Retired Persons Syndrome

I've just invented this 'syndrome' I suspect no health expert will know the answer! 

I recognised it in other people before I retired and I used to joke about it... but I recently started to notice that I was starting to suffer from this curable syndrome myself... no nasty drugs or injections are required you will be pleased to know. 

What are the symptoms of this? 

Any of the following:

• You have an appointment that might only be for an hour, but you reserve the whole day for it....
• You have an event to attend for one or two days, but you reserve the whole week for it and may be a day or two in the week before or after. 
• You really have it bad if you have a trip planned for one week, but you don't plan anything else for the whole month...... just in case... 

You will be pleased to hear that I recognised the 'symptoms' at the early stage, having a 9:00 am appointment and then thinking I couldn't get anything else done that day. 

In my case the cure was simple, no new diary inserts were required. I just adapted how I was using my current inserts.  Instead of noting down just the start time of an appointment, I now add when I think I will finish that appointment and then be free for other jobs. 

It doesn't have to be a precise estimate, such as Haircut - 37 minutes, but just having a start and finish time to bound it is more than enough to get in to my head that the rest of the day will be free. 

I now see the value to people using the vertical week on two page format, it gives you a better pictorial representation of your busy and free times, whether you are working or retired. 

Have you ever come across this problem before? 

I will report back on my progress as long as I don't have a haircut booked that day..... !