Category: Lifestyle

The Challenge of Ageing and Embracing Life’s  Full Potential

Age is Just a number?

If ageing isn’t sometimes challenging enough age-related narratives can seriously inhibit older people from embracing life’s full potential.

We tend to count our birthdays like milestones set alongside the pathway of life.This linear progression is often associated with inevitable physical and mental limitations and decline.A negative view that encourages and sustains negative ageist views about older age.

Societal norms have developed the idea that age as measured in years lived dictate what can or can’t be done in your life.This perception of age supported, for instance, retirement from gainful employment. Often people of say age 65 in the UK were required to retire as being considered beyond having the ability to contribute anymore economically because of perceived reduced facilities.This was an abrupt change in lifestyle for many and paid no heed to actual physical or mental capacity, or the value of lifetime experience. Today, chronological age still sustains narrow norms for living and behaviour and takes no account of the fact that people age differently in terms of their abilities.There is ,however, a difference between chronological age and biological age, and biological age is not the same for everyone.

What if age is not that seemingly linear progression but is instead a mosaic? A vibrant collage of experiences, wisdom ,and potential, far higher and more dynamic than a single number can represent.

Smashing Ageist Stereotypes

In truth, ageing is a process.Although we inevitably lose cognitive ability as we become older studies ,including those made by the National Institute of Health Stern (2012), show that people, through their lifetime experiences, can develop a resistance to help protect them against cognitive losses from ageing and disease.

“As we age our memory declines.This an ingrained assumption for many of us,”writes Neuroscientist and clinical professor Richard Restak in his book,The Complete Guide to Memory: The Strengthening of the Mind. Regardless of what is generally believed, he explains why though memory gets worse with age decline isn’t inevitable.With training and practice your memory can be developed to “enhance attention, focus, abstraction, naming, spatial visualisation, verbal facility, language, and word acquisition.In a phrase ,memory is the key to brain enhancement.”

So forget the image of the forgetful grandparent struggling with technology, or failing to remember where he or she last left her keys.Consider,Harry Lorayne , who was an American magician and memory-training specialist renowned for his memory feats. He wrote numerous books on memory improvement.Two of his best selling books still in print are:How To Develop A Superpower Memory and The Memory Book: The Classic Guide to Improving Your Memory at Work ,at School and at Play. The latter book he wrote with author Jerry Lucas. Lorayne was a popular guest on television shows, showcasing his remarkable ability to remember names, numbers, and other information. He died in 2023 at the age of 96.Maintaining his memory prowess, he had continued to perform and teach well into his older years,

There are countless older adults mastering new languages. Kato Lomb (1909–2003) was a Hungarian polyglot, translator, and interpreter who was renowned for her ability to learn and master new languages throughout her life. She spoke more than 16 languages fluently and continued to learn new ones well into her later years.

Our physical ability, can defy expectations. There are countless examples of people who have achieved incredible sporting accomplishments. Ernestine Shepherd, who at the age of 86 became the world’s oldest competitive bodybuilder and proved that physical peak performance can be achieved in later life.The human spirit’s enduring strength is exemplified by the runners, Fauja Singh tackling Marathon races at age 100, and 61 year old Steve Edwards who in 2024 completed his 1000th race and claimed a world breaking aggregate speed.

Contrary to age-old belief that entrepreneurship is a preserve of enterprising youth with its exuberance, the average age of successful startup founders is closer to 40 than 25.We should not forget the late Bloomers who find their voice or professional calling later in life. It seems the gentle hand of wisdom is an important factor and there are many notable examples of successful older entrepreneurs.

Ray Kroc was a multi-mixer milkshake machine salesman before he got involved with McDonald’s at age 52. He transformed the small fast-food chain into a global franchise, revolutionising the industry.Anna Mary Robertson Moses (Grandma Moses) began her career as a painter in her 70s after arthritis made embroidery difficult. She became a renowned American folk artist, with her paintings exhibited in major galleries. Although Reid Hoffman is known for his role in co-founding LinkedIn, his later success came as an angel investor and partner at Greylock Partners, a leading venture capital firm. Hoffman continued to find success in the tech industry after 50 through his work with numerous startups and his contributions to Silicon Valley’s growth.Another successful late-start entrepreneur was Bernard Marcus, Co-founder of The Home Depot, who started the company in his early 50s, after being fired from another home improvement retailer. The Home Depot grew to become one of the largest home improvement retailers in the world.

These entrepreneurs have shown that it’s never too late to start a successful business, and age can bring valuable experience and insight to the entrepreneurial journey.

Given that biological age ,and therefore cognitive and physical abilities, can vary a great deal from chronological age, restrictive ageist narratives can have a restrictive affect on aspiration and a serious risk to health.

Even happiness, that elusive butterfly, seems to take-off with age.One myth of older age is that to be old is to be depressed. This is debunked by many studies including those of the The National Academy of Sciences, a United States nonprofit, non-governmental organisation which reported higher levels of life satisfaction felt by people over 85 than their younger counterparts.This seems to indicate a greater understanding of what truly matters and an appreciation of living in the moment.It recognises that a 25-year-old can be a seasoned artist, a 60-year-old can still be an athlete, and an 80-year-old be a savvy entrepreneur.

The message is clear: potential knows no age.Limitations are often self imposed because of internalised negative ageist views. ‘The Age Is Just A Number’ mindset, however, provides a shift in perspective and will nurture  curiosity, through continuing life learning, and a spirit of adventure.In this view, age becomes a spectrum of opportunity to be embraced and not a rigid set of steps leading to limitation and decline.

Finally, though it can be intimidating to start adopting this mindset it can aid in your physical and mental health. While many of us may be told that we’re too old for certain things, the reality is that we only have one life to live, so why not actually try and live it? Embrace life’s full potential.

5 Steps to Giving Your Spring Lawn the Care It Deserves

It is Springtime again and time to visit your garden! If you have a lawn you may find the Winter months have not been too kind and some care is needed.There maybe discolouration in parts or areas which look rather straw-like (like mine) rather than green and some indication of moss.

At this time in the UK , a first cutting will be important. The following are 5 steps to help you with that first post-winter cutting and to set you up for looking after your lawn to maintain a healthy and good-looking feature for your garden throughout the rest of the year.

Read more: 5 Steps to Giving Your Spring Lawn the Care It Deserves
How to give your spring lawn the care it deserves
  1. Remove thatch 

The first step that you have to take is to remove any lawn debris that has accumulated during the Winter.You can do this by raking. This also gets up any leaves that have fallen to the ground and died, but it also can help keep your lawn free of thatch in the coming months.

Thatch is made up of the stems and roots that didn’t complete a decomposition process. You’ll find thatch around the living grass at the top of the soil. For people who did a thorough raking job in the Autumn, the thatch buildup should not be as thick. 

If you leave thatch, it can create patchy areas in your lawn because the new grass can’t push through this to the surface. 

So, as soon as you see signs of new grass growth, you need to take a fan rake and remove all traces of dead grass and worm casts.

2. Set your lawn mower correctly

Your first cut should not be a close one. The blades should set so that about one third of the  height of the grass will be taken off the top.This will allow for a good cover overall and avoid scalping the lawn and so exposing soil and taking or dragging out grass at root level.

