Post FIREs, how do you deal with overscheduling?

[StacheyStache]

So I'm nowhere near FIRE-ready, but I had a little taste of freedom the last couple of weeks (took the month of August off in between old job and upcoming new job).  It's been amazing, but I feel like my only regret is I tried to cram too much in!  This month I figured I'd have so much free time I could get *everything* done, so I scheduled ALL THE THINGS.   For the first two weeks I crammed in an annual doctor's appointment, dentist appointment, eye appointment x 2 (had to order contacts and come back to do a fitting), car appointment x 2 (had to order a part and come back to install it), trip to the bank, hair cut, moved apartments etc.

Then in the third week I agreed to drive back to my hometown a few hours away to petsit/housesit for my family while they were on a trip and see my hometown friends nearby.  I don't make this trip often since it's a fair distance away and have a lot of friends from school that I still keep in touch with that live in the area.  I...underestimated how much time my friends would want from me (yeah yeah not a bad problem to have I know) and for several days I had breakfast lunch and dinner with a different set of friends (all offers at more Mustachian alternatives like swimming at the neighborhood pool, playing tennis or cooking them a meal were declined).  Today I went over to a friend's house around noon and stayed for longer than I'd planned and had to rush home to get ready to go see another friend at 4:00.  Noon friends told me I should come back to see them on Monday after they get off work. 

I go back to work soon and I honestly kind of regret not having more slug days where I don't get out of my PJs.  I find myself trying to get out of the friend time on Monday...no real excuse because they know I have the time off.  This got me curious, did all you post-FIREs over commit yourselves at first?  Still struggling with that?  Do you find people wanting a lot of time out of you when they know you have the time "free?"

[PtboEliz]

Hey SS, sounds like an awfully busy taste of freedom you've had :)

I think you'll find that the appointments aren't a problem once you FIRE - seems like you had everything backed up and wanted to cram in but that won't be happening once you have a more open schedule.

To an extent also seems like you were backed up with friend visits so not sure you'll find that a big problem either. I've read some comments here that post-FIRE people can have trouble spending time with friends because the friends have jammed schedules - so you may find that you have the opposite issue. Your recent social schedule sounds exhausting though...

I have definitely experienced that people, especially family, assume I'm available to do things with them, help, etc. I love seeing them regularly and am happy to do my part but I've gotten better at protecting my time. I do some part-time consulting work so I tend to play that up, "oh I'm so busy busy busy, just like you!", so that I don't give any impression that I'm looking for someone to fill my time. I'm an introvert though, so always glad to err on the side of scheduling less. I really liked MMM's recent post, making space for badassity where he wrote about not over-scheduling. I'm happiest when I manage things this way as well.

Maybe you could just tell your friends re: Monday that you've loved spending time with them and you're gonna take some quiet down time on Monday..  You may be surprised how easy it is (and maybe your friends will be relieved too?). Good luck :)

[arebelspy]

When you have all the time, it's easier to spread out all the things.

You can go at your own desired pace when you have no obligations.

[Mr. Green]

When you have all the time, it's easier to spread out all the things.

You can go at your own desired pace when you have no obligations.

+1.

I think your truncated time table makes the problem looks worse than it is. If you're free you can take case of things as they come up, instead of waiting for a free day or week where you try to knock it all out at once.

[Mr.Tako]

Yeah, we don't have any problem with over scheduling.  There's no timetable we have to fit everything into. 

Instead, we just keep an even pace to life -- a slow and steady rhythm.  Usually that means about 1 thing on the calendar per day.  If we put more than one big item on the calendar we end up feeling stressed and rushed.

Some people like that stressed/rushed feeling or they end up being bored with life.  To each their own.

For me, less stress means a better life.

[Ozstache]

As with any over scheduling problem, FIREd or not, you need to prioritise then cut out the fluff.

[vern]

Today, went hiking in the Cascades.

Tuesday, salmon fishing.

Wednesday, Chess, bike ride.

Thursday, salmon fishing.

Friday, reading some Goethe followed by an urban hike.

Saturday, smoking a few steaks and bike riding, movie night at home.

Sunday, Chess, crossword puzzle (in ink of course!), hit the Farmer's market, bike ride.

That's about the extent of my scheduling. You'll figure it out!

[MoonLiteNite]

Not to hijack post...

But i actually had a similar thing happen to me. I had 3 weeks off that just ended on sunday. I took 2 weeks off work, but due to schedule changes and all it ended up being 3 weeks.
I was able to get so much done, and at the same time couldn't get half of it done.

That little sweet taste of what could be mine in 7-12 years.....


But logically once it becomes the norm everything will work itself out, and overall everything will be a nice even pace. Most likely you will do what normal working people do, every monday you will go see this friend, every tuesday you will do a certain bike ride, every other friday you will go visit some friends in another city, etc....