Category: Wellness

Seniors and Social Isolation: Understanding the Causes and Mitigating the Risks

Recently, I went to help out a friend who had a double mastectomy. I had to fly out of Canada to the U.S. I realized that getting help from people around us at our age is difficult. Most of our friends also have health issues, If not them, their spouses. A number no longer drives.

At her age of 77, it is difficult to find friends and family who could be with her as most are no longer able, even if they want to help. I saw how much social isolation is a startling reality among many Seniors.

Social Isolation in Seniors. Copyright: aesta1

I also clearly saw why social isolation is a serious concern among seniors. I saw in my friends’ circle the reasons why they live an isolated existence:

  • Lack of Mobility. A number no longer drives and can’t move around quickly. 
  • Losing a spouse, family, and friends can lead to isolation. Much of the news we get every morning is about someone in our circle passing on or having health problems.
  • Retirement. When we retire, we lose not only our contacts but also our sense of purpose and identity. I asked a friend why she continues working when there’s no need for it. She replied that work gives her a reason to get up and dress up. Otherwise, many retirees stay in their pyjamas most of the day. 
  • Health problems. Some of us may have mini-strokes, cancer, or other illnesses and, thus, avoid many social interactions. 
  • Lack of access to transportation. As we age, our confidence diminishes, so we hesitate to drive. Some of us got used to having our spouses drive us, and when they pass on or become unable to do so, we find it difficult to attend social events.
  • Negativism. In several cultures, families are protective of seniors. They are discouraged from going out on their own. They need a companion each time they go out, which limits their attendance to social activities or even just visiting their friends or doing things they enjoy.

Negative consequences often follow as more isolation occurs in a Senior’s life. These include:

  • Depression and Anxiety. In the absence of social interaction, Seniors tend to focus on themselves, and issues around health make them feel sad and concerned. Social activities tend to help them forget whatever discomfort they feel.
  • Loneliness. Seniors who live alone often feel lonely. There are only enough soap operas to keep them entertained. 
  • Cognitive Decline. The lack of interaction limits the use of our mental faculties. Our forgetfulness becomes more intense, and our capacity to do things erodes. Some of my friends have driving issues and need more reminders of familiar routes. Even playing games is less helpful. Interacting with friends engages and stimulates our mental faculties.
  • Increased risks of health problems. Being alone and lonely leads to heart issues and mental breakdown. 

We must take this issue of social isolation among seniors seriously. There are things we can do to address this issue of social interaction:

  • Sharing Accommodation. In some societies, Seniors live with their families. Our friends discussed it with their kids and divided the year between two families. In many Asian cultures, unmarried or widowed aunts and uncles live with families. Their presence is a big help in the kids’ development process. They often help cook or be present when the kids come home from school.
  • Providing transportation. Friends and family can do this to enable Seniors in their families to attend social events. 
  • Becoming part of a group. Seniors can join a club, take a class in a community or senior center near them, or volunteer for important causes.
  • Introducing them to active Seniors defying age-old prejudices so they have models of what is possible.
  • Living in age-friendly communities. If not, create one. You can do much to engage your neighbourhood in becoming friendly and supportive of Seniors.
  • Hiring caregivers who can be with them and provide them with the company and support necessary. Someone who can drive and have a license is a big help.

With a bit of concern, this problem need not be serious. Individuals and communities can help make Seniors in our neighbourhood less socially isolated and more engaged. It is a concern that we can all address.

Aging Gracefully, Laughing Heartily: The Comedy of Growing Older

Life’s too short not to laugh, especially as the years roll on.
Let’s journey through the comical quirks, playful stereotypes, and witty one-liners accompanying our golden years.
Let’s revel in the shared laughter that unites generations and showcases the joy of growing older with a smile.
Let’s take a chuckle-filled ride through the world of age-related humour – where wrinkles and wisecracks go hand in hand!”

Senior Tomfoolery. Copyright: aesta1

Some Senior Tomfoolery will do us good today. I love this term tomfoolery. It is whimsical and playful. It brings to mind
the lighthearted antics and mischievous moments seniors often experience. It embraces the idea that laughter, fun, and a sense of humour are essential ingredients for a fulfilling and joyful life in our golden years.

