“What Day Is It?” Phenomena

“What day is it?” is a common question during the space between Christmas and New Year’s. Our routines are completely altered and most of those normal signposts of the week disappear in the busyness of getting together with family and friends. This week, when I was walking the dog and suddenly saw the garbage bins lining the street, it knocked me back into the reality that it was Thursday tomorrow. Being out of step with the march of a regular week, is a familiar feeling after retiring. At first, I consistently had that “What day is it?” reaction.

Routine: A Weekly Rhythm

When I retired, it was a disconcerting feeling to lose all of my familiar signals that marked the passage of time in the week. Sunday nights were no longer a scramble to organize lesson plans and marking for the week ahead. There was no more bracing myself for what lay ahead. The school schedule ran on a 5 Day Cycle which meant that certain days signalled specific events. A day with double prep time was always a highlight to be noted in the schedule. Wednesdays were the longest days of the week: still far away from the weekend relief and drained from the days of work. Thursday, or “Friday Eve,” was the beginning of the light at the end of the tunnel. Friday was a sigh of relief that the weekend was upon us. Saturday signalled chores and errands, and Sunday was fun and prep for the next week. And, so went life for decades! Maybe your routine felt (feels) somewhat the same as this?  

The Role Of Structure

At the time, I didn’t know that the lost in time feeling between Christmas and New Year’s was a small taste of what retirement can feel like at first. These days I’ve found ways to bring that structure back into my life. The structure brings back a rhythm to the week that diminishes the “what day is it?” phenomena. 

Changes To Consider In Retirement

Three things that work for me:

1. Get up at a similar time every day. Sleeping-in can seem like a great luxury once you retire.  Doing it once in a while was ok, but I found that when I did it regularly I felt like I’d wasted the day.
2. Establish a morning routine. Whether that’s exercise, a shower and a coffee, or tea, journalling and meditation, find a routine that is sustainable and that “feeds” you.
3. Set a basic chore schedule. One of the difficulties of not having a regular work routine is having all the time in the world to do things. There is nothing to force you to have all your clothes laundered ready for the work week. Creating a schedule for when you will do your basic chores/activities (cleaning, laundry, gardening, exercise, grocery shopping) prevents you from forgetting to do them and signals what day it is. For example, Saturday is cleaning and Monday is laundry. Tip: pop reminders on your phone until the new schedule is established. 

It took a while to get the routine that suited me. It continues to be adjusted as new activities pop up, but the basic schedule keeps me grounded and happy.

What ways have you dealt with that “What day is it?” phenomena? Comment below.

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