#schoolbell

Among the myriad of things that can be intimidating about teacher retirement is dealing with that internal clock

Adjusting to 30 years worth of programming takes much effort and new devotions to which one must commit.

I am anxious... a lot ...it hits me at strange times. There’s a ticking going on inside of me... and the alarms go off at 5:30 am, 11:20, 2:00 and 3:40... and various other time throughout the day. Today the morning is beautiful and thankfully a bit cooler for mid August, I’m drinking my coffee and sharing my thoughts; but in my mind and in my stomach something doesn’t quite feel ... right. During the day, I get bouts of guilt for no reason. I’m excited about my retirement pursuits, but the goal of being happy on any particular day is in my figurative hand in the form of a square peg ... that somehow must fit into a round hole.

I’ve been amazed at the Circadian rhythm over the last few years of reading. The National Institutionalization of General Medical Studies defines:

Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a daily cycle. They respond primarily to light and darkness in an organism's environment. Sleeping at night and being awake during the day is an example of a light-related circadian rhythm.

It’s our biological programming that guides us through our days; all animals have it. Deer go on feeding patterns, birds sing in the morning, we open refrigerator doors at midnight. This is the natural way it keeps us safe and healthy.

Then there’s that other clock: the employment, programmed clock. It’s often arbitrary depending on your career but generally it takes the form of “GET THE HELL UP,” “ITS LUNCHTIME,” “WHY ARENT YOU BUSY?”.... and the ubiquitous, “ITS FIVE O’CLOCK SOME WHERE!” ...generally followed by the consumption of adult beverages that help put the 40 hour work week in perspective. It is not altogether, natural in its programming; it can introduce stress in your day; it can be a source of frustration... but it’s there for 20 to 30 to 35 years. (If you are exceeding the 35 year mark... please consult a doctor or a local barkeep) So much of our lives are given over to this industrialized schedule that it can supersede our search for peace of mind.

I’m not implying that it is all bad, in the contrary, this work portion of our lives can give purpose in a modern life that has grown beyond simple survival actions. Regardless, it’s there and it can be tough to turn it and and put it in the drawer. The primary action to get around this preprogrammed guilt that arises when you retire are some simple mantras that are truths that we must accept:

1. We earned this

2. Other people beside employers have a better claim to our time (spouses, kids, grandkids, dogs)

3. You did what you were called to do...time for yourselves is also a calling

4. Your job is not the totality of what you are ...rediscover you

5. We were intended to be instinctive creatures ... not programmed automotans

Remember being a kid, what got you really going... being outdoors, drawing, riding your bike, storytelling? You didn’t set clocks then or read the directions then, throw caution to the wind...rediscover you. Structure your day but don’t. Know what you want to do, but avoid doing it in a regimented way. Surprise yourself and surprise those around... that simple spontaneous joy will go a long way in freeing yourself from the rigid structure you had going for decades ... ugh ... did I just really say decades? For the retiring educator, it’s especially tough as our days were strictly guided by a bell schedule. No... more ... bells ...

It’s precarious... some can’t make a healthy transition (teacher in transition?)...the change is too much, the separation from responsibility is too much of a stressor. I can’t say with complete honesty if I’ll be able to become a successful teacher in transition, but I’m going to give it a try.

Do you find these suggestions helpful? Do you have your own pointers and advice you’d like to share? Please do ... we are in this together.

Enjoy....