Upside Of Aging

Reducing Stress - Your Health Depends On It

"Working Mothers Are Doubled Stress" was a common headline not more than 10 years ago. If you were a stay-at-home mom you weren't suppose to have the same stress load as another woman who was working. If you were retired you were described as having little or no stress. The assumption was your retirement funds and Social Security provided enough funding for the rest of your life. You had the luxury of playing golf and bridge for the rest of your days.

I'm convinced those stereotypic descriptives can be thrown out the window today.

Volunteer and Live Longer

If you're looking for something to do that helps others and benefits your mental and physical health then look no further than volunteering.

A study found that adults over 65 who volunteered have half the mortality risk than their peers who don't volunteer. Presented at the spring meeting of the American Geriatrics Society, the researchers also reported that retirees who volunteer have a stronger belief that they can accomplish tasks than the non volunteer peers, One of the theories is that because of this belief they may make better choices regarding eating right, losing weight, and exercising.

Experts also think that the reason volunteers live longer and have a better quality of life is that they are constantly stimulating their brain by volunteering. In addition, volunteering provides a social outlet which is beneficial for mental well being.

The word volunteering often conjures up the picture of someone devoted and consumed by the organization they support. That image is often right on the mark because there are many people whose lives are centered on a group or organization that they believe in whether it is the community opera house or the home for abused women or helping tutor mentally challenged children/

On the other hand, volunteering doesn't have to involve a heavy commitment of time or energy or money. Many people I know are drivers for meals on wheels

once every third week or visit homebound seniors twice a month or help out as a teachers aid every other Monday morning.

The good news is most everyone can find an opportunity to fit their interest and lifestyle. My recommendation is to start volunteering a little only at the beginning. When you feel comfortable doing your volunteer work, make a larger commitment or join another group.

Think about what you know and what you like to do and then find out if something like that experience is available somewhere for you to volunteer.

If you volunteer some of your time, we'd like to know how you selected your volunteer activities.  We're hoping your expeprience will help others.

To your successful aging,

Ruthan Brodsky

Mentally Preparing for Retirement

My friend's husband closed his business of 30 years a few months ago. He wasn't planning on retirement but the economy proved too much a battle. His major customers were closed or in bankruptcy. My friend's husband is bored, lonesome, and depressed. His self-esteem is most likely way down because he put so much of his life in his business.

The research from the last 10 years shows that physical illness and depression occur more frequently among retirees then people of the same age who are still working.

On the other hand, many people do benefit from retirement. They find that retirement has eliminated the stress that a job brings and the anxiety over time not spent with family and friends. They may also have plans for volunteering and for traveling.

Retirement, however, is especially hard on people who are forced to leave their jobs or those who don't have interests or hobbies outside of work. You might think that doing nothing will feel good and then are surprised when you experience anxiety, depression and other negative feelings.

The secret, of course, is to plan ahead for retirement and to challenge yourself after you stop working just as you did when you had a job. You need to set goals, do interesting and demanding things, maintaining and developing meaningful relations and keeping well informed. In other words, as your environment changes, you have to change also.

Psychologists say to establish a routine for yourself to help you manage your time wisely. Replacing the structure of your work with your own flexible schedule can help you reduce feelings of depression and force you to stay focused. Don't limit the routine to chores. Include activities that are fun and challenging and helpful to others.

You may even want to consider starting a business at home, using the internet as your foundation, and drawing on the skills you already know.

To your successful aging.

Ruthan Brodsky

REtirement Fizzles for Many

"There Goes Retirement" was the 2-page feature story of the week-end Wall Street Journal. The article described the dilemma for many who were already retired but had to find a job for income because their retirement fund was down 30%-40%. It also described the financial problems of those near retirement whose funds were depleted and needed to keep on working.

The idea of working in retirement isn't new. I'm one of those that planned to work in retirement because I enjoy being productive, I love writing, and I get a real kick helping others with their business or profession. Lots of people like me have chosen to work in retirement. Today it's not so much a choice but a necessity.

The article describes the flexibility of this older crowd in their 50's and 60's. Somehow, they manage to find a job, usually a very part time job that brings in some income. The job could be as a ranger on a golf course making sure the foursomes keep up with the regulation pace. Other jobs included someone who worked in Detroit as a movie extra, a barista at Starbucks, a caregiver for the elderly, or a substitute teacher. The main point of the article is that most are making the best of a bad situation.

What was interesting is to learn how each person had planned for their retirement funding and had no reason to think it wouldn't work until the bottom fell out of the market.

It becomes obvious we all need a Plan B although few of us think about that when events are going well.

I'm going to be teaching a 4-week teleseminar series which will be an overview about what it's like and what it takes to have an online business or at least to market your business on the Internet.

More news on this will be coming!

To your successful aging,

Ruthan Brodsky