3.Choose a fine day 

You do not want to cut your lawn when the grass is wet. This will only damage areas where you tread heavily and the mower may tend to tear rather than cut the grass. The effect when the grass has dried out will not be tidy.So if your grass is showing growth choose a dry day particularly before you make your first cut. Also, mow at a steady pace.

4.Remove grass cuttings

Do not leave any grass cuttings on the lawn.Ideally remove these to compost. For maximum performance your mower should be cleaned after use and the blades lowered for next time, usually in about a week.

5.Re-cut the edge of the lawn

After the winter the edges of the lawn will show some damage and unwanted growth.Take a half-moon edger and use the edge of paving as a guide to redefine the area of grass or, if improving a flower border, use a plank on the edge of the lawn as a guide and to protect the grass.The edger is preferred at this time to using a strimmer. Maintenance of the edge can now easily be done with a pair of edging shears after each time the lawn is cut throughout the year.

Now you should be off to a fine start for the Spring!Please look out for further gardening tips as we go through the year.In these unprecedented times an interest in gardening however small will help both body and mind if you are careful.

8 Top Things to Do to Save on Motoring Costs

creative commons (Cco)

Even in these times of rising petrol prices,and often through slowness to act or not recognising an issue, many of us do not regularly review the recurring and the hidden costs in our household spending that could be substantially reduced. A significant part of that expenditure is on motoring which, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics show that in the US nearly 50% of household bills are for housing (33%)and transportation(17%) .

According to recent  figures from the Office of National Statistics in the UK 65-to-74-year-old households spent nearly a fifth (18%) of total spending on recreation and culture, making this the top expenditure category for this age group.A significant portion of this spend is on motoring costs.  Continue reading “8 Top Things to Do to Save on Motoring Costs”

10 Things that can help towards a longer and happier life

Simple Life Reunion 2057
Gruhn creative commons

Hi Everyone!

Last time we looked at why sense of purpose in older age is so important. In today’s world, the pursuit of happiness is an ingrained concept. We’re often taught to expect our lives to be fairly happy, and we’re encouraged to do whatever it takes to achieve that. Also, we want to live long and well forever. I’m no exception. As we saw in the previous post the Okinawans know a thing or two about achieving satisfaction, happiness and meaning in life.As a people who live long, they would broadly recognise the following principles or beliefs.So without being ‘preachy’, this is my take from online sources on what we should be doing as we get older: Continue reading “10 Things that can help towards a longer and happier life”

Why sense of purpose in older age is seen as so important

life’s good?

The inhabitants of the Japanese island of Okinawa have long been known for their healthy lifestyle and longevity.They live longer than any other people in the world.This is largely attributed to having a sense of purpose, and therefore a reason to live, which is focused on a concept the Japanese call Ikigai which they believe to be deep seated within everyone of us. The big secret is to find it and so  benefit from longer and better quality of life, by finding meaning to your life and happiness.

So do we all really have a sense of purpose in life?

Continue reading “Why sense of purpose in older age is seen as so important”

Why mushroom in your coffee is good for you

 

 

 

Hi All!

I have always enjoyed eating mushrooms. Usually, I have them gently fried with a little olive oil.So I am gratified to have further recent confirmation they are very good for you.Now this versatile edible fungus and beloved ingredient of the all-day breakfast, soup, and pizza has a coffee named after it.

Do you take mushroom in your coffee?

What I am surprised to learn is that many coffee shops in the UK are now feeding this rising trend: the mushroom latte. Continue reading “Why mushroom in your coffee is good for you”

How to keep your memory fit as you get older

 

How to keep your memory fit as you get older

Without taking appropriate action the avoidable debilitating effects of getting older may catch-up with the inevitable passage of time.We are often preoccupied with the physical decline in our bodies but what is possibly worse is when our mind begins to show signs of failing.Forgetfulness and becoming slower in our thinking can give rise to great upset and a feeling of isolation, even if the cause is not the result of any specific condition such as dementia. There is good news. According to The Harvard Medical School decades of research conclude that certain strategies will help protect and sharpen our brains.With some time and effort put in the brain can be strengthened by certain training just like a muscle, preventing some of age-related cognitive decline so as to keep your brain sharper.

Exercise

What is not often appreciated is that exercise can help strengthen your brain as well as keep your body strong and healthy.Short-term memory improvement is one of the main benefits noticeable in older people who have started an exercise regime and particularly one involving lots of cardiovascular work.

brain training

Use

Regular use of your brain in creative ways can avoid it deteriorating.The saying ‘use it or lose it’ applies here.

Experts at Harvard think that advanced education may help keep memory strong by getting a person into the habit of being mentally active. They say that challenging your brain with mental exercise is believed to activate processes that help maintain individual brain cells and stimulate communication among them. Many people have jobs that keep them mentally active, but pursuing a hobby or learning a new skill can function the same way. Read; join a book group; play chess or bridge; write your life story; do crossword or jigsaw puzzles; take a class; pursue music or art; design a new garden layout.That said though, anything will help – even just reading occasionally.

Diet

Although healthy eating lowers your risk of diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, it’s not yet clear if that’s true for Alzheimer’s disease as well. It’s not a lost cause though. Here are 9 foods that researchers think will keep your whole body, including your brain, healthy.

The right diet can do wonders for looking after your brain and helping to prevent the onset of various neurological diseases or general deterioration. Particularly useful are fatty acids such as omega 3 which you can get from fish and supplements, vitamins such as B9 (also known as folic acid) which can be found in fruits and veg and amino acids (proteins) which you can get from meat or from supplementation – from ‘Age Slower’ by David Jones

Lifestyle

Your lifestyle can also impact on your mental health. Your sleep regime and fresh air can affect your brain, and alcohol consumption can also have a big impact.

Some easy steps to a better quality of sleep

Staying Active

In Japan, particularly in Okinawa, always keeping busy is seen as giving a sense of purpose in life and supports a concept known as Ikigai. Having something to get up in the morning to do is central to their way of life and is credited with giving the Okinawans a long life expectancy such that they tend to live much longer than those in the rest of the world’s population.What is more they enjoy enviable levels of vitality and health unthinkable for people of advanced age almost any where else in the world.

“One surprising thing you notice,living in Japan, is how active people remain after they retire .In fact, many Japanese people never really retire – they keep doing what they love for as long as their health allows”

– Ikigai – The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles

 

 

Is your holiday home prepared for Winter?

holiday home winterisation tips

Now is the Winter approaching.In the UK, we have had a severe foretaste of what is possibly to come. Without adequate protection and some simple precautions, cold, rain, ice and snow can cause damage to static caravans or chalets.For a checklist of things you can do to secure and protect your property both internally and externally… Continue reading “Is your holiday home prepared for Winter?”

Some easy steps to a better quality of sleep

Resting – (Oksay Mark @ dollarphotoclub)

 Ageing Can Make For Sleepless Nights You may find as you age that your ability to live longer is rewarded with insomnia. It does not seem fair that you worked so very hard to stay healthy and fit, and in return you are much more likely to suffer sleepless nights as you grow older. But when you look at it from a purely physical point of view, the ageing / insomnia relationship makes a lot of sense. Beginning at about 50 years of age, your body begins to grow weaker faster. Both inside and out, your body is simply not as healthy as when you were younger.