Whether it’s the occasional forgetfulness, quirky adventures, or witty banter, “senior tomfoolery” celebrates the playful side of aging and the ability to find humour in everyday situations. It’s a reminder that age is just a number, and life can remain full of laughter and whimsy regardless of the calendar year.

I’ll start with these two stories, which you have your versions of. Indeed, here are a couple of funny stories related to age-related humour that you can consider adding to your article:

Story 1: The Accidental Selfie
An older acquaintance, new to the world of smartphones, decided to take a selfie for the first time. She held the phone at arm’s length, smiled at the camera, and snapped the picture. Little did she know, she had the camera set to the front-facing mode. When she saw the photo, she exclaimed, “Who’s that old lady in my phone?” Her family had a good laugh, explaining that the “old lady” was her reflection.

Story 2: The Senior Yoga Class
A group of seniors decided to try a yoga class at their local community center. As they attempted various poses, the instructor noticed one participant struggling with a basic stretch. She asked if everything was alright, to which the senior replied, “I’m fine, dear, but it seems my body didn’t get the ‘flexible in old age’ memo. It’s stuck in ‘pretzel mode.'”

Story 3: The Instagram Moment
A friend celebrating her birthday told us last night at dinner about her Instagram moment. Some at our dinner table saw it, but some didn’t. She even needed to remember where she uploaded it. Was it on Facebook or Instagram? Some of us claimed we did not see it on Facebook, so it must be on Instagram. Anyway, she did a video of herself singing to send to her son, who was away, and this was her first time doing it. Without knowing it, instead of just sending it to her son, she pushed the button longer, and it sent the video to everyone. It started a flurry of comments, which made her realize what she did.

Aside from these stories, we all had our fair share of humorous moments. Have you had any of these?
1. Forgetful Fun: Seniors might playfully blame their “senior moments” when they forget where they put their glasses or keys. Once, I searched the whole house of my glasses, and it wasn’t anywhere. My grandson arrived, and I told him about it. He looked at me and said, You’re wearing them. I looked for my keys once, only to be told that I had them in my hands. You can say, “I used to have a memory, but I forgot where I put it.”
2. Prankster Grandparents: Some grandparents enjoy playing gentle pranks on their grandchildren, like pretending to lose a tooth or pulling coins from their ears.
3. Tech Troubles: Seniors navigating modern technology can create humorous situations, from accidentally taking selfies to sending amusing voice messages. “I asked my grandkid to help me with my smartphone, and now it takes selfies when I sneeze.”
4. Tongue-in-Cheek Wisdom: Seniors often share witty life advice or observations from years of experience, delivering humorous wisdom. A friend called me the other day and said she missed her Mom, who usually came out with these witty comments. She cited this: “I’ve got a new job as a human barometer; my joints predict rain better than the Weather Channel.”
5. Double Entendre: Seniors can craft humour from innocent phrases with a playful double meaning, leaving others in stitches.
6. Senior Gags: Participating in age-related humour, like sharing jokes about aging, wrinkles, or memory loss. “I’m not old; I’m just chronologically gifted.” Or, “I’ve got so many wrinkles; my face is a roadmap of my life.”
7. Unexpected Hobbies: Picking up surprising hobbies like skydiving or rock climbing can amuse friends and family. I met an 80-year-old Japanese lady who went scuba diving. The instructor was with her all the time, but she did not have any issues at all. She planned to climb Mt. Everest after that.
8. Dancing Queens and Kings: Seniors hitting the dance floor, showing off their dance moves, often to the delight of those around them. I remembered an old nun showing us her tango moves during recreation. She was so good at it that we all burst out in laughter.
9. Mischievous Puns: Using puns and wordplay to create laughter and delight in everyday conversations. “I’ve got so many pills to take that I need a pill to remember to take my pills!”
10. Storytelling: Sharing humorous anecdotes from their past can be entertaining and enlightening. “It feels like I was 30 just yesterday, and now I’m the star of my own ‘Golden Girls’ episode.”

These moments remind us that humour and a playful spirit can be lifelong companions, regardless of age. What can we do but laugh? Why worry when we can’t hear each other? Laugh at it.

