline Stanbury’s Grey Long Sleeve Jumpsuit

In the retirement years, you might find yourself on a metaphorical see-saw, displaying your style of “getting things done.” Possibly, you are bogged down on the ground, which is the side for people with an infinite “to do” list – or, you could be poised up in the air, perplexed about how to handle your seemingly limitless free time.

Whether you are incessantly running from volunteer slots to gym classes to babysitting dates, or you are hiding at home behind screens and taking too many naps, both lifestyles will ultimately need a reboot, because they are both too extreme.

Why Do We Need to Do Anything? We’re Retired!

Most of us need to “get things done.” We need to have food in the house, clean clothes, bills that are paid, and dogs that are walked. In the world of retirement, we only have a surplus of 40 hours per week. Somehow this presents a dilemma. Without some conscious structuring of time, many retirees become disoriented and depressed.

The day of the week is unknown and there is no tangible result for the passage of a large chunk of time. Too many hours are clocked on the sofa or laptop. Conversely, to some, retirement doesn’t feel like retirement at all, because those folks are operating at the same speed as the fully employed!

Two Helpful Solutions: One Macro and One Micro

A helpful way to begin thinking about this new bounty of time is through the symbiotic dichotomy of setting intentions and creating an actionable list of tasks.

A common beginning to any yoga class is the directive to “set an intention.” Usually, the teacher asks the students to think of what brought them to the mat today. What would they like to accomplish? This idea is also embraced by spiritual practitioners and life coaches. It is the macro part of time planning, the big idea component, the opposite to letting fate steer your ship.

The idea is to focus your attention on a personal desire. Some suggest putting these ideas on paper and doing weekly or monthly check-ins. Examples of intention setting include personal health goals, creative pursuits, making time for important relationships, spiritual goals, and social action activities.

I am constantly updating my intention setting through daily meditation, readings and reflection. Your way might include some scheduled walks, leisurely soaks, or listening to music.

Intention setting is always dynamic, hopefully, because one is always growing.

Once room has been made for these yearnings, some work can be done on the more banal items. There will probably be some crossover between intention setting and actionable items.

I’ve found in retirement that “things to do” fall into several categories:

• physical – exercise, moving things around, and organizing;
• paperwork – bills, elderly parent issues, taxes;
• social – friends, relatives, neighbors;
• house – repairs, maintenance, purchases;
• learning – news reading, podcasts, books;
• creativity – writing, cooking, music; and
• volunteering – commitments tosocial issues. Finding the right balance in these realms requires both intention and planning.

Doing the Work

Fortunately, or unfortunately, our days are populated by seemingly unimportant tasks. Being a person more likely to be on the lower end of the see-saw, I like to have a running list of things I could do. I don’t treat this list as a life coach’s suggested slip of paper with three things to be accomplished on a particular day.

No – this list serves as an anxiety mitigating artifact. I only turn to it when my regular weekly plans feel too thin. My actionable items reside on a weekly tear-off calendar on my kitchen counter. Along with time sensitive appointments, the reasonable number of tasks I’d like to accomplish are listed, worked on when convenient, or are carried over to the next week.

An Organizational Guru Weighs In

David Allen, creator of the book and philosophy entitled Getting Things Done, is a personal and organizational productivity guru, ranked by Forbes Magazine as one of the top executive coaches in the United States. His suggestions can be quite helpful for the scattered retiree.

He encourages the unorganized to capture their vision (on paper or electronically), clarify what is actionable, organize the ideas in a visual way, reflect regularly on their utility, and engage, or get them done! He moves ideas out of the mind into action. Allen covers both ideas of setting an intention and creating an actionable list through his five steps.

Take a Breath – You Are a Retiree!

It should be noted that a big difference between a retiree and someone in the prime of her career is age, or stage of life. It is not appropriate to be quite as focused on outcomes as someone decades younger. That is where the sweetness of retirement comes in. If you are honest with yourself, you really don’t want every minute to count. You want to feel the benefit of your good planning and years of diligence which brought you to this time by having a good measure of freedom and flexibility.

When approaching time management in the later stages of life, it is best not to be too rigorous. Flexibility, especially being able to pivot when an opportunity arises, is key. Discovering your own tempo, honoring the lark or owl in you, are the gifts of slowing down and olde age. There is no longer anyone watching or evaluating your retirement. After all, time is starting to feel more finite.