Continue reading “Some easy steps to a better quality of sleep”

Why volunteering to serve others is good for you

www.volunteersweek.org 2016 logo
www.volunteersweek.org
2016 logo

Volunteers’ Week this year has been stretched to run from the 1st -12th June.It is held annually in celebration of the work that many thousands of people in the UK put in freely to help in their free time with tasks,projects for the benefit of others in their community or country.
Continue reading “Why volunteering to serve others is good for you”

23 tips to reduce your osteoarthritis pain

 

oa-infographic

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in the UK and is a condition in which the joints of the body become damaged, stop moving freely and become painful. – Arthritis Research UK

The risk of developing osteoarthritis increases from the late 40s.

Also according to arthritis research UK, 8.75 million people in the UK have sought treatment for osteoarthritis.This is how the figures stack-up: Continue reading “23 tips to reduce your osteoarthritis pain”

On the search for gravestones old and curious

Unknown

 

On retirement or throttling-back on work, many 60lifers look to spend more time on lifelong interests, or in pursuing new hobbies, like family history, visiting churches,or perhaps a more unusual hobby of visiting a ‘ collection ’ of many cemeteries and curiosities.The latter pastime is often in the cause of providing voluntary help necessary for the preservation and protection of gravestones; the study of people buried in a particular place;tombstone photography;tombstone rubbing and gravestone design, often used as an inspiration by artists,or it may just constitute a good day out in the fresh air walking.

Where have all the gravestones gone?  Continue reading “On the search for gravestones old and curious”

The Best of the60life in May

via dollarphotoclub - the good life
via dollarphotoclub – the good life

Nearing the end of a busy month. The following are the Best of the60life in May  which you may have missed: Continue reading “The Best of the60life in May”

5 easy tips on taking the first steps to trace your UK ancestors

The family tree of Ludwig Herzog von Wurtenberg Source : wikipedia
The family tree of Ludwig Herzog von Wurtenberg Source : wikipedia

You may now have more time to pursue hobbies like genealogy.It maybe something you have always had in mind to do given more time.You may also feel that as you grow older you perhaps owe it to those younger in the family to provide as much information as possible about the family’s history so that it can be passed down to future generations. Or you may simply have an inquisitive nature and have stumbled upon this absorbing hobby. Continue reading “5 easy tips on taking the first steps to trace your UK ancestors”

Why the way we breathe is so important to our health

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Who says so?

It seems a great many people do. A current google search using a keyword such as “breathing” will produce many tens of millions of references, many pointing to advice and information, much of which is clear It and helpful in our daily lives. It is clearly an important subject.So why add to the many millions of words already swirling around the internet, and elsewhere in books and magazines? Some messages are so important that they cannot be reinforced in the general population too often, one such is : Breath is Life. Continue reading “Why the way we breathe is so important to our health”

The short guide to dealing with stress in later life

Boredom in retirement -that'll be the day!
Boredom in retirement -that’ll be the day!

Of course stress has no respect for age.We know it’s part of life.Its destructive nature can affect anyone at any time, and the long term effects can creep up like a shadows in the night inflicting their damage to our health, catching us unawares.The natural ability to withstand the persistent onslaught of stress is much degraded,as we grow older, but succumbing to ravages to health is not inevitable. Continue reading “The short guide to dealing with stress in later life”

Why changing some habits can benefit you in older age

How's this for a good habit?
How’s this for a good habit?

Breaking old habits of a lifetime is just what the doctor ordered if,for your health’s sake,you take for inspiration that you’re never too old to adopt new healthful habits. The rewards: In the Johns Hopkins-led Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis,which tracked more than 6,000 people ages 44 to 84 for over seven years, those who made good-for-you changes like quitting smoking, following a Mediterranean diet, getting regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight decreased their risk of death in the time period by 80 percent. The following changes not only keep you healthy, they can help slow down the ageing process, inside and out. Continue reading “Why changing some habits can benefit you in older age”

9 of the best websites for walking events in the UK for all ages

via dollarphotoclub
via dollarphotoclub

Regardless of the growing success of the month of May as National Walking Month, the appeal of gathering and walking in groups has risen apace in many other months of the year.This can only be to the general benefit of the now large number of people who look to walking in groups as a fun and healthy thing to do. Continue reading “9 of the best websites for walking events in the UK for all ages”

5 mythbusting articles you may have missed at the60life blog about your health in later life

why1

There are many misconceptions about getting older.One of these is that older people inevitably will suffer from significant age-related decline in health.This is what many parents and grandparents of those now in their 60s and 70s were led to believe.With a lower life expectation they also seemed to be condemned to a short retirement in ill-health before death. Society and culture did not expect any more from older people. The stereotypes were out there with ‘pipe and slippers’ often the onlyreward at the end of a working life. Nowadays so much has changed and with good reason.Apart from people wanting more out of life the realisation has surfaced that in reality something can be done to prolong an active life.

Myth 1: Trying to improve fitness in older age is pointless Continue reading “5 mythbusting articles you may have missed at the60life blog about your health in later life”

Top March event Sport Relief 2016 discovered Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em still

Simple Life Reunion 2057
Gruhn creative commons

Sports Relief 2016 gave a platform for Michael Crawford to reprise his Frank Spencer character last played on TV 42 years ago.With an hilarious ten minute sketch Frank has several hair raising adventures on bicycle or roller skates in his typical physical comedy style.Although the sketch was widely acclaimed much comment has been made about the fact that Michael Crawford is 74 years old and, of course,considered to be a pensioner.What’s he doing all this for at his age? Many might say :Is he up to it?Wasn’t it all a long time ago when the series he starred in finished?

Apparently, this sketch was to be a ‘one-off’ in aid of charity.It took many weeks to bring to the screen.Michael might be a little stung by the age remarks.It seems he is not concerned.As in his earlier career, he did all his own stunts.Which brings us nicely to a wonderful web page featuring other senior people acting in most unexpected ways. Is it not time that the ‘old person’ stereotype was buried once and for all? Times they are a changing in our senior classes.Many people are not settling for retirement from life.They are embracing later life with both hands,working enthusiastically at remaining fitter for longer, and enjoying active and fulfilling lives.

So do spend a few moments here being entertained and amazed by a veritable ‘troupe’ of impressive people who are destroying age stereotypes.

Oh…and you can still donate to Sport Relief 2016 to support its work on projects for people in essential need in many places around the world.