Silver Laughter: The Transformative Power of Humour in Seniors

Humour. Copyright: aesta1

When my 70-plus-year-old friends and I go on long trips, we always ask our funny friends to sit by us. You know why. We overlook the time when we keep laughing.

Humour brings joy, alleviates stress, and enhances our social connections. I only wish I have this sense of humour. Sadly, when the Angel of God distributed this gift, I was not around. Still, I am here to share how humour can benefit Seniors.

Here are a few:

  1. Laughter boosts mood.
    Humour and laughter release endorphins, which are natural feel-good chemicals. Seniors who engage in humour and laughter experience an improved mood and increased happiness.
  2. Stress relief.
    Aging can come with challenges, but humour can be a stress reliever. Finding humour in everyday situations helps seniors cope with stress, lighten their outlook, and maintain a positive mindset.
  3. Social connection.
    Sharing laughter and humour strengthens social bonds and fosters connections with others. Simply sharing funny stories with friends can create a sense of camaraderie and alleviate feelings of loneliness or isolation.
  4. Mental health.
    Humour stimulates the brain and promotes mental agility. It improves cognitive functioning, memory, and creativity. Activities like solving puzzles, playing games, or watching comedy shows can be mentally stimulating and entertaining.
  5. Perspective and resilience.
    Humour helps seniors maintain a sense of perspective and resilience when facing challenges. It allows us to find the lighter side of life and approach difficulties with a positive attitude.

It is, however, essential to note that humour should always be respectful and sensitive to individual preferences. What may be funny to one person might not be to another. When using humour with seniors, it’s essential to consider their cultural background, values, and personal circumstances. Otherwise, it can break relationships.

Losing Is Part of Living

I lost an article I worked on for hours and am distraught. I felt inspired to write that article. I was happy about it, but it got lost in the process of posting it. I got angry at myself. I had only my stupidity to blame. Or my ignorance or carelessness.

Trillium. Copyright: aesta1

I took time out to escape the state I was in when I lost it. Many tries at retrieving it frustrated me that the only way left for me was to give it up, let it go, and start anew.

As I relaxed more, I reflected on it. Losing is so much a part of our lives. It happens almost every day. We lose an object we like, our pet dies, or someone takes our plant. The worst is when a loved one passes on to another life. It leaves us angry, disappointed, afraid, or empty. 

I sat down again to write, hoping to recapture the article. I know this is only my way of dealing with the unfortunate situation, but it will not return. I must let go and keep living and creating something new and different. Instead of moping and thinking of the lost one, I focused on creating something new. Yet, the loss kept coming back. The feeling of anger is still there. The disappointment prevents me from thinking. I knew I had to give it time to let it go. It is gone. It is not gone to me, though. 

Losing is a daily occurrence. I thought over 70 years that I would be a pro at this pattern of accepting and letting go. No, every event is new. Every event makes me go through the process once more. Is there ever an end to this. Will I ever grow muscles to let go when I lose someone or something quickly? 

People tell me to keep myself busy. I’m trying to do that, but the struggle between the loss and the new creation gives me a headache. It continues to play in my mind. Ah, the mind. It refuses to let go. 

The only way is for me to quiet my mind down. I can’t fight it. I can only allow its unfolding process or go beyond it. I know I am not my mind, Nor am I my body. I am not the things I lost. No matter how precious they are, they are not me. They are their own. I need to set them free so that they can be. I am my being, and letting them go, allows me to be.

It is this being that I need to be in touch with, to be in its core, so I don’t get lost when I lose things. I know this truth, but each loss brings it back for me to understand it fully. Each day, I need to remember that losing is part of life.

I can watch the unfolding of things, including the loss, and let it be. Being in Me is an anchor. I am. 

Lessons I’ve Learned From the Loss of A Loved One

Well, what says you? I have been retired for some years now and so are my friends. Not only that, many in my circle have now passed on—a staggering reality for many Seniors. 

Loss of a Loved One
Loss of a Loved One

My husband passed away three years ago, and only today, another in our high school class more than 50 years ago also died. 

Death is so much a part of life. More so in our senior years. The earlier we accept this reality, the better will be our appreciation when it takes place in our lives.