“Intentional Idleness” is a skill worth developing. By slowing it all down, it will be possible to live more deliberately. The moments in your life will begin to feel more valuable.

Here is a simple recipe for accomplishing your heart’s desires: set your intentions and create an actionable list – BUT DO LESS! Be present, go out into nature, focus on the people around you, and see what arises.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you had difficulties structuring your time in retirement? Have you identified goals for yourself for this stage of life? How do you accomplish the day-to-day tasks required of you?

Photo: @ciaramiller___

Originally posted at: Ciara Miller’s Multicolor Crochet Halter Top

Photo: @rhoc_emilysimpson

Originally posted at: Emily Simpson’s Black Denim Button Down Dress

San Francisco is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. This is no wonder with all of its unique and iconic landmarks. San Francisco is only 49 square miles, but it is absolutely filled with cultural and culinary diversity.

This city is home to hipsters, techies, immigrants, hippies, and yuppies. There is so much to see and do in this city, from that beautiful red bridge to the cable cars “reaching halfway to the stars” to Alcatraz and Chinatown. 

I don’t live in San Francisco, but I am a northern California native who has had the pleasure of visiting San Francisco on numerous occasions as a local recurrent tourist. As such, I have put together a 4-day fun filled itinerary for anyone wanting a San Francisco vacation. You may try to follow this as precisely as possible or use it as a general skeleton outline to build your own modified itinerary around.

Regardless, if you make an itinerary of your own or try to follow this one, I would definitely check with hours of operation of each proprietorship as they vary widely according to days and seasons. Also, there are many places/events that require advanced reservations. So, it really pays to plan ahead and adjust your schedule accordingly.

Get the Big Bus Tours Hop On Hop Off Ticket

I want to start by saying I am receiving no compensation for any of these recommendations. That being said, I do recommend getting a Big Bus Tours Hop On Hop Off 2 day explore + Alcatraz ticket. The advantage of the Hop on Hop Off bus is you can stop at all of the tourist attractions and stay as long as you want at each location. When you are ready to move on, just go to the Big Bus Tours Hop On Hop Off bus stop and there should be a bus coming by every 15 minutes from 10 AM to 6 PM. This also allows you to avoid the nightmare that is finding and paying outrageous prices for parking in San Francisco. 

Day 1: Stops #5, #11, #12 and #14

Start your day at 9 AM at the Buena Vista at 2765 Hyde Str. for a signature Irish coffee and breakfast. Then, trek right across the street for a photo op at the Cable Car turntable and a Welcome to Fisherman’s Wharf sign. After that, walk down Hyde Str. to Jefferson Str. and make a right for a 4-minute walk to the main Fisherman’s Wharf sign for another photo.

At Jefferson and Mason Str. there is Hop on Hop off stop with Big Bus Tours. Take the red route to Stop #5, Union Square South. From Stop #5 bus stop, it is a 4-minute walk to SFMOMA, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. There are more than 32,000 artworks by numerous artists including Frida Kahlo. And, there is a whole floor dedicated to photography. 

After SFMOMA, head over to Super Duper Burger on Mission Str. for a great burger and fries. Go back to Stop #5 to hop back on the bus to disembark at Stop #11, North Vista Point. Here you may get some great photos of the Golden Gate Bridge or you may not. It is really hit or miss if Karl will roll in and ruin your view (yes, the San Francisco fog has a name and its name is Karl). When you have had your fill of this view, hop back on the bus and get down at Stop #12 to explore the Palace of Fine Arts with its beautiful Greco-Roman architecture.

Board the bus again and next is Stop #14. From this stop it is a 12 minute walk to the cross street of Lombard and Hyde. Here you get a great view of the famous Lombard Str., one of the windiest streets in the world. There is a straight walking path alongside the curvy street for cars if you feel the urge to take a hike down and get some photos from the other end and trek back up.

From the cross street of Lombard and Hyde, take a cable car to Beach Str. (and you can forever say that you rode a cable car in San Francisco). Then you will be right back where you started, across from the Buena Vista restaurant. From there it is a 7-minute walk to Scoma’s Seafood for dinner. Wander through Fisherman’s Wharf and you can call it a day.