 

 

 

5 Tips to Give You Time to Enjoy Your Healing garden

Over many centuries monasteries and hospitals have valued the restorative benefits of having a garden in close proximity to people who are suffering sickness. A garden setting provides calmness, a path to creativity and a new appreciation for everything that surrounds us. It transports us from the stress of the world to a place of peace and tranquility and restores our minds and bodies like nothing else can do.You can benefit from the healing properties of nature by planning your own healing garden. Continue reading “5 Tips to Give You Time to Enjoy Your Healing garden”

If you must spend time on the sofa do this for your health and wellbeing

 

sofa so good - @ dollarphotoclub
sofa so good – @ dollarphotoclub

This piece is about spending less of our waking day sitting down and using more time throughout the day improving your wellbeing and fitness. The importance of exercise at whatever age for longer life has been bandied about a lot in the media recently.It seems we are not listening.But scientists confirm exercise is the answer to keeping fit and well.
Continue reading “If you must spend time on the sofa do this for your health and wellbeing”

An 80th birthday celebration and family days out with food in North Wales

Landscape Views from the Great Orme Llandudno North Wales Uk -courtesy Gail Johnson @ dollar photo club
Landscape Views from
the Great Orme Llandudno
North Wales Uk -courtesy Gail Johnson @ dollar photo club

There is still life left in the Summer and I for one need little excuse to spend time in North Wales come rain or come shine.The following is a short round-up of news on family days out with food found this week on websites covering this wonderful region which is full of interest and contrast for the visitor. Continue reading “An 80th birthday celebration and family days out with food in North Wales”

How you can take charge and simply reverse ageing

Getting Older Doesn’t Mean You’re Finished!

Are you concerned with the quality of life as you age? Do any of the following resonate with your experiences?

  • The thought of sliding into infirmity leaves you frightened and depressed
  • On more than one occasion you struggled to find the words to complete a thought
  • You fear losing your independence and ability to take care of yourself
  • The thought of just fading away in loneliness and isolation is downright depressing
  • It seems that worrying about growing old is constantly nagging at you

You aren’t alone.

There are almost 40 million people over the age of 65 in the United States. That is nearly 13% of the population. By 2030 there will be more than 72 million older persons making up 19% of the population.

The trend is similar for European countries. It is estimated that during the period from 2013 to 2080 the percentage of the working age population will shrink, while people over 65 will account for an increasing share of the total population. Continue reading “How you can take charge and simply reverse ageing”

7 Easy Tips to help you sleep better at night

Resting - (Oksay Mark @ dollarphotoclub)
Resting – (Oksay Mark @ dollarphotoclub)

At any age lack of sleep is damaging to your health.Enjoying a restful night’s sleep is an essential prerequisite for preserving your health.If you are suffering from insomnia you are not alone. According to report of the World’s largest online sleep survey held in 2016 three quarters of people in the UK failed to wake-up refeshed.In an earlier national sleepio survey held, it was reported that almost one half of the over 60s will suffer insomnia sometime. The best way to make yourself sleep better is the natural way. Without drugs you can train yourself to sleep.Here are some quick tips for a more restful night. Continue reading “7 Easy Tips to help you sleep better at night”

Reverse the effects of inflammation in the arteries with the Mediterranean Diet

Italian food ingredients on wooden background (dollarphotoclub)
Italian food ingredients on wooden background (dollarphotoclub)

 

Enjoy the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet.

You may worry about inflammatory disease such as arthritis or hardening of the arteries which can cause heart problems, many cancers and even Alzheimer’s disease. It’s very important that you discuss with your doctor any treatment that’s right for you. But, the good news is that you can help prevent or reduce the symptoms of these chronic diseases by adhering Continue reading “Reverse the effects of inflammation in the arteries with the Mediterranean Diet”

Why with exercise being over 60 does not mean over the hill

According to recent a medical research study at King’s College, London carried out to determine if there is a relationship between age and physiological function, we would be advised that appropriate regular exercise taken as we grow older is beneficial to Continue reading “Why with exercise being over 60 does not mean over the hill”

7 Helpful Tips for getting the best out of the Mediterranean diet

MediterraneanDietPyramid

 Generally, medical health experts agree the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle provide the best ways to living a healthy and happy life. As a lifestyle it can keep you healthy from a young age to a ripe old age and help you feel, look and think the best you can be.

For the best results,the Mediterranean diet Continue reading “7 Helpful Tips for getting the best out of the Mediterranean diet”

Why leaving your chair could add five years to your life

why1

It perhaps should no longer be necessary to remind people that physical activity is essential for health and longevity.Medical research into reducing the risk of heart disease,diabetes and cancer in older people continues to support this truth.The results of recent large studies by the Oslo University Hospital, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, confirm a strong association between physical activity and Continue reading “Why leaving your chair could add five years to your life”

How to apply the 80/20 principle to gardening in a small space

vegetable garden Alix Marina @ dollarphotoclub
vegetable garden Alix Marina @ dollarphotoclub

No space for a garden?

Over thirty years ago, Mel Bartholemew devised a system of gardening which enabled him to yield over 80 percent of his crops of vegetables and flowers from 20 per cent of the area normally required for traditional gardening methods.This gardening example (loosely applied) of Pareto’s 80/20 principle,like so many things of genius, was derived from a simple concept.Mel has continued to experiment and improve his way of gardening in a limited space using small square foot plots to the present day.

Continue reading “How to apply the 80/20 principle to gardening in a small space”

How green spaces make you feel better

potted glory
(c)to35ke75@dollarphotoclub

Green spaces provide areas where you can relax and de-stress from the turbulence of modern living, and help your physical and mental health and wellbeing.They are also good for the environment.

You don’t need a large area in which to create your own green space at home.If you have recently downsized to an apartment, where space for a garden is severely restricted, this idea may particularly appeal to you.With a little thought, you can bring a sense of the country into your own living space with some oxygenating plants in containers,and perhaps a water feature.Even a balcony or patio can be transformed into a container garden easy on the eye and the ear.If space permits you may wish to extend it into an even more environmentally-friendly area.

Your green space can serve many functions.It can provide a buffer for noise,a refuge, or simply be a place in which you can be calm and relax.

A green space can have any function that you want it to have. They can be noise buffers, recreational, a refuge or simply to relax and calm you. No matter what size your garden space, you can incorporate elements that make it your very own green space. Continue reading “How green spaces make you feel better”

Mediterranean Diet for Beginners: A Quick Start Guide to Heart Healthy Eating, Super-Charged Weight Loss and Unstoppable Energy Book Review

mediterranean diet for beginners

 

Introduction

The title of Gina Crawford’s most recent book says it all. For an introduction to an exciting new lifestyle you need an easy to read quick guide delivering “no fluff,no filler, and going straight to the point” as Mrs Crawford would put it. This book is just that.

Mediterranean Diet for Beginners: A Quick Start Guide to Heart Healthy Eating, Super-Charged Weight Loss and Unstoppable Energy was released in January of 2015, and reveals the “healthiest, most well respected and scientifically documented diet in the world.” Continue reading “Mediterranean Diet for Beginners: A Quick Start Guide to Heart Healthy Eating, Super-Charged Weight Loss and Unstoppable Energy Book Review”

What Food Choices Make up a Mediterranean Diet?

mediterranean diet
dollarphotoclub

 

When you think about Mediterranean food do you think of pitta, lasagna, plenty of white bread, lamb and pizza? If so, you are missing the point.

The Mediterranean Diet, proved time and again to lead to less disease, a healthier heart, better brain function and a multitude of other health benefits, has been misrepresented in recent years. A true healthy Mediterranean Diet is based on the eating habits of Greece, Crete and Southern Italy of around 1960.