We all dread it, I understand. But, at one time or another, someone who is so much a part of our life passes on. The pain and the loss are something you don’t want to wish on, even your worst enemy. 

How do you go through this? How do you manage? When, even amid fun, the memory of the loved one who passed on occupies your thoughts? How do you forget? 

How do you hold the tears that, at any moment, pour out? How can you enjoy anything when your thoughts often return to not being there?

Loss can be debilitating. It can ground you in misery, fear, and loneliness. Even with supportive family and friends, it is not like having your loved one there.

Here are some lessons I’ve learned:

  1. I realized how valuable companionship is, to have someone to laugh with, express your fears, foresee your reaction and smile at it understandably, hold your hand when the movie scares you, or discuss the often perplexing events in today’s world. 
  2. I have to learn to do many things on my own. Eating out alone in a restaurant gives me a bit of discomfort. Or going to a movie or a show on my own. There’s no one to whisper some comments to or share your delight over a dish or a performance.
  3. I don’t enjoy long drives alone. When my husband was around, our long drives were moments of getting to know things in our past, childhood, or thoughts about many things. The sharing somehow becomes more intimate and genuine. Listening to the radio now doesn’t cut it.
  4. I don’t enjoy socializing on my own. It’s like half is missing. My husband was very gregarious and never wanting for words and stories. I, on the other hand, would prefer only to listen. Now, I have to talk more. Maybe, this is not so bad after all.
  5. It’s always fun to have someone around you to harass, laugh with, cry on, love, and be loved. No matter how much you search for a replacement, it is not the same. Mourn your loss. It is important to do this. However, you have to move on and look for ways to live life after your loss. It is not the end. It is the beginning of something different, fascinating and satisfying when you allow yourself to experience it.

A friend told me that those who died are still with us, and I like this. I talk to my husband all the time. When driving, I ask him to help me navigate the traffic, make it easy to merge on the highway, and don’t forget to close the gas cover or leave my credit card or wallet on the pump.

I see friends in other countries. At least I have company in seeing places and enjoying restaurants in those cities. I see friends where I live. 

I have learned to be close to family, travel with them once in a while, visit them, and hang out with them. As was the case before, I have come to appreciate them more as I relate with them directly and not through my husband. 

I have worked on my fears and my tendency to depend on someone. I learn to do things like driving long distances, fixing things, taking care of things on my own, and dealing with loneliness. 

Each one of us deals with loss in a different way. 

But I have many friends who have lived alone because they have not married, divorced, or widowed. I’ve learned how to take things in stride from them and not let matters overwhelm me. They kept telling me that they’d done it for many years. Why am I complaining? Somehow, this pushes me to do the things I dread doing.

After three years, I feel I’m getting into the rhythm of living alone. As much as the first day it happened, I am still my husband, but I can cope with life alone.

I found how valuable a good relationship with our families and friends is. It’s strong support as I deal with my loss. I don’t think I would have managed if not for these relationships.

70 Years and One

I woke up surprised to see it was 6:30. I slept so well and straight through, which does not happen often. I took on a relaxed position and started my meditation. Something new in me wants to be recognized. It brought joy.

Piano Collage.

I started to listen, and slowly it revealed itself. It is Me. I felt its joy, freedom, freshness, and exhilaration to come out of whatever box I hid it in all these years.

Somehow, I managed to craft a self that fits whatever my environment requires all these years. I did it so well that I eventually believed it was me.

Yes, I lived it well and fooled many but not myself. I felt the restlessness, the need to get away, and the anger when someone goes near the hidden one.

I was a success, so no one thought there was something wrong except for the more discerning of my friends, who sometimes brought it up.

My body tells me the truth. It cannot stand straight. I was tired most of the time, even when I did nothing. When I host a party, I always need a week of quiet after that.

Sometimes, I take time to meditate and go inside my quiet self, but I have hidden it so well that even I forgot where it was. I could not envision it because I have fully identified with my crafted self. I shared deep insights into myself with some friends after my meditation. Not only that, I took some courses to help me go deeper into myself, so I thought I was okay.

Wisdom seemed to flow from me that I thought there was nothing else I needed to do. A friend of mine finally agreed that I perhaps have nothing else to do with myself until my next reincarnation, but this proved not true.

