How I Embrace a Soft Life now that I’m Retired

Let’s chat about how I embrace a soft life now that I’m retired. Since retiring, I have traded in the busyness of work life for a soft life.

Retired life is an opportunity to slow down and focus on peace and joy. I no longer try to do all the things. Instead, I actively seek a slower pace and time to enjoy simple moments.

After all, I’m retired! Life doesn’t need to be hard.

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What is a Soft Life?

A soft life is one in which you focus on the values of peace and joy. You intentionally choose to relish simple moments.

And if you truly embrace a soft life, then you seek to set aside feelings associated with the need to rush around and accomplish task after task.

If you enjoy social media, then you have most likely seen the term soft life. It is typically paired with relaxing scenes of people enjoying the simple things in life.

Scenes of what appears to be a slower lifestyle, a quiet lifestyle.

Scenes that encourage you to relax and experience peace and joy.

How I Embrace a Soft Life Now that I’m Retired

Now that I’m retired, I intentionally seek a soft life. One filled with peace and joy, simple quiet moments.

Rather than tackling a massive to do list filled with tasks decided by someone else (aka a former boss and duties associated with my role at the university), I embrace a soft life.

In today’s post I’m sharing ways that I seek peace and joy on a daily basis at home.

1. Waking up Naturally is so Peaceful

Let’s start with sleep.

No alarm clocks needed during retirement.

Nothing brings me more peace than a night of rest in a cool comfortable bed wearing my favorite pajamas AND knowing that I can wake up naturally.

Now that I’m retired, the only time I set an alarm to wake me up is if I have an early flight to catch. And, when possible, I schedule mid-morning flights so that I can head out for vacation well-rested.

2. Coffee Time, A Retirement Perk

I get so much joy from morning coffee time now that I’m retired.

No longer do I rush out the door with coffee in hand…unless, of course, I’m heading to the garden to see what’s blooming.

Instead, I enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee in front of the fireplace with a cozy blanket. I may scroll a bit on my phone, chat with Bill, read a book, or give our sweet pup a few belly scratches.

Sometimes coffee time last about an hour. Other mornings, coffee time lingers well beyond an hour and includes breakfast, and a second cup of coffee.

3. The Joy of Pets, a Soft Life Companion

I didn’t know I needed a dog until Midge showed up in my garden last summer. She fits in perfectly with our family. And she brings me incredible joy!

In July 2023, I was in my garden cutting a few flowers for a bouquet and the sweetest dog appeared.

We searched and searched for her owners. But without a collar or chip and no one stepping forward in response to our ads, we decided that our home would now be her home.

We love our daily walks together and rides on Pippi (our utility vehicle). She also loves to follow Bill around when he is on the tractor and going for a ride in the truck.

I spend countless hours with Midge and cherish every moment.

4. Time to Embrace the Soft Life and Read for Joy

As former faculty both Bill and I enjoy reading and have books all over our home.

When I worked, I read a lot…for my job. Research articles, textbooks, dissertations, and grant proposals not to mention the piles of essays written by my students.

But now I read for pure joy.

I tend to be in the middle of several books at the same time (some of my current favorites are linked here).

Earlier this year, I read several of Kristin Hannah’s books. The Four Winds was my favorite followed by The Nightingale. And I just picked up a copy of The Backyard Bird Chronicles written and illustrated by Amy Tan. It’s amazing!

Next on my list is Wicked and Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire. If I love these two, I’ll probably read the entire series.

Drop me a note in the comments and let me know what you’re reading, I’m always looking for recommendations.

5. Flowers, the Perfect Soft Life Symbol

Flowers are the epitome of a soft life. They are beautiful and make me smile. Their purpose truly is to create beauty and joy.

Before retiring, I bought flowers from Trader Joe’s as often as possible to create bouquets for our home. But since retiring I have learned go grow my own cut flowers.

One of my favorite things to do is go out to my garden and collect a bucket of flowers to create bouquets for our home.

I love bringing flowers inside and filling my vintage pitchers and vases with colorful bouquets and then repeating the process over and over. It brings me joy!

Note: I shared about my first cut flower garden in this post: The Best Flowers for Beginners and First-Time Flower Growers.

6. Revisiting a Childhood Talent

Talent may be used a bit lightly here, but I have recently taken up playing the piano again.

Piano was a source of peace for me as a child. I was a very driven academic student and school was stressful. But as a child, when I played the piano everything else floated away except for the music.