That diet is based on whole foods, plants and vegetables. To these basic essentials small portions of lean, healthy meat can be added, as well as seafood 2 or 3 times a week. The idea is that good fats replace bad ones, and you should always eat a breakfast rich in high-fibre foods, fruits and whole grains.Though allowed,daily products, are used in limited amounts.

Below are a few popular food choices which make up a healthy Mediterranean-style diet.

Whole wheat, whole grains and oats
Good fats like extra-virgin olive oil, sunflower seeds, nuts and avocados
Fish like salmon and sardines, tuna and herring
Shellfish, such as clams, oysters and mussels
Herbs and natural spices
Fruits and vegetables of all kinds
Whole foods (foods that are as close to their natural state as possible)
Foods you should avoid or eat less

An understanding of your eating options also means knowing what foods you should avoid, or simply cut back on. If you limit your intake of the following food items and components, and you will be making smart Mediterranean food choices.

Fast food and fried food
Processed and red meat
Products made with white flour
Refined sugar
Bad fats like hydrogenated oils, saturated fats and trans fats
Butter, margarine and lard
Salt
Monosodium glutamate (MSG is found in up to 80% of all processed food)the
Isn’t this rather too strict a diet?

It doesn’t have to be.You can see the above are foods to avoid or eat less of and are not all strictly forbidden. Eating red meat a few times a month is considered alright. And sea salt can be used in limited quantities since it is not processed like table salt. Essentially, it is important to focus on eating more fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains, and less processed and refined food, salt, sugar and unhealthy fats.The wide variety of foods available and good for you means that the diet is not boring.

Gina Crawford has written a comprehensive guide to the real deal Mediterranean Diet with many delicious and easy to produce recipes.

Making smart food choices is the basis of the Mediterranean Diet. Before you prepare your next meal, be honest with yourself. Is your diet primarily whole food, plant and vegetable-based? Does it substitute healthy fats for bad fats? Will it ensure that you eat fish 2 or 3 times each week, and red meat no more than 2 or 3 times a month? If so, you are well on your way to choosing the foods found in a Mediterranean-style diet that lead to fewer diseases and better overall health.

 

Give us a Break! Warner’s will.

 


Warner Leisure’s 7 country hotels are open to welcome you this Spring. Take  an April or May Spring Break.

Some bookings are still available for Easter.

Explore the Jurassic Coast, Sherwood Forest or the Yorkshire Dales.

Get the sand between your feet on a stroll along the beaches at Hayling Island, Isle of Wight or the Suffolk Coast. Fresh air, great views.

In the mix is simply an unforgettable recipe for good food, entertainment, and relaxed surroundings.

Prices held until 2nd April, so book now!WarnersLeisure Hotels.

AND THERE IS MORE!

You can save up to £350 per room in 2015 with Warner, plus you’ll receive an extra £10 saving per person when you quote your Senior Railcard promo code ‘PHCSRC’.

And that’s not all, as a Railcard holder you’ll also benefit from:

Half price holiday protection plan
Deposit of only £65 per person*
No booking fees
No credit card charges

 

 

Ease into the Mediterranean diet today

cestino di pane con verdure - dollarphotoclub
cestino di pane con verdure – dollarphotoclub

 

Media headlines often tell it all:

Sensible diet cuts heart attack risk within weeks (The Times)

Obesity threatens chronic ill health in older age

Dire warning of [adult] obesity as [youngsters] pile on the pounds(The Daily Mail)

but many of us still don’t respond to the headlines, or even read the rest of the article,news item,or report we maybe reading.

Despite the sheer volume of scientific evidence written today about the likely consequences of poor diet Continue reading “Ease into the Mediterranean diet today”

Focus on the public face of dementia

iQoncept @dollar photo club
iQoncept @dollar photo club

 

Much has been said lately about the scourge of dementia in all its forms.And now,just a few days ago,Sir Terry Pratchett,author of the fantasy book series Discworld, and recently often considered a public face of dementia, passed away. He had been diagnosed in 2007 with early-onset Alzheimer’s.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, an estimated 850,000 people currently suffer from dementia in the UK.The government is promising a new,long term strategy focused on boosting research,improving care and raising awareness of dementia. Not before time a deep searching light is to be shone on this growing mental disease which threatens to grow into a worldwide epidemic. Continue reading “Focus on the public face of dementia”

Are your hydrangeas ready for Spring?

 

Hydrangea set

Yesterday the sun was out and the sky was that wonderful blue you can experience in late winter before the spring. Stirred into action, I opened the tool shed for the secateurs and headed for the lacecap hydrangea bushes in my garden.The air was dry and cool, but not overly so, and frost was not expected overnight. Continue reading “Are your hydrangeas ready for Spring?”

5 or more things for baby boomers to consider when making travel plans

 

Have you got itchy feet? Raring to go on that holiday you’ve always promised yourself?Maybe you are a seasoned traveller, but are looking for fresh ideas to satisfy your wanderlust. Well you have come to the right place.Here are a few things to consider to help you make the right travel arrangements to suit you. Continue reading “5 or more things for baby boomers to consider when making travel plans”

Standing-up for your health really works

dollar photo club
dollar photo club

Scary headlines jostle daily in the media to attract our attention.Many do not deliver on the message and become just so much unnecessary distraction in our everyday lives.Now, where our health maybe concerned most of us will always prick-up our ears and take notice for fear of missing something of importance. Standing-up for your health is a theme that has gained traction in the last few years, but does it work? Sitting is killing us? Continue reading “Standing-up for your health really works”

UK Pensioners encouraged to stay in work to safeguard the economy

Seniors Point to Tablet PCGovernment adviser and pensions expert,Ros Altmann,has been given the brief to see what can be done to boost the number of older workers. She is suggesting the over 60s should be helped to retrain so that they can stay in the labour market. In a recent interview with The Times newspaper, she said one of the key employment issues for those in their sixties was lack of IT skills,and there should be an IT national training scheme open to pensioners. Over the next few years,there are expected to be significantly fewer younger people, 16 to 49,whereas those between the age of 50 and the state pension age are likely to surge by around 3.7 million. According to the August report from age.uk, over one-third of the population are over 50 years of age.Also, two-thirds of those aged between 65 and 74 still do not have broadband at home.These are many other figures which may be of particular interest on a wide number of areas including employment, relating to older people in the UK The benefits to the UK economy are clear and those able to take advantage of the opportunity of acquiring new work skills should benefit from a continuing sense of usefulness and social connectivity.Ms Altmann believes that this initiative could literally save lives by improving the wellness of groups of older people who could otherwise suffer from a lack ‘of sense of purpose’.

How to live comfortably and with independence in later life

sweet home

There has been much in the recent news about the growing belief that older people though finding themselves in inappropriate homes as some of their powers decline would far prefer to stay independent of a care home environment.

Perhaps not surprisingly a high number, 9 in 10 over 50s, according to the recent Daily Telegraph report of people surveyed about where they would prefer to live and be cared for, opted for staying put in their own homes. It seems though that most of us leave it far too late even to start any sort of conversation with anyone, including close family. We will discuss finance for older age, even funeral arrangements but not the long term living space we need or desire to maximise enjoyment of later life.