Here I am in Spain. I had a vague feeling that this would be my second birth. I told my friend that I was here for “me time.” The schedule of life here allowed for this. It was now eight in the morning, and I could hardly hear a noise except the sound of my keyboard.

Another good thing about my trip here was my stay in a convent. My friend here is a nun and invited me to stay in the convent, where I rested when I arrived. It afforded me the quiet and solitude that I needed. The atmosphere of prayer somehow healed my soul and may have invited the real me to come out. There was not much interaction, so there was no one to please or entertain.

This atmosphere may have coaxed my true self to take the courage to show itself. It was the start of the advent season, and on the altar, there was a big picture of Mary pondering things in her heart. I carried this image with me as I went through my days of quiet and prayer.

Today was the fulfillment when I met for the first time my authentic self. I felt it. I rejoiced with it. Inside of me, something new and beautiful emerges, robust and confident not to be swayed by comments or expectations. I love it.

It took me seventy years, but this doesn’t matter. What matters is that I found it. My senior years will be one of the profound joy of being who I truly am, not perfect but beautiful, not whole but becoming, a being that lives its depth and keeps rooting itself in it.

Easy Ways to Create Relaxing Spaces in Your Condo

Cozy living room. Source: aesta1

No matter how small our places are, we can continually create some cozy corners where we can unwind and enjoy the things we love to do. Yes, creating spaces where we can make this relaxation happen needs to be a top priority for many seniors.

We stay much more in our places now because of the restrictions due to the pandemic. Even without the Covid pandemic, it is always a comforting experience to enter your home when calming and relaxing. Thus, it is crucial to our well-being that we make the places we live, no matter how tiny, very relaxing.

During the day, relaxing for even a short moment is crucial to our mental health. You’ll probably say that’s what I do every moment now. Maybe, but I will tell you my latest experience.

There was a time in one of my slouches on the sofa, a favorite position during the pandemic lockdown, my mind turned to quiet. It moved its focus on my body, and I started to listen. My body felt so tense even when all day, I watched Netflix. I thought I felt relaxed as I did not do anything stressful.

My body told me otherwise, so I continued listening. I started to listen to each part of my body where I felt the tension. At that moment, I realized how stressed my body parts were. I then decided to do something about it.

First, I cleaned out the clutter in my place. I have given up my house for a two-bedroom condo in the heart of the city. After three years, I quickly filled it up. The books alone that I got attached to already filled up so many spaces. So, I searched on the Condo website to see if someone was renting storage. I found one, contacted the owner, and rented it. I also have storage, but I filled that up fast. The amount is something I could take out of my entertainment budget, and for my mental health, the investment was worth it. The acquisition, I believed, was good for my mental balance.

Second, I gave away things I did not need. I gifted them to friends.
Third, I stopped buying. I continued to check out stores for new designs and products, which I enjoy doing, but I left these products at the store. Unless it is a hundred percent fit to what I was looking for, I did not get it. I often went home with only a few food items that I consumed immediately in my forays downtown. I felt lighter and happier.

Fourth, I managed my “por si acaso” (just in case) attitude. This phrase means buying things just in case there is a need for them. I threw out the thought each time it came to me in the store.

Fifth, I transformed cozy corners in my condo into places of relaxation, and here are the pictures. The first picture is a reading corner, the second is a coffee corner, and the third is a lounging area. These three places give me options to do some of the things I enjoy.

Reading Corner. Source: aesta1
Coffee Corner. Source: aesta1
Lounging Area. Source: aesta1

Finally, I abandoned my sofa for a large part of the day with these relaxing places and instead found solace in these other areas. While the real work is within ourselves, these places promote a sense of well-being, enabling us to do more interior work. Indeed, creating relaxing corners in our home makes for a healthy being, and we must give it more attention. I wish you luck in your effort.

Focus on the Positive

The other day, I got a call from a friend. She asked me how my summer was, to which I replied, we had so much fun with the family together, but it was tiring with so many late nights, drinking, eating, dock time in the sun, and hanging out.

Summer Experience

Immediately, my friend reacted. You had so much fun, but….why the but? I got a bit defensive, but I fully understood her question and her reaction. She waited for my answer, which was a stumbling explanation of something I needed to face within me. I wanted to evade the question, but my friend did not want to let go. 