Day 2: Alcatraz Tour and Pier 39

Start this day with a hotel breakfast or grab and eat some grub at a convenience or grocery store and then it is time to see Alcatraz. Even though you bought the 2-day explore plus Alcatraz ticket, you must get confirmation of your Alcatraz tour, through the Alcatraz Cruises company only, at least 5 days in advance. When I say at least, I very much mean at least. I advise you to purchase the Big Bus tour hop on hop off tickets and confirm the Alcatraz booking as soon as possible as Alcatraz trips in particular can fill up fast, especially in the summer.

Cruises start at 8:45 AM to 3:50 PM April through early October and 8:40 AM to 1:35 PM late October through March. The weather is unpredictable, so wear layers. Alcatraz is an abandoned federal prison, and the tour is very interesting in terms of its history and infamous inmates.

Once you are done with your Alcatraz trip, make the 6-minute walk to Pier 39 and have lunch at the Fog Harbor Fish House. Then, stroll through Pier 39 with all of its shops and performers. There is also a sea lion viewing area, Hearts in San Francisco photo op and viewing, musical stairs, a carousel, Aquarium of the Bay, and Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze.

Your 2-day explore plus Alcatraz ticket includes admission to The Flyer or 7 D Experience, both of which are at Pier 39. The Flyer is northern California’s only flying theater where you can enjoy a film of San Francisco’s landmarks. The 7 D Experience is a thrill ride, full motion seat and giant 3D screen with a laser blaster game. 

Hop on the bus at Pier 39 and head to Stop #2, North Beach/Chinatown. Peruse through historic Chinatown shops and make your way to the Golden Gate Cookie Factory. From there, it is a 9-minute walk to Dragon’s Gate for a photo op and then an 11-minute walk to the Great Eastern Restaurant for a Dim Sum dinner.

Day 3: Golden Gate Park

Although the Big Bus had a stop at Golden Gate Park, I advise you don’t waste your Big Bus ticket on this stop because Golden Gate Park really takes a whole day to explore. It is 3 miles long and 20% bigger than New York’s Central Park. So, however you manage to get to Golden Gate Park, be prepared to stay a long time.

I suggest starting at the Crepevine Restaurant at 624 Irving St. for breakfast. Then it is off to the Botanical Gardens. After this, make your way to the DeYoung Museum with its expansive collection of art. Then go to Park Gyros for lunch. Following that, make your way to the California Academy of Science which is a world renowned institution. It contains the Steinhart aquarium with over 40,000 live animals, the Kimball Natural History Museum, the Morrison Planetarium and the Osher Rainforest.

Afterward, make your way to the Blue Heron Boathouse to rent a paddle boat or row boat to traverse the lake. Plan accordingly because the boats cannot be rented after 4 PM. Then go to enjoy the Japanese Tea Garden. After spending a very full day in Golden Gate Park maybe use an app ride to go to Top of the Mark for a dinner of bites and cocktails. This sky lounge and bar is on the 19th floor and has sweeping views of the city.

Day 4: Museums and Ghiradelli’s Square

This morning head back to Fisherman’s Wharf for breakfast at Boudin Bakery at 100 Jefferson Str. Then take the 1-minute walk for some silly fun at Ripley’s Believe It or Not. They open at 11 AM. You can follow this up with a romp through Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Then, make the 11-minute walk to Ghiradelli’s Square. Here you may get a light meal in the square followed by dessert or forgo the meal all together and completely indulge at the Ghiradelli Experience Ice Cream Shop.

Then, peruse the shops and take advantage of the photo ops throughout Ghiradelli’s square. There is the mermaid fountain, Ghirardelli sign, and the 19th century brick buildings that used to be factories that produced a variety of products. Next, use an app ride for an 11-minute drive to the Exploratorium. Not quite sure how to describe the Exploratorium. I would say it is a science as art and coolness, hands-on museum. You will observe and be immersed in interactive science fascination at a multitude of exhibits. After the Exploratorium, you can take a 5-minute app drive to Original Joe’s restaurant in Little Italy for a delicious and hearty Italian meal.

And that completes the fun 4-day vacation in San Francisco itinerary. It is a city with a wonderful and interesting history. There is so much to see, do and eat that even locals have trouble experiencing everything. So, use this whole itinerary, part of it or simply use it as inspiration. Just make sure you have lots of fun.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Is San Francisco a city where you would like to vacation? What things on this itinerary interest you? Have you gone to any of the places on the itinerary? If so, what did you think of these places?