In the case of staying home and independent,planning for our living space in older age is of course not a new concept although there can be no ‘one size fits all’ approach to deal with the many requirements of individuals with different levels of health and abilities, as well as preferences for a particular lifestyle. There is a range of ‘fixes’ that can be considered to help maintain good quality of life, from small to medium ‘tweaks’ like adjusting the height of work surfaces ,installing better handle design for easier opening of doors and windows; also making more open living spaces for wheelchair access, for instance.At the other end of the range, there is the complete design-build always ‘fit for purpose’ living space. This looks to provide a living place in which to age, with practical comfort and aesthetics in mind.

Such a space should be able to function so as to enable both the able in mind and body and the disabled to co-habit in comfort and style.This latter of course is the holy grail,as it were, of planning for later life, and is often referred to as Universal (accessible )design which produces a broad range of practical ideas to incorporate in buildings and environments making them inherently accessible to people regardless of age. This helps at a social level so that the more elderly do not find themselves marginalised in their own homes and they can continue to enjoy the society of younger people.

Universal design was the brainchild of an architect who was himself confined to a wheelchair.His idea is a place to start a conversation about future living.It is a wide subject. You can start your own conversation with a quick start guide to learning how to live comfortably and with independence. Startling statistics from AgeUK tell us that the number of people over 65 in community-based care and support at home is falling rapidly in the UK. This is seen to be a trend working entirely against our wishes.It is time we all prepared better for our care in old age if we wish to  be where we want to be and not allow ourselves to end up in places not of our choosing. Aging in a Palace is a slim volume but a good read. It may be laced with many questions and few specific and detailed solutions, but it is thought provoking.

We should be all together now

file6931283873173

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All together now!

It’s not what I expected to find on my recent visit to a local garden centre.It was not so much that I would not expect to see free newspapers or promotional material on a stand at the check-out point for passing customers to pick-up.No, my surprise was that I had not seen this publication before. I duly lifted a copy of All Together Now! returned to a seat in the coffee shop and read it from front to back.Having nursed a cup of coffee for as long as I felt was reasonable, I went home.

Now in its ninth year of publication

Chock-full of entertaining but above all informative articles and news items, All Together Now! is the messenger for a registered charity dedicated to providing a a top class news service for anyone whose life is affected by disability,long term health conditions or age. Now in the ninth year of publication, its area of coverage is the North West of England, although it now reaches a much wider audience with its digital newsletter offspring. The content is light in touch, bright, positive in tone, and above all likely to be very helpful for a range of age groups and disabilities.

In the June/July 2014 issue, features and news include:

-the creation of robots that enable people to walk again
-latest developments designed to make it easier for those with hearing or speech disability to make phone calls
-how yo obtain a downloadable easy read guide on using a mobile phone for people with learning difficulties
-news of improvements to be made in access at train stations for disabled people
-how to protect yourself from bogus callers at home
-recently announced changes in ISA rules
-views on the future of caring for older people
– a driving licence renewal reminder and tips for the over 70s,
and much, much more

I like its light, but not flippant, way of reporting serious issues affecting health and age challenged people particularly in the North West, and also elsewhere.

There is plenty of human interest and inspiring personal adventure stories galore,and hand in hand there is a wish to its readers to have fun and seek to be entertained.

I am signing-up for the digital fortnightly e-newsletter. This is a publication that deserves a much wider readership in the UK.

Could downsizing your property give you a new lease of life?

Chastleton House

At a time when much debate in the UK centres on insufficient housing to cater for the needs of a burgeoning population,encouraging downsizing by older people to make way for buyers of a younger generation is again being put forward as part of a solution.

Apparently,according to the Prudential, more than 2m homeowners over the age of 55 and over plan to downsize in the next few years.Another report suggests that downsizing could release upto £100,000 cash from the average property sale in the UK (in London this figure could be as much as £275,000).

So why and why now?

Homeowners have for many years felt trapped in the economic recession but they are now becoming more confident about the future and making a major lifestyle move. For many, the sale of a current property means:

-more appropriate living space as needs change in older age
-having more disposable cash perhaps to distribute to family
-help to ‘make ends meet’ in retirement,
-being able to spend on holidays and travel
-funds to secure long term care.

Most of those in the Prudential survey said that cash released by selling the equity in their property would be used to fund their later life.

Restricted physical mobility, high property maintenance and refurbishment costs,the ever increasing utility prices for gas,water and electricity are just some of the drivers for downsizing according to the website downsizingdirect .com

This trend to downsizing is is seen by many commentators as good for the general property market, freeing-up housing for those finding it difficult to step onto the property ownership ladder.Some feel it may also lead to the building of new developments to suit an ageing population where services and the benefits of community will provide greater fulfilment and quality of life.

The strong message seems to be for those looking to downsize is to seek appropriate professional financial advice. It is important to have a realistic expectation of what a sale will yield, and what will be left after all the costs of selling,buying a another home, and moving have been factored into the mix.

Have you had recent experience in this?Do let me know.

 

 

 

When are you too old to have ambition?

 

Tercera edad

Dame Joan Bakewell,the cultural broadcaster and writer once dubbed ‘the thinking man’s crumpet’ by the late Frank Muir, has suggested that elderly people would be far happier if they eschewed ambition,giving-up on ‘winning’, and lived more content with their lot. At a recent gathering at the Hay-on-Wye Festival, she also added, on the other hand, that a person in old age needed a sense of purpose when pursuing careers, caring for young family, and keeping one’s remaining friends, cease to play a crucial part in life.Old age she felt was like a ‘country’, where its inhabitants were generally excluded,depressed, and lonely.

The ‘country’ of old age

This for me this raises the age-old question : when does one reach the frontier of this awful country thus described? It is rather like measuring the proverbial piece of string.One arbitrary line, like the current official retirement age in the UK, for instance is not appropriate for the well being of all people reaching it, if strictly applied. Dame Joan believes that at the age of 81 she is reaching that frontier. For others of differing states of health, level of skills, including social, and lifestyle needs, the step into old age may be much nearer, or perhaps further away. I do like the idea, though, of conducting a later life that minimises anxiety so often the result of living with rivalry.

Where I have difficulty is defining ambition. One person’s ambition maybe to do more for others; another to write poetry or a novel, or perhaps simply just to do do something different, and have different interests from an earlier life.This kind of ambition is to be encouraged in my book.

Look for a sense of purpose

Whilst, the country of old age for many may seem a very bleak place, unless you can rest content on your laurels in the comfort of a life well lived, Dame Joan does see how this can change. Life can still be wonderful and fulfilling. With some adjustment of their goals, the elderly can still have a sense of purpose for the rest of their lives.

Old age is no longer a place of willing submissiveness

To help people with the necessary life changes, she advocates official help with the appointment of a ‘commissioner’ for the old, charged with looking after their special interests.The old now have significant political power, she says,’old age is no longer a place of willing submissiveness.’  People in later life now expect more from their later life.

What do you think?Your comments would be most welcome.