My friend and I talked about the way our minds work. The judgments we often heard had largely conditioned us and had allowed this conditioning to influence our thinking. We had not freed ourselves from it. We had been unaware of such a way of thinking that we went through life doing exactly that.

This conversation with my friend triggered a reckoning on my part of how my mind worked. Why couldn’t I savour the positive experiences? Why was my mind prone to thinking about the negative?

There were so many positive events that happened in my life which I hadn’t turned into positive experiences. I had experienced these positively but had judged it afterward, and they had become so-so with the negative judgments weighing upon them. When asked about it, that negative judgment was the first thing that came up.

Why was this so? 

Because we never savoured our positive experiences for fear that it would make us less good, it never stayed with us as much as the negative judgments did. We never revisited these joyous moments, so what stayed with us were only the negative comments we made about the experience. Thus, we grew up full of negative judgments.

Even around us, we listen to the news, and we often hear these comments, “too little, too late.”

There is so much focus on the negative as if these negative sell more than the positive. The focus is mainly on the negative.

It’s time we turn this around. My friend and I discussed what we could do about this propensity for negative thoughts. These are some of the things we decided to do.

First, understand better how the brain functions and rewire it for happiness. There are many articles and videos on the brain as people start understanding how the brain works. This development is a significant plus to our collective consciousness.

Second, clean up little by little the traces of negative thoughts we have accumulated. These traces of negativity require a thorough cleaning but not to worry. Face them as they come. I have many of these, and when they manifest themselves, I revisit them and savor the positive experiences sans the negative judgments. Then, I say goodbye to them and never again revisit them. I leave them to the past where they belong.

Third, savor positive experiences. Many of our experiences are fun. However, we remember the negative judgments people around us made or our negative judgments of aspects of that experience because of how our minds worked.

Fourth, build gratitude. Every moment you think about your life, think of the many things you are happy about it. We will always find many things. As we practice doing this every day, gratitude becomes the pervading feeling in our lives.

Fifth, surround ourselves with positive influences and tune out the negative. Some people make you feel happy. Be with them and limit your interaction with people who tend to be negative in their judgments. Enjoy life. There is so much positive around us when we focus on them.

Finally, forgive. Let go of the hurts that we have harbored for years. They have affected us adversely for so long, and that’s enough. We now leave them where they belong. We are new beings now, and these things no longer have any influence on us.

I was glad that my friend brought this negativity to my awareness when telling her about my summer experience. I then revisited my summer experience and savoured the fun we had as a family, the sharing be it of books, music, or movies we’ve watched recently.

I focused on the positive and the fun and enjoyment we’ve had. I realized how rich and satisfying the experience was and appreciated every moment of it.

Why Terrific Sleep Is A Must for Seniors

Sleep is the body’s natural way of relieving stress, relaxing tired muscles, energizing the system, and making the body strong and healthy. Studies proved that people must sleep for at least eight hours a day for the body to function well.

However, due to our crazy lifestyle and the troubles the battles that go on in the day by day life, we short change ourselves of sleep.

Sleep deprivation refers to the body’s lack of sleep due to many factors. And once you miss it, it’s gone. You can’t make up for it. So, why is sleep deprivation a common occurrence in today’s Seniors? What are the causes, symptoms, and effects of the no snooze body bruise!

Causes of Sleep Deprivation

There are many explainable causes of sleep deprivation:

  • First, it could be because of your own choice. Sometimes you sleep very late at night because you still have work to finish or enjoy watching movies or prefer finishing a book you have started to read. Some nuts think it shows toughness to be able to crimp on the Z’s. This idiocy is inexplicable!
  • Next, illness can also keep you awake most of the night. You have medicines to take, and the feeling of discomfort brought about by illness can disrupt you. Some medicines contain stimulants, which make it hard for sleep to come by. 
  • Then there’s the utter doofustry of the mega meal before crashing. The meal’s digestive consequences lead to the great toss and turn, and little rest. 
  • Furthermore, your sleeping environment can be the cause too. If you are new to a place, you live in a noisy neighborhood, or the room is too hot or cold, you will not be able to sleep soundly at all. On the other hand, some people suffer from sleep disorders like snoring and sleep apnea. Or the midnight kickers with legs flailing. ​

How can you tell that you are already depriving yourself of sleep? 

