“Now that you don’t work, what do you do all day?”
I get this question a lot. Freedom is a double edged sword. Yes, I get to do what I want to do. But it requires some effort to fill all of this newfound time I have gotten back in mini-retirement. It’s the easiest thing to just fill all of this time with Netflix binging or Thai massages. And for the few first months, after getting settled in Chiang Mai, there was plenty of time I put in on both Netflix and at various massage places across the city. But I didn’t get any closer to some of the goals I had, such as learning a new language or becoming healthier.
Here’s a glimpse of – one and a half years in mini retirement – what the typical day in the life of Lester T is:
5:45am – Wake up: I meditate for 15 min (a habit I picked up from a vipassana retreat). I journal (blogger). I listen to a short self-recorded affirmation. Only after taking medications/vitamins, brushing my teeth, etc. do I check my phone. Then I prepare a light breakfast at home: oats, peanut butter, cashews, and honey.
7:10am – Drop kids off at school: While the commute distance is 1 km (2/3 mi) from our house, traffic can get a bit crazy to the international school. Can be stressful with all the motorbikes zipping around me, while some cars don’t recognize lanes. But I’m used to it!
8:00am – Workout: I have a home gym with adjustable dumbbells and a bench. Typical work out would take 45 min and have bench press, incline bench press, shoulder press, skull crushers, and bicep curls. Protein shake. Shower. Change.
9:00am – Blog: My focus time, because my best work is in the morning. Recently I have been blogging, but could otherwise be doing various critical-thinking-heavy activities such as rebalancing my portfolio, doing taxes, etc. If the mae-bahn (housekeeper) is cleaning the house, I go to a nearby cafe, order myself one matcha latte (my sole caffeine intake for the day), plug in my AirPod Pros, and get to work.
11:30am: Lunch: I typically eat an early lunch. Lots of great vegan options around me. Typical meal would be: Chili Basil Tofu (90 THB), Stir Fry Chinese Kale with Plant based meat (100THB), and some green juice (70 THB). A tasty vegan meal for less than $8. If there’s a friend in town, we could catch up over lunch.
12:30pm – Admin: I take care of what I call “admin” work for low-level-thinking that doesn’t require much concentration. This could be, for example, planning upcoming travel, organizing/editing photos, or tweaking some features of my blog. Given my likely sleepiness (from lunch), I prefer to be at a cafe with headphones on, which helps me power through. What I found doesn’t work: being at my work desk right next to my bed at home!
2:30pm – Pick up kids: Still some craziness, but noticeably less traffic than the morning. If the kids have some afterschool activity, then I would likely continue my admin work or might take an afternoon walk in a nearby park with plenty of shade. If kids don’t have after school activity, then we head home, I make them a snack, or we walk to a nearby cafe / boba shop.
4:00pm – Hang out / Learn Thai: The best time for me to just relax and put down my work. I call a friend and catch up. Or if they’re busy, I record and leave a voice note. I use Anki App to practice my Thai, or I might ask a Thai friend if they can double check whether my phrases are actually what Thai people say (and not overly formal, which is the case for some Google translations).
5:45pm – Dinner: Time to make dinner. I usually cook at home. Typical meal would be a plate of three to four different vegan foods, served almost bibimbap style. An example plate: stir fry greens, air-fried tofu and/or some beans, side salad with sesame dressing, and wildberry rice. The kids, admittedly, are not vegan – so typical meal for them would be ordered from Grab. If eating in, then some pasta or rice with fried egg.
7:00pm – Evening event: Throughout the week, there are various events that are held in town. On Tuesday, I may be at a language exchange to learn a bit more Thai or just make a friend. On Wednesday, there’s Trivia Night at a local bar, which I enjoy. On Thursday, there’s game board night at a local game cafe. If I decide to stay in that night, then I’m usually taking a long after-dinner walk with my daughter, catching up on her day, and hanging out with the stray cats that are in our ‘moo bahn’ (neighborhood / gated community).
8:30pm – Shower: Winding down. After shower, I change into gym clothes to sleep in – reducing additional step for my workouts in the morning.
9:00pm – +/- Journal: Instead of journaling about my day, I do a quick, simple exercise where I write down what I enjoyed about my day (the “+” column) and then what I didn’t (the “-“ column). Every month I look back on this list, identify trends, and try to increase my time spent doing things I enjoy and less time doing things I don’t. Simple yet powerful.
Reading then Sleep: I am a pretty avid reader. I just finished reading Sapiens (Harari) and before that No Bad Parts (Schwartz). It’s usually non-fiction but I might include a novel. After a chapter or two, I get pretty sleepy, turn off the lamp light, and catch some much-needed sleep.
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Going through my typical day in Chiang Mai, there are a couple of themes I want to highlight:
- I’m a creature of habit: I’m 42 and my daily habits reflect tiny choices I made about what’s most important in my life – small decisions I make every day to protect what I hold most dear. Meditating calms my mind, cause I tend to worry and over-think / over-analyze. Working out strengthens my muscles, while my vegan meals nourishes my body and keeps my body fat level in check. Doing my +/- exercise in the evening allows me to reflect on my day and continuously improve what I choose to let into my life (and what I keep out). Reading keeps me a life-long learner, thirsty to know more. And I believe all of these habits are a form of self-love and care. I take care of myself because I love myself
- Best things in life don’t cost much: I am very grateful for a warm house, a comfortable bed, a safe vehicle to take my kids to school in, healthy meals to eat, a pair of adjustable dumbbells that I can use at my convenience. These things don’t really cost much. I’m a self-proclaimed minimalist – and I don’t spend that much time being a consumer / buying things. If I am doing some online shopping, it’s really to plan out my next trip – and likely to get airfare or a hotel room at a cheaper rate. And the best thing: I really do believe that the best things in life are free. Time catching up about my daughter’s day during an evening walk. Laughing during a phone call with a friend I haven’t spoken with for a few weeks. Even petting one of the friendly stray cats in our neighborhood. These things warm my heart and keep me grounded in what’s most important in my life.
- I’m on my way to my personal vision: Part of what I listen to every morning (self-recorded) is a vision of my future. I imagine myself, at peace, surrounded by people I love and who love me, an accomplished business owner and a positive contributor to my community. And I end this recording with the following sentences: “ This is your vision, Lester, and each day, take steps on this path with joy and faith. The journey is just as important as the destination. Embrace the beauty and spontaneity of life as you walk this path – for angels will guide you every step of the way.” I wouldn’t call myself a very spiritual person, but I would say that by listening to this affirmation, my soul is touched. It’s an affirmation, a renewal of faith, that I’m on the right path in my life. And that I’m building towards my vision of peace, love, and abundance. But it’s also a reminder to enjoy each day, be open to what beauty or spontaneity each day may unfold for me. I don’t know about you – but I can say that the happiest moments of my life were unplanned. They simply happened. And I was only able to experience those moments because I was relaxed, open, and allowed myself to be present.
Thank you for taking the time to read about my typical day and some reflections of how I have shaped my habits and priorities. Each day is truly a gift. I wish you joy in opening this gift – and can’t wait to hear about what you find waiting for you inside.
~Lester T