 

It’s never too late to be your own boss

Elderly couple business she looks shocked

There is a widely held view that older people lack the drive necessary to become successful entrepreneurs. Certainly in certain sectors, like technology, the perception is that to be successful you need to have achieved your business ambitions by the age of thirty-five years, otherwise in entrepreneurial terms you are deemed ‘over-the-hill.’ It is therefore refreshing to learn that figures from recent studies in the US and elsewhere suggest that older people do have the required business and technical skills, combined with experience, to start-up businesses, and become more successful on average than younger people.

Adeo Rossi,founder of the The Founder Institute, says age is only one factor among many to predict the success of an entrepreneur.The romanticised notion that it is the young college drop-out who will be the one to make good and become a millionaire is wide-off the mark, far from the norm.According to the Ewing Marion Kaufman Foundation, business creation by older Americans grew by more than 60 per cent between 1996 and 2012, fuelled partly by ageing and the huge boomer generation. In the UK, the number of self-employed workers increased by 9.6 per cent in the four years between 2008 and 2012 to 4.176 million and older people made a significant contribution to this growth. Alastair Clegg of the Prince’s Initiative for Mature Enterprise (PRIME) also adds,” that older people have a wealth of skills and experience that are not only beneficial to the economy but will help the next generation of workers.”He says that for older people struggling to find work, starting-up their own business is a viable route to a sustainable employment.

It is never too late to be your own boss as an entrepreneur.

At ageUK you can read about Geoff Gill,65 years of age,and recently retired, who decided to retire from his employment and turn a part time business interest into a full time one. He is one of many who has decided to continue to be gainfully employed but as his own boss.In this way he is able to use his skills and experience in a sustainable business.
There are many people out there like Geoff to inspire us.For useful information have a look, for example, at what PRIME has to offer.

 

Have you planned your New Year Resolutions?

merry-christmas

The old year has nearly gone

and many of us will go through that timeless ritual of seeing the New Year in with one or several resolutions. We will be in earnest.But how many of us will manage to keep any of those promises to ourselves or others?According to some estimate as few as 1 in 10 of us will manage to achieve this self inflicted goal.
So why do we fail? It seems straight forward enough when the idea of self improvement,or perhaps a worthy cause, is born on the wave of a rush of blood when the sentimentality of the waning year is upon us. Why don’t our resolutions work out?
These key questions, and others, are answered in an excellent book which also provides an easy to follow blueprint based on 12 good habit types…to read more

Top Retro Toys for Xmas 2013

Top Retro Toys for Christmas 2013!

 

Not sure where to look for toys for the grandkids? Not sure what they are into.

Top UK store Debenhamshas been shaking-out their archives and has discovered its top earning toys sold during the last 50 years. Should it be a surprise to discover,when children’s toys go in and out of fashion as quick as wink from one year to the next, that listed below are 10 retro toys still available with no, or some updating modification ,and are sought after,today? And they will be best sellers again this year.

1. Cabbage Patch Dolls

2. Rubiks Cube

3. Monopoly

4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figures

5. Buz Lightyear

6. Barbie Doll

7. Teletubbies

8. Furby

9. Sylvanian Families

10. Lego ( a large selection now available, including Star Wars figures and related toys)

So for these still must-have toys you should buy now to avoid any family disappointment!

UK helpline for lonesome older people launched

 

Believing that there is a serious need in the UK for a new service to help pensioners who suffer from loneliness, Esther Ranzten of  That’s Life! fame has recently launched Silver Line. In these days of potential information overload, help in making the right links to appropriate resources for a disadvantaged section of our society would seem to be great idea.
Silver Line with some founder sponsors and ongoing public donations has set itself-up to act as a ‘befriending’ organisation which those in need of its services can access by telephone 24/7. Trained advisors will be on hand to provide free and confidential advice, and of course a comforting word.
0800 4 70 80 90
 
Of course, many older people of pension age are not lonely, in the sense that living alone they are unhappy with that condition. But for others, there will be that constant debilitating feeling of being left adrift from mainstream society.This feeling of no longer having purpose in life with no tangible contact with other people may arise from from many causes. Perhaps the sudden lack of camaraderie provided by an active and busy workplace, little social interaction from enforced immobility from accident or illness, the lost contacts as family members move or pass away.
0800 4 70 80 90
 
The helpline advisers will help to point callers in the right direction for resources specific to a caller’s needs. That might be locating services in a local area provided by say, ageUK or the Royal Voluntary Service which can give further advice and offer companionship.
0800 4 70 80 90 
 
Many elderly people are not be prepared to admit they are lonely.They maybe too proud,or they may fear the prospect of inviting someone to ‘befriend’ them. Trained advisers will attempt to break down these issues,with security of the individual very much in mind.
The service of course requires public financial support, and there are opportunities to become a volunteer and an adviser to the cause. This may be just for you, if you now find  you have more time to spare and would like to help people in need.
0800 4 70 80 90
It these times, it seems to me that another such help link is to be welcomed. Some may feel they are being patronised. But from the TV and press coverage, and public reaction, to the announcement of the new service, it has been generally well received.
The founder,Esther Rantzen, was successful with the child line she set-up 27 years ago which now forms part of the NSPCC.
If you can bear the jingle when you go to the Silver Line website you will find the contact telephone details if you haven’t spotted them already in this post! Do let me have your views.
 
 

Short walk to a longer healthier life

Apparently, we in Britain are some of the most inactive people in the world. One third of us cannot manage even a 30 minute walk every week.Result: 37,000 lives are lost that might otherwise be saved from premature death. Many of us succumb to diabetes and heart disease, and assorted cancers. So what to do? We can schedule 20 minutes a day for a walk , and do it! Can’t we? A good walk of this short duration can boost our natural disease killer cells, help curb inflammation within our bodies,and privent damage to our ‘energy battery cells’. I’m in. Oh, and by the way, a good daily walk can actually be, well, fun relaxing and fun. If you are up for a healthier life-style do have a look at this recent report from the Daily Mail.

A short walk of just 20 minutes could be a life changer for you. Others who say so are:

Ramblers

MacMillan Cancer Support

5 ways to harness the exercise habit for a better life

The exercise habit  can lead to a healthier life.

Keeping physically fit is universally acknowledged as a ‘no brainer’ so far as leading a healthier lifestyle is concerned. So why do so many of us not bother, or almost as bad, like a New Year resolution vow to exercise more and regularly but fall away after after a short time?

Let us take five affordable and effective ways to exercise, first. These are:

 

1. Running for your life and enjoyment

2.Walking  Even a mere 15 minute walk can be so beneficial

3. Swimming Acknowledged by medical people to provide excellent but not over taxing strength training

4. Cycling  Age is no bar for this activity

5. Gardening. Even gentle pottering around the garden has been shown to aid balance and make for greater flexibility

The benefits of regular exercise doing one or more of the above activities will reward you with greater :

  • flexibility
  • muscle strength
  • balance and co-ordination
  • stamina

Now, the above activities can be done in short programmes to suit yourself and your physical abilities. You can go to the above resource links against each activity ( gardening will be dealt with in a later post ) for further information to help you.