The symptoms of sleep deprivation are many. The first sign is the constant yawning. Sometimes, you will sleep in the middle of a meeting or when you are working on something. You find yourself groggy, especially in the morning. You feel like you no longer want to get out of your bed. Heroic dreamers leap to life as they kill dragons or fall off cliffs. 

And the consequences of sleep shortfall? 

A shortfall in sleep makes you feel out of sorts. You become irritable, moody, and hot-tempered. You snap at people and become easily affected by the most superficial changes or problems. You also start to lose concentration.

It seems you no longer focus on the matters at hand and began to commit more mistakes. Your nose becomes painful as you doze and slam your fact into the table.

Depriving yourself of sleep…or more correctly, depriving yourself of rest, is very unhealthy.

There are many nasty effects of sleep deprivation:

  • For starters, it can significantly affect your work performance. You will lack the drive to work, become less efficient, and commit many mistakes. You will no longer be able to make wise decisions or get along with your fellow workers. 
  • Next, it can be detrimental to your health. You will become thinner since you are always restless, and you lack appetite. You may get dark circles under your eyes, and your skin may become dry and wrinkly. 

Remedies for sleep deprivation

So…prepare for sleep as you would for a marathon or an important event. 

   • Make sure the room temperature is comfortable, and the mattress works for you. 

   • How many pillows? How big? How soft?

   • Duvet or blankets. Think. It all makes a difference to your comfort. 

   • Exercise between a moderate dinner and hitting the sheets. No coffee or coke. 

   • Booze? Hahahaha. 

   • White noise? It works for some. 

   • Snore proofer? Lots available over the counter. 

Sleep with no rest makes no sense. There are so many things you can do to stay youthful, healthy, and strong. But you will get a head start by sleeping correctly and giving your body enough rest. ​

Time to Wake Up

Life is a gift of the Universe. Retirement is a time to wake up. Awaken to all the possibilities life brings. Finally, the challenges of raising a family and racing to the top of your career are behind you. Start anew.

How do we do this? Explore your area. Familiarize yourself with all the resources you can find around you. Take a more in-depth look now. Don’t just pass by. By the time you get home, your mind will be full of ideas about how to make your retirement fun.

FUN is the word. Forget all the obligations that tied you down all these years. This time is for you. We live in a time when it is best to grow old. Why am I saying this? We have all the resources to live as fully as we want. If you’re going somewhere, there’s active transport. Uber and Lyft are willing to bring you anywhere. There are discounts for Seniors for the activities you might think of doing, so what’s keeping you from enjoying your retirement?

Ah, many things do this to you. I know it so well because I have experienced them as well. There are countless worries about your health, finances, safety and many more. We can easily list a thousand and one reasons to keep ourselves from having fun.

Time to wake up, to be aware of the things around us. But what is more crucial is to be mindful of our environment and ourselves. With waking up, we are not just talking about fun. Make it fun, but the other result of waking up is a change in awareness.

When before, we were always busy about many things, now is the time to go deeper and inward into ourselves. Now, we have more time to listen to ourselves as there are not a hundred things to do on our list. Sometimes, there is nothing to do.

With the recent lockdown, you had so much time because of the limited social interaction. Many of you were upset that you couldn’t see your families, especially your grandchildren. You miss all of them. But now, it is the best time to go into yourself and become a better person so you can be a gift to your families. Imagine their wonder when they see you – your newly transformed self, the New You.

Waking Up is not a significant activity at all. It will not take too much time. All you need to start is allocate a few minutes every morning upon waking up. Spend a few minutes in silence, listening to your inner self. You will be surprised at what you’ll discover. Look at yourself closely and learn to appreciate it. Maybe you’ll find something you may not like at all. Look at it. Know it better and transform it. Right now, at your age, you already have the resources to deal with anything you’ll find. Your experience managing your life successfully for over 60 years is enough qualification. You are certified by experience to handle any of your discoveries. Embrace all – both the positive and the negative. These are just sides of the whole, opposite sides of our single self.

Wake up and have fun. Start Now.