Now that I’m retired, I am revisiting this old source of peace. I love playing the piano again.

I even found the most amazing piano teacher. She has developed a good understanding of the type of music I like to play and gives great feedback…sometimes even knocking my elbow when I need to release a note (which always makes me laugh).

Playing the piano is most definitely a source of peace.

7. Enjoy an Afternoon of Self-Care

My favorite thing to do on Sunday afternoons is to hide out in my room and clean while I do a little self-care.

Give me a chance and read a bit more before moving on thinking there is no way cleaning brings peace and joy.

It seems like when I was working and definitely when our children were young, that my room was always the messiest. And there was little time for self-care.

But now, very indulgently I spend a slow afternoon taking care of me and my personal space. There is no rush and no to do list. I just enjoy the afternoon taking care of myself.

The first thing I always do is turn on my favorite music (my favorites of late are Lyle Lovett and Michael Bublé), throw our bed linens in the wash and apply my weekly hair mask.

Then I spend the next few hours going back and forth between primping and cleaning.

A few hours later, my hair is shiny and clean, our primary bedroom and bathroom smell like lavender and my laundry is done for the week. My nails may also be painted, I may have played the piano for a bit (I have my childhood piano in our bedroom), and I am completely at peace.

8. Walk for Pleasure, A Perfect Soft Life Activity

In retirement I love walking for pleasure, not to count steps or to achieve a certain distance. I just walk for the joy of walking.

I find walking very peaceful especially when I’m not trying to achieve anything and there is no rush to finish my walk at a specific pace.

Instead, I take the time to look around, to see what I might find or hear. As corny as it might sound, I like to feel the wind (as long as it’s not too cold) and the sun. I pay attention to my thoughts letting them come in and out as they will.

And I enjoy watching Midge run through the woods until her heart’s content.

And if I’m walking with Bill, I find that it’s the perfect time to chat and enjoy one another’s company.

9. Spend Hours on a Jigsaw Puzzle

I love jigsaw puzzles. I especially love a 1000-piece puzzle of a beautiful scene that makes me dream of possibilities and other parts of the world.

Completing a 1000-piece puzzle typically takes me hours spread out over 3-4 days. My mind relaxes as I search for the right piece, and I am at peace.

Similar to playing the piano, everything just melts away when I’m immersed in a puzzle.

Recently I have started working 300-piece puzzles with my mom over FaceTime. I ship the two of us the same puzzle (she lives in Texas, and I live in Oklahoma).

When both of our puzzles arrive, we call each other and work the edge of each of our puzzles together while we videochat. Then we check in with one another throughout the week as we complete our puzzles.

It brings me so much joy to spend time with my mom. She also recently visited for the Thanksgiving holiday and my mom, daughter and I all completed a puzzle together…my kind of joy.

You can find some of my recent puzzles linked here.

10. Enjoy a Quiet Night by the Firepit

I saved my favorite soft life activity for last…relaxing by the firepit.

A quiet night fireside is sure to fill your body and soul with peace and joy. The fire is magical as is a sky filled with stars.

I love the warmth and glow of the fire. And it seems like conversations with friends and family can go all night long when you’re sitting around a firepit.

It is the perfect way to soak in the soft life.

A Few Closing Thoughts about Creating a Soft Life

In previous posts about retired life, I have shared with the reader that I enjoy routines and making a Monday to do list. Both these things are true and can go hand in hand with embracing a soft life.

What I have learned since retiring is that what I value most in life (in addition to my loved ones) is peace and joy.

Embracing a soft life allows me to focus my daily life with intention.

Also, a few notes about the list presented in this post.

1. The list isn’t meant to be checked off by the reader. But rather the ideas are intended as inspiration for you to discover what brings you peace and joy should you desire to seek a soft life.
2. Additionally, the list is also not exhaustive but rather serves as a glimpse of how I embrace a soft life (at home) now that I’m retired. I hope to share more ideas soon.

Cheers to retired life, and as always, happy gardening!

X Penny Pennington Weeks

I also enjoy sharing our retired life at home in our country garden with you through the blog and newsletter (sign up below), Instagram and on Pinterest.

You may also like these posts about retired life…

Three Tips on Creating a Happy Retired Life

How to Enjoy Retired Life: Creating a Retirement Routine

Why you Need to Create a Retired Life at Home that you Love

My First Year of Early Retirement and Four Lessons Learned