And there’s the rub. In our heads most of us know what is good for us, but many of us do not persist long enough to receive the sustainable rewards. So we fall down. This is where we all need some help. After  working out what we can and should do, we need to change our daily pattern of behaviour to include our chosen

activities – often, in order to receive the benefit, we may only perhaps need to exercise every other day. But it must become a regular feature in our lives. Yes, it should become a habit.

A habit has been described as: ” a regular tendency or practice.It’s something you do almost without thinking.In some cases,our habits even come to to define us as people.”  S.J. Scott –77 Good Habits To Live A Better Life 

Powerful stuff ! We need the habit to keep us exercising.

To acquire a good exercise habit  it helps to have the support of others. We can join  clubs and associations, or a group of like-minded friends. In this way we can encourage and be encouraged in what we are doing.

In a series of posts to follow, we’ll go in more depth into these activities to increase our fitness and wellness . Also we’ll look into how exercise can become an indispensable part of our lifestyle. Hope to see you next time.

 

 

 

 

Good habits can help in times of stress

mime-attachment

 

Research findings in the Psychology Department at the University of California suggest that our habits grow stronger under stress, whether they be good or bad.

 

The considered view is that when we are under stress ,this could be from a life event  bereavement or perhaps a personal illness, for example,our longer term decision making ability is much reduced and we tend to go for short term comforts. We may fall back on bad habits ,say, of eating.The guilty pleasure of fast food may  perhaps become our focus, once again; or we may default to an habitual behaviour of eating more healthily. When we are under stress we have less self- control, and we look for the ‘easy fix’ where longer term planning is not involved. If that is a good habit to fall back on, it will be reinforced.

 

Wendy Wood the research professor at the University of California says, ‘ getting enough exercise,eating right,getting enough sleep, not smoking, all of this should become an automatic part of your day.’ Enough said.

 

If you develop good habits now, you can rely on them to see you thorough the tough times – it is never too late for any of us.They will be part of an automatic response. You will benefit strongly in health terms, for instance, by eating sensibly,having good sleep patterns, and so on.

 

You can continue reading: stress can lead to good habits too,  here.

 

 

 

 

Don’t let your laterlife ruin your health

 

How's this for a good habit?
How’s this for a good habit?

 

Life expectancy is increasing significantly for many of us as a result of medical breakthroughs, and general improvements in living standards. Why then do many people over 60 feel they are entering an age of fear? Losing the meaning of life, they can succumb to a declining spiral resulting in greatly reduced physical and mental powers. While growing older does, of course, create challenges for us all, perhaps leading to loss of purpose and self-worth, it is not an inevitable part of the ageing process.

The seeds of a problem

These may have been sown much earlier in our lives, when our lifestyles were dictated by different pressures than now from work,family,personal ambition, fashion, or a more youthful culture. There are also poor habits and activities which we may have practised in our earlier daily lives that are inappropriate for sustaining the wellness we hope for as we grow older. Unfortunately, there are also arbitrary stages in our lives, retirement age being one of them, family leaving the home, when change is forced upon us which can affect our view of the future and ability to cope.

So what to do? 

There are steps we can easily take to make daily progress towards halting the degradation of our lives, and actually going some way to improving them, raising our enjoyment and enabling us to reach greater fulfilment.This in turn will make us feel better about ourselves and better able to take on new interests and challenges if we need them.

At the heart of a revitalising process for a better and less fearful life are what may be called good behavioural practices, or habits, in our daily lives. We can either do nothing and allow the spiral of decline to claim us,or we can take positive actions. According to writer and entrepreneur, Steve Scott, daily habits are what help define us as people. He has written a book called : 77 Good Habits To Live A Better Life. Although probably written more with younger people in mind, who wish to grow in their lives in terms of work, and success, many of the Habits covered apply to all generations. They are powerful and can significantly help 60lifers improve the quality of life, particularly, in the matter of health. Some habits are ones we may have lost over the years, or may never have had. This is knowledge many of us already have but often we never put it into practice. Just a few small and easy steps introduced as part of our every day lives can transform them.

One of Steve’s easy habits which can benefit the over 60s is : Eat within 30 minutes of waking. He says, even a very light breakfast of ,say, an English muffin  smeared with a little peanut butter is sufficiently nutritious to ‘kick-start’ your body for the day. A banana can also suffice. Another half-breakfast ,after an hour or so continues to give the right signals to our body’s metabolism.

If you like me, as a younger person, allowed little or no time for this habit to form because of a busy work life, you have absolutely no excuse in laterlife to find the time to keep this habit. It is never too late to improve your health, to help you reach your maximum potential.

It is not true that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks!

In future posts,I will cover more easy lifestyle habits to keep – so don’t miss anything.You can sign-up for my brief emails on this page.

As inspiration to us all, Sir Bruce Forsyth, the British entertainer, recently celebrated over 70 years in show business. By all accounts he is fit and well, and continuing his career.He has recently been a co-host for the highly popular British TV show: Strictly Come Dancing . In celebrity interviews, he puts down his longevity and physical flexibility – he can still show many young’uns how to dance- to daily exercise routines carried out as soon as he wakes in the morning, and before he rises, including body stretches,hand and finger exercises, and for toes and ankles. He is clearly a man of good habit.

 

Go Brucie! Wishing you many more years beyond your current 85 years of age.

 

Before I go please let me know your comments on not letting your laterlife spoil your health.Perhaps you also have some good habits to share.

 

 

 

Ways to reduce risk of falling prey to holiday home fraud

 

Many 60lifers are fortunate to be able to travel frequently at different times of the year and may wish to take a holiday rental.

If you are planning to rent a holiday home or villa, spare a thought for the man who was reported as having recently paid his deposit on the holiday home of his dreams in Spain discovered when arriving at the address he had been given that the villa did not exist. He had been well and truly conned, and there was no compensation available for his loss of around £1,000. Sad to say this is not an isolated case,and this type of  fraud has been going on for years. The widespread use of booking online has added to the risks.

The holiday scams can take many forms. For instance,the holiday property is non-existent, or the owner is not the person who advertised the property for rent.

What to Do?

There are several fairly easy things you can do to help minimise the risk of your own holiday rental horribilis , including :

  • If you use a travel company check that it is a member of a recognised travel association
  • if you use a website try to check-out owner details, and make contact with the owner other than over the internet for details of previous users of the property. Check-out published testimonials to validate owner claims.
  • A little online research with Google maps or street view may help confirm that the advertised property both exists and matches the details ‘on the ground.’
  • At the time of booking you should have a proper booking contract providing all basic terms of the rental
  • Pay by credit card or Paypal , or combine both these payment methods. In this way you should be able to recover monies paid if your rental is a scam

‘Buyer beware’, has never been more appropriate in these transactions. We often spend a great deal of planning in detail where we wish to stay on holiday. Loss may be difficult to completely eliminate from the acts of determined fraudsters, but being alert to the dangers and spending a little time in ownership research should prevent you from being one of their victims.

There are many excellent articles on travel and insurance websites. Here is one site concerned with the prevention of fraud in the holiday homes sector which may offer you some helpful advice.

 

Here’s wishing you a happy and carefree holiday!