A few days ago I attended another seminar about finances in retirement. The presenter challenged everyone to bulletproof their finances with the usual tools including up-to-date wills, estate plans, powers of attorney, and tax strategies. The presenter caught my attention with a discussion of health as a key aspect of wealth in retirement. The presenter […]
Health
Self-care or Self-indulgence?
At this morning’s yoga class, the instructor urged us to think about the difference between self-care and self-indulgence. She was urging the class to understand how to develop and nurture ourselves with yoga asanas, breathing techniques, and meditation. There is no question that yoga philosophy creates awareness of the choices we make in caring for […]
Retirement Happiness — Make Time for Self-Care
Sometimes the daily schedule is filled with so many activities that it’s difficult to make time for self-care. When this happens, I’m stressed. How did a day of retirement pass without enough time for some exercise, for a few moments of gratitude, for journal writing, or for a hobby project? I had an excuse when […]
Retirement Happiness — Shed Emotional Weight
A few days ago I overheard two people at the gym discussing the idea that emotional weight was more difficult to shed than physical weight. I was intrigued by this conversation. Early in my career I worked as a marriage and family therapist. Sometimes I felt the weight of the feelings in the therapy room. […]
Why is Food a Hot Topic?
Twenty or thirty years ago, who would have guessed that food would become a hot topic, perhaps even an obsession? It’s difficult to pick up a magazine, have a conversation, or open a computer/tablet without finding a reference to food. Pictures of food dominate many social media sites, specialty television channels feature cooking programs, websites […]
Retirement Happiness — Trying New Things
Trying new things changes your perspective. What you did previously, how you did it, and how it made you feel, change. My perspective on walking changed today as I experimented with walking poles. My husband felt that I would build more endurance and upper body strength if I challenged myself to walk differently. Hence, one […]
Finding Happiness When Life Isn’t Perfect
If you have perfectionist tendencies, like I do, sometimes it’s difficult to find happiness when life isn’t perfect. I am slightly neurotic with high standards for myself and for others around me. I know and accept that there are highs and lows in life yet I often have unattainable expectations. It’s related to being a […]
Handling Loneliness
Have you learned how to handle loneliness? Most of us, no matter how socially active, fight bouts of loneliness. Feeling lonely is not shameful nor is it a sign of failure. It is a normal feeling that happens to everyone. The presence of other people doesn’t insulate you from loneliness. Even when you are in […]
Do Pets Increase Retirement Happiness?
Studies show that pets increase retirement happiness, particularly among older people. The companionship of a beloved dog or cat boosts happiness, improves general well-being, and enhances life satisfaction. Pets reduce overall stress levels. If you come home to an empty house, pets will offer a greeting. Owners with pets have improved physical and mental health […]
Happiness in Retirement — Why Exercise increases happiness
One of the easiest ways to increase happiness in retirement is to start exercising and to do some form of exercise every day. Many postworksavvy readers already make regular exercise part of their daily retirement regime. They started exercising for weight loss, improved general health or greater body flexibility. Their doctors urged them to undertake a